The Road to Wellville (1994)

A story about the ins and outs of one unusual health facility in the early 20th century, run by the eccentric Dr. Kellogg.

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers:

T. Coraghessan Boyle (novel), Alan Parker (screenplay)

Stars:

Anthony Hopkins, Bridget Fonda, Matthew Broderick

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Hopkins	...	Dr. John Harvey Kellogg
Bridget Fonda	...	Eleanor Lightbody
Matthew Broderick	...	William Lightbody
John Cusack	...	Charles Ossining
Dana Carvey	...	George Kellogg
Michael Lerner	...	Goodloe Bender
Colm Meaney	...	Dr. Lionel Badger
John Neville	...	Endymion Hart-Jones
Lara Flynn Boyle	...	Ida Muntz
Traci Lind	...	Nurse Irene Graves
Camryn Manheim	...	Virginia Cranehill
Roy Brocksmith	...	Poultney Dab
Norbert Weisser	...	Dr. Spitzvogel
Monica Parker	...	Mrs. Tindermarsh
Jacob Reynolds	...	Young George Kellogg

Storyline

A madcap portrayal of William Lightbody's stay at the health farm run by cereal king Dr. John Harvey Kellogg. William's wife, Eleanor, has persuaded him to go to Kellogg to have his system cleaned of impurities. Kellogg is very unconventional, and almost barbaric in his treatments.

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Plot Keywords:

health | therapy | sex | eccentric | cereal | 

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Taglines:

A comedy of the heart and other organs.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sex-related humor

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aux bons soins du Dr Kellogg

Filming Locations:

North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

£932,040 (UK) (24 February 1995)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beacon Communications, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Dirty Hands Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Mr. Unpronounceable is dead, you can see him breathing.

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Quotes

[Charlie is waiting outside in the rain for Bender. A kid approaches him]
Ernest O'Reilly: You Charlie Ossining?
Charles Ossining: Yes.
Ernest O'Reilly: Mr. Bender says you're to come with me.
Charles Ossining: Good God boy, where's the cab?
Ernest O'Reilly: No cab, Mr. Bender says to walk.
Charles Ossining: Is it far?
Ernest O'Reilly: It wouldn't be if we weren't walking.

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Connections

Referenced in Action: Blowhard (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Where The Spirits Soar"
Composed by Jake Parker
Lyrics by Alan Parker

User Reviews

Hilarious Fun!

Battle Creek, Michigan is hometown to me and several generations of my family. So, maybe I appreciated 'The Road to Wellville' more than most. After all, anyone living in Battle Creek either works for the Kellogg Company or is close to someone who does. Kellogg's and Post cereal companies have affected nearly every level of Battle Creek's evolution for 100 years or more.

The great cereal boom of the early 1900s is still talked about today. And tales of the legendary Dr. Harvey Kellogg (artfully played by Anthony Hopkins), Seventh Day Adventists, and the famous (or infamous) Battle Creek 'San' are fondly retold by some of the town's elder residents. The health regimens practiced at the B.C. Sanitarium led to a host of other health-related businesses in Battle Creek which made everything from dubious exercise equipment to nearly tasteless all-veggie soybean burgers.

This film is a lively, tongue-in-cheek rendition of the intriguing story about an era when entrepreneurship in the U.S. was at its peak. The cast, featuring Matthew Broderick, John Cusack, Bridget Fonda and Dana Carvey, is excellent and the humor as wacky as it gets.

Bon appetit!