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Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)

 -  Drama | Music  -  19 January 1996 (USA)
7.1
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Ratings: 7.1/10 from 23,224 users  
Reviews: 146 user | 40 critic

A frustrated composer finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher.

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Title: Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)

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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
Bill Meister
...
Principal Jacobs
...
Vice Principal Wolters (as W.H. Macy)
...
Gertrude Lang
...
Louis Russ
...
Bobby Tidd
...
Rowena Morgan
...
Sarah Olmstead
Nicholas John Renner ...
Cole at 6 Years Old
Joseph Anderson ...
Cole at 15 Years Old
...
Cole at 28 Years Old
...
Adult Gertrude
Beth Maitland ...
Deaf School Principal
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Storyline

Glenn Holland is a musician and composer who takes a teaching job to pay the rent while, in his 'spare time', he can strive to achieve his true goal - compose one memorable piece of music to leave his mark on the world. As Holland discovers 'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans' and as the years unfold the joy of sharing his contagious passion for music with his students becomes his new definition of success. Written by <russell.boyd@dsto.defence.gov.au>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

It's not about the direction you take. It's about the direction you give. See more »

Genres:

Drama | Music

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Release Date:

19 January 1996 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Csendszimfónia  »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$92,254 (USA) (19 July 1996)

Gross:

$82,528,097 (USA) (26 July 1996)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

As a child, Katee Sackhoff was a child extra in this film. She has stated that she hated the experience, but vowed to Richard Dreyfuss that she would work with him again. She ended up playing his daughter in the series The Education of Max Bickford six years later. See more »

Goofs

In the Gershwin revue audition scene, Mr. Holland is genuinely surprised and impressed by Rowena's talent and asks her name. However, in the later diner scene, Rowena explains that she loved being in his classes and in the scene where Iris sees her name in the program, she had been in the earlier school production of "My Fair Lady." It is highly unlikely then, that Mr. Holland would have no idea who she is. See more »

Quotes

Vice Principal Wolters: I care about these kids just as much as you do. And if I'm forced to choose between Mozart and reading and writing and long division, I choose long division.
Glenn Holland: Well, I guess you can cut the arts as much as you want, Gene. Sooner or later, these kids aren't going to have anything to read or write about.
See more »

Crazy Credits

Thanks to The Seattle Symphony Orchestra See more »

Connections

Referenced in Film Geek (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

"LOUIE, LOUIE"
Written by Richard Berry
Performed by The Kingsmen
Courtesy of Original Sound Record Co., Inc.
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Excellent film, with even better music
6 May 1999 | by (North Bay, Ontario) – See all my reviews

Richard Dreyfuss is outstanding (as is the whole cast) in this thoroughly enjoyable film. I really liked it the first time, but with repeated viewings, I'd say that this film got even better. It's a little predictable, but so what? For me, it was impossible not to care about these characters, and the ending was the perfect heartwarming note to go out on. It was rather funny as well, but my favourite thing about this movie was the music. It seems only fitting, considering the importance of music to this film, that it would have a great number of songs, but I was astonished by how much I LOVED the music in this movie. All-in-all, this was a completely satisfying film, and I would call it a must-see.


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