What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers (WGA):

Peter Hedges (novel)
Peter Hedges (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 March 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Arnie knows a secret. His big brother Gilbert is the greatest person on the planet.

Plot:

Gilbert has to care for his brother Arnie and his obese mother, which gets in the way when love walks into his life.

Plot Keywords:

Grocery Store | Police | Oral Sex | Responsibility | Suicide Of Father

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Johnny Depp	...	Gilbert Grape
Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Arnie Grape
Juliette Lewis	...	Becky
Mary Steenburgen	...	Betty Carver
Darlene Cates	...	Bonnie Grape
Laura Harrington	...	Amy Grape
Mary Kate Schellhardt	...	Ellen Grape
Kevin Tighe	...	Ken Carver
John C. Reilly	...	Tucker Van Dyke
Crispin Glover	...	Bobby McBurney
Penelope Branning	...	Becky's Grandma
Tim Green	...	Mr. Lamson
Susan Loughran	...	Mrs. Lamson
Robert B. Hedges	...	Minister
Mark Jordan	...	Todd Carver
Cameron Finley	...	Doug Carver
Brady Coleman	...	Sheriff Jerry Farrel
Tim Simek	...	Deputy
Nicholas Stojanovich	...	Boy #1
Libby Villari	...	Waitress
Kay Bower	...	Police secretary
Joe Stevens	...	Burger Barn manager
Mona Lee Fultz	...	FoodLand Bakery Worker
George Haynes	...	Dave
Daniel Gullahorn	...	Boy #2
David H. Kramer	...	Group (voice)
Drew Ebersole	...	Group (voice)
Paulette Rubinstein	...	Group (voice)
Peter Fernandez	...	Group (voice)
Mary Griffin	...	Group (voice)
Jason Pace	...	Group (voice)
Shelly Latham	...	Group (voice)
Deborah Lee Johnson	...	Group (voice)
Steve Cook	...	Group (voice)
Patrick Welsh	...	Group (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brent Bratton	...	Burger Barn Employee (uncredited)
Kirk Hunter	...	Townfolk (uncredited)
Buck Reynolds	...	Juvenile Heckler (uncredited)
David Stanford	...	Townsperson (uncredited)

Directed by
Lasse Hallström

Writing credits (WGA)
Peter Hedges		(novel "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?")
Peter Hedges		(screenplay)

Produced by
Alan C. Blomquist	....	executive producer
Lasse Hallström	....	executive producer
David Matalon	....	producer
Bertil Ohlsson	....	producer
Meir Teper	....	producer

Original Music by
Björn Isfält
Alan Parker

Cinematography by
Sven Nykvist

Film Editing by
Andrew Mondshein

Casting by
Gail Levin

Production Design by
Bernt Amadeus Capra		(as Bernt Capra)

Art Direction by
John Myhre

Set Decoration by
Gretchen Rau
Jarrell Jay Knowles		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Renee Ehrlich Kalfus		(as Reneé Ehrlich Kalfus)

Makeup Department
Toni G	....	assistant makeup artist
Rodd Matsui	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Deborah Ann Piper	....	hair stylist
Cindy J. Williams	....	assistant makeup artist (as Cindy Williams)
Patty York	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Richard J. Gelfand	....	post-production supervisor
Richard J. Gelfand	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Linda Brachman	....	second assistant director
Seth Cirker	....	second second assistant director
David B. Householter	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Paul Ashmore	....	set painter
Ron Ashmore	....	lead scenic (as Ronald Ashmore)
J.P. Barrow	....	carpenter
Joe Barrow	....	carpenter (as J.P. Barrow)
Robert Beck	....	property master
David Brace	....	lead person
Sean Patrick Brennan	....	set dresser
Rodney Brown	....	carpenter
Kathy Budas	....	art department coordinator
John V. Burson	....	construction coordinator
Dennis DiAddezzio	....	assistant property master (as Dennis F. DiAddezzio)
Theresa Dringenberg	....	scenic artist
Ross Dryer	....	set dresser (as Ross Dreyer)
Max Evers	....	carpenter
Geoffrey S. Grimsman	....	assistant art director
Teri Jo Kelley	....	set painter
Kim Larsen-Santini	....	set dresser (as Kim Larsen)
Timothy W. Lobdell	....	carpenter (as Tim Lobdell)
Maya S. Macesich	....	draftsperson
Jim McCallie	....	carpenter
Elizabeth Jane Mcnamara	....	set dresser (as Elizabeth McNamara)
Ron Merriam	....	carpenter
Ronnie Miller	....	carpenter
Maria Nay	....	assistant set decorator (as Maria A. Nay)
Darren Patnode	....	greensperson
Ron Perkins	....	construction foreperson (as Ronny Perkins)
William R. 'Rod' Prince	....	carpenter
Alan R. Serotta	....	carpenter
Don Stroud	....	set dresser (as Bongo Don Stroud)
Stephanie Waldren	....	greensman

