Harrison Bergeron (1995) (TV)

Director:

Bruce Pittman

Writers:

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (story)
Arthur Crimm (writer)

Release Date:

13 August 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Welcome to the future. It's a no-brainer.

Plot:

"All men are not created equal. It is the purpose of the Government to make them so." This is the premise...

Plot Keywords:

2050s | Based On Short Story | Futuristic | Under Achiever | Black Comedy

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Sean Astin	...	Harrison Bergeron
Miranda de Pencier	...	Phillipa
Eugene Levy	...	President McCloskey
Howie Mandel	...	Charlie (of 'Chat with Charlie')
Andrea Martin	...	Diana Moon Glampers
Christopher Plummer	...	John Klaxon
Nigel Bennett	...	Dr. Eisenstock
Peter Boretski	...	Newman
David Calderisi	...	Commissioner Benson
Emmanuelle Chriqui	...	Jeannie
Hayden Christensen	...	Eric
Cindy Cook	...	Weatherperson
Roger Dunn	...	George Bergeron
Jayne Eastwood	...	Ms. Newbound
Hal Eisen	...	TV Announcer - San Quentin

Also Known As:

Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron

MPAA:

Rated R for language, and for some sexuality and violence.

Runtime:

USA:99 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ontario, Canada

Company:

Atlantis Films Limited

Quotes:

John Klaxon: Can you imagine how I must feel, knowing that I'm striving to create a world in which no Beethoven will ever be born? But it has to be, not just because of some words in a constitution. It has to be.

Movie Connections:

Features It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Soundtrack:

Tennessee Waltz

Drastically Different, but Beautifully the Same

I read the Kurt Vonnegut short story "Harrison Bergeron" in the ninth grade, and in the tenth grade we tore it apart from beginning to end. I loved that short story; I found it fascinating, the idea of a civilization where equality exists in its base form, and yet nothing is right. Then I passed by this movie during one of my many continuing stints in a Hollywood video store. I raised my eyebrows in surprise, then furrowed them in disgust, and passed on. You see, book/story-turned-film adaptations and I do not have a pleasant history. But eventually, I broke down. What the hell?

I was dazzled immediately. Of course, the story Harrison Bergeron, as compared to Sean Astin, is as I said, Drastically Different (with capital letters included). However, he acts the role of the confused Harrison wonderfully. The film is nothing like the short story - the only things they have in common are the name and the base concept. But what the filmakers did with that base concept is extraordinary, very much deserving of the 10/10 stars I rated it with. You cannot argue with a film that answers all of your questions that the book merely skimmed upon, and yet remains true to the story. All of the actors were amazing, and played their roles with amazing vigor. The film was homely; you could connect with these people and these places. It struck me as Oscar-deserving, and it was made for television! Please, if you have read the story and are wary of this picture, don't be. I was, but I broke down, and I'll never regret it. And if you haven't read the story, watch the movie anyway. You'll get it right from the humorous beginning to a near tear-jerker ending.

Thanks for making a film adaptation that I, for one, could enjoy.