A Thousand Acres (1997)

Director:

Jocelyn Moorhouse

Writers (WGA):

Jane Smiley (novel)
Laura Jones (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 September 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Best friends. Bitter rivals. Sisters.

Plot:

"King Lear" set on a farm in Iowa.

Plot Keywords:

Iowa | Farm | Lawyer | Child Abandonment | Dysfunctional Family

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win

Cast

Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Rose Cook Lewis
Jessica Lange	...	Ginny Cook Smith
Jason Robards	...	Larry Cook
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Caroline Cook
Colin Firth	...	Jess Clark
Keith Carradine	...	Ty Smith
Kevin Anderson	...	Peter Lewis
Pat Hingle	...	Harold Clark
John Carroll Lynch	...	Ken LaSalle
Anne Pitoniak	...	Mary Livingstone
Vyto Ruginis	...	Charles Carter
Michelle Williams	...	Pammy
Elisabeth Moss	...	Linda
Ray Toler	...	Marv Carson
Kenneth Tigar	...	Doctor
Steve Key	...	Loren Clark
Dan Conway	...	Henry Dodge
Stan Cahill	...	Frank
Ray Baker	...	Wallace Crockett
Beth Grant	...	Roberta
Andrea Nittoli	...	Waitress
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Gunton	...	Judge (uncredited)

Directed by
Jocelyn Moorhouse

Writing credits (WGA)
Jane Smiley		(novel)
Laura Jones		(screenplay)

Produced by
Marc Abraham	....	producer
Lynn Arost	....	producer
Armyan Bernstein	....	executive producer
Thomas A. Bliss	....	executive producer
Steve Golin	....	producer
Kate Guinzburg	....	producer
Diana Pokorny	....	co-producer
Sigurjon Sighvatsson	....	producer
Michelle Pfeiffer	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Richard Hartley

Cinematography by
Tak Fujimoto		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Maryann Brandon

Casting by
Nancy Klopper

Production Design by
Dan Davis

Art Direction by
James F. Truesdale

Set Decoration by
Andrea Mae Fenton		(as Andrea Fenton)

Costume Design by
Ruth Myers

Makeup Department
Rick Baker	....	masectomy effect
Bonnie Clevering	....	key hair stylist
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair stylist: Ms. Pfeiffer
Linda De Andrea	....	hair stylist: Ms. Lange
Jene Fielder	....	body makeup artist: Ms. Pfeiffer
Paul Huntley	....	wigmaker: Ms. Lange
Deborah Mills-Whitlock	....	assistant hair stylist (as Deborah J. Mills)
Sheree Morgan	....	assistant makeup artist
Peter Owen	....	wigmaker: Ms. Pfeiffer
Dorothy J. Pearl	....	makeup artist: Ms. Lange (as Dorothy Pearl)
Ronnie Specter	....	makeup artist: Ms. Pfeiffer
Lizbeth Williamson	....	key makeup artist
Jeanean-Lorrece Eldridge	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Connie Kallos	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Tim Clawson	....	executive in charge of production: Propaganda Films
Joel Hatch	....	production manager: Propaganda Films
Glenn Kiser	....	post-production supervisor: Propaganda Films
Nicole M. Libresco	....	production supervisor: Beacon Pictures (as Nicole Libresco)
Linda Shamest	....	post-production supervisor: Propaganda Films (as Linda Rae Shamest)
Mari-Jo Winkler	....	production manager (as Mari Jo Winkler)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lisa J. Bloch	....	second second assistant director (as Lisa Joi Bloch)
Foongy Lee	....	dga trainee
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director
Molly M. Mayeux	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Richard W. Allen	....	laborer: Los Angeles (as Richard Allen)
Al Barabas	....	laborer: Los Angeles
Joseph Benz	....	scenic: Rochelle
Barry Bernson	....	propmaker gangboss (as Barry R. Bernson)
Richard Blankenship	....	construction coordinator: Rochelle
Robert Blasi	....	art department production assistant
Jonathan Bobbitt	....	leadperson
Gary Boe	....	propmaker
Leonard Bogutskie	....	laborer: Los Angeles
Robert Borgardt	....	carpenter
Troy Borisy	....	set dresser: Rochelle
Catherine Burns	....	decorator painter
Hank Carfora	....	carpenter
Jimmy L. Carmickle	....	construction foreperson: Rochelle (as Jimmy Carmickle)
Benny Castillo	....	laborer: Los Angeles
Peter C. Clarke	....	property master
Michael F. Collar	....	set dresser: Rochelle
Julie B. Crum	....	greensperson: Rochelle (as Julie Crum)
Christopher Cuneo	....	propmaker
Jose Luis de la Garza	....	scenic: Rochelle (as Joe Garza)
Leo De Pazos	....	scenic: Los Angeles
Bruce Di Valerio	....	construction coordinator: Los Angeles
Elizabeth Donaldson	....	assistant greens: Rochelle (as Elizabeth J. Donaldson)
Meg Everist	....	buyer: Rochelle
George A. Folmer	....	scenic: Rochelle (as George Folmer)
Earl Forkrud	....	propmaker gangboss (as Earl R. Forkrud)
Chris Frank	....	first assistant props (as Christopher Frank)
Brian J. Geary	....	mill foreperson
Rick Glenn	....	set dresser: Los Angeles
Manuel Grant	....	laborer: Los Angeles
April Perry Harper	....	construction medic
Joseph Harper Jr.	....	construction foreperson: Rochelle (as Joseph Ray Harper Jr.)
James Hartnett	....	stand-by carpenter: Rochelle (as James M. Hartnett)
Mark Heathfield	....	scenic: Los Angeles
Martha Higgins	....	paint supervisor
Daniel Hunt	....	carpenter
Philip C. Hurst	....	greens coordinator: Los Angeles (as Philip Hurst