Sound Department
Louis Bertini	....	foley editor
Elisha Birnbaum	....	foley artist (as Elisha Bairnbaum)
David Brownlow	....	sound mixer
Kristine Bulakowski	....	assistant adr editor
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Jobe	....	adr recordist
Neil L. Kaufman	....	dialogue editor (as Neil Kaufman)
Michael Kirchberger	....	supervising sound editor
Dan Korintus	....	dialogue editor
George A. Lara	....	foley engineer
Jane McCulley	....	supervising adr editor
Eytan Mirsky	....	assistant sound editor
Michael W. Mitchell	....	apprentice sound editor (as Michael Mitchell)
Bitty O'Sullivan-Smith	....	dialogue editor
Jac Rubenstein	....	assistant sound editor
Warren Shaw	....	apprentice sound editor
Paul P. Soucek	....	sound effects editor
Stuart Stanley	....	adr editor
Dominick Tavella	....	foley mixer (as Dom Tavella)
Brian Vancho	....	foley artist
David Wahnon	....	assistant sound editor
Deborah Wallach	....	adr editor
Kevin J. Ward	....	boom operator
Michael J. Wechsler	....	apprentice sound editor
Stan Ginsel	....	sound transferer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Howard Jensen	....	special effects coordinator
Scott Prescott	....	special effects
Paul Stewart	....	special effects

Stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts (as Janet S. Brady)
Rusty McClennon	....	stunt coordinator
Gary Price	....	stunts (as Gary K. Price)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lucas Bielan	....	second assistant camera
Dwight Cary	....	electrician (as Dwight 'Curly' Cary)
Scott Conn	....	electrician
Jeff Cronenweth	....	first assistant camera
Robert K. Feldmann	....	first company grip
Paul D. Fischer	....	second company grip
Douglas C. Hart	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Chris Hayes	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Peter Iovino	....	still photographer
Kevin Jewison	....	camera operator
Key Kolb	....	grip (as Key Kolb III)
John Lacy	....	electrician
Robert Lewallen	....	grip (as Robert H. Lewallen III)
Victoria J. Lowe	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Anastas N. Michos	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Anastas Michos)
Mike Moad	....	dolly grip
Denise Nelson	....	grip (as Denise B. Nelson)
Mary C. Nelson	....	grip (as Mary Nelson)
Michael Palmer	....	electrician
Chris Reddish	....	electrician (as Christopher Reddish)
Patrick Reddish	....	chief lighting technician
Charles Seligman	....	grip
Penny Sprague	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Penny Sprague Dixon)
John Vecchio	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Peter J. Verrando	....	video playback operator

Casting Department
Jo Edna Boldin	....	casting: Texas
Hal Masonberg	....	casting production assistant
Bronni Stein	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nina Cockburn	....	tailor
Mitzie Corbin	....	set costumer
Lucy W. Corrigan	....	assistant costume designer
Kathy Kiatta	....	costume supervisor (as Kathleen Kiata)

Editorial Department
Elisa Cohen	....	apprentice editor
Jennifer Davidoff Cook	....	assistant editor (as Jennifer A. Davidoff)
Sue Malfitano	....	apprentice editor
Betsy Mcmullin	....	apprentice editor (as Betsy McMullin)
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer

Music Department
Chris Cozens	....	music associate
Joseph S. DeBeasi	....	composer: additional music
Joseph S. DeBeasi	....	music editor
Chris Dibble	....	music scoring mixer
David Hartley	....	musician: piano solo
Graham Walker	....	music production supervisor

Transportation Department
Todd Adair	....	driver
Ray Appel	....	driver (as R.L. Appel)
Mike Brennan	....	driver
Tracy Craytor	....	driver
Fulton 'Greg' Gilson	....	driver (as Fulton Gregory Gilson)
Eddie Hatch	....	driver (as Eddie L. Hatch)
Bruce Holland	....	driver (as A. Bruce Holland)
Terry Johnson	....	driver
David Little	....	driver (as David A. Little)
Sam Lockhart	....	driver (as Sammy M. Lockhart)
Joseph Lockwood	....	driver (as Joseph P. Lockwood)
Lonnie Nelson	....	driver
Wayne Nelson	....	transportation coordinator
Jack Prince	....	driver
Wayne Williams	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Gerard Averill	....	location manager: re-shoot
Sherry Baumgart	....	production auditor
Adam Braid	....	production assistant (as Adam C. Braid)
Bryan Christner	....	production assistant (as Bryan K. Christner)
Katie Cokinos	....	assistant location manager
Steve Cook	....	group voices
Merrilee Dale	....	assistant auditor (as Merrilee Anne Dale)
Brady Dial	....	production assistant
Dianne Dreyer	....	script supervisor
Drew Ebersole	....	group voices
Peter Fernandez	....	group voices
Wayne Forman	....	caterer
Sharon Goodin	....	production assistant
Mary Griffin	....	group voices
Charles Harrington	....	location manager
David Higby	....	production assistant
Deborah Lee Johnson	....	group voices
Kelly Kernan	....	production assistant
Adrienne King	....	group voices
Kathryn Korniloff	....	production secretary
David H. Kramer	....	group voices
Shelly Latham	....	group voices
Cindy Lindauer	....	set teacher
Mary Annette Melton	....	production assistant
Alex F. Newsome	....	production assistant
Brian O'Kelley	....	production assistant (as Brian L. O'Kelley)
Jason Pace	....	group voices
Paulette Rubinstein	....	group voices
Diane Weidenkopf	....	production assistant
Patrick Welsh	....	group voices
Kelley Wood	....	production coordinator
Beverly Jusi	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Kathy Lamkin	....	stand-in: "Mama" (uncredited)

Thanks
Carolyn Quinn	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Sweden) (1994) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1994) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (1994) (UK) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1994) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1994) (Finland) (VHS)
• Touchstone Home Video (1994) (Germany) (VHS)
• RCV Film Distribution (1995) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1996) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• Nelonen (1999) (Finland) (TV) (2001) (2005) (2007)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Touchstone Home Video (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Emerald (2007) (Argentina) (DVD) (re-release) (platinum edition)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1994) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1995) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Cine Saison (Japan)
• Eagle Films (1993) (non-USA) (TV) (Middle East)
• Laurenfilm (Spain)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2010) (Canada) (DVD)
• Paramount Pictures (1994) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Rok Americas (2010) (Thailand) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (Finland) (TV) (1998)

Other Companies

• David Cramer's Looping Group  voice casting
• Unique Catering  catering

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for elements of mature subject matter

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Dolby SR

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #32522) | Iceland:L | France:Unrated | South Korea:12 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Brazil:12 | Peru:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:K-10 | Germany:6 (f) | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Lasse Hallström picked Johnny Depp to play Gilbert Grape because of the way he can express so much emotion through his face and eyes.

Goofs:

Continuity: When eating breakfast in the diner, the bowls of cereal are alternately full/empty between shots.

Quotes:

Arnie:We're not going anywhere! We're not going anywhere!
Arnie:[looks at Gilbert in the truck] Where're you going?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Into the Night with...: Juliette Lewis und Crispin Glover" (2010)

Soundtrack:

This Magic Moment

Very well-done

I thought I wouldn't like this. I decided to see it because I'm a fan of Johnny Depp who appeared in some of my favorite movies [ Edward Scissorhands, Benny and Joon, etc. ] I knew what the plot was: a guy who lives with his 15 year old sister, his 18 year old mentally disabled brother who could die at any time and his morbidly obese mother always has to do everything for his family and something happens that changes his life. It sounded like it was a typical sappy drama. I usually hate dramas like that. Movies in which the only point is to feel bad for the characters. But this one was quite different.

The plot in this movie is unclear, which makes it appealing in my opinion. There isn't a lot of events in the movie, really. It all revolves around Arnie's birthday and Gilbert's meeting with the new girl. The movie is very slow paced and doesn't rely on action and shock to catch his viewer's attentions. It's moving, but the dialogues are also very simple. You might expect this movie to be over-dramatic but it's everything but that. The situation and story are extremely sad, but I never felt overwhelmed by this. Keep in mind that I can't usually handle dramas very well.

The movie is about partly about Gilbert, but it also describes life in this town very well. Gilbert's family often has a big impact on the other people in this town, so it's natural that they would be the family that the movie is about. What's also really nice is that Gilbert isn't portrayed as a hero in this movie. He has flaws, and he can make mistakes even if he's taking care of everyone. He is not the typical good-hearted young adult or teenager who's taking care of everyone and wants to give everything for his family. He actually has feelings of his own and he is trying to find himself. The whole movie is about his quest to find who he really is, if he isn't Gilbert Grape, the guy who's always running after his brother Arnie.

Another good point about this movie is the way it was filmed. The visuals are great and the way the movie was made makes us feel like we're seeing life in a different way than usual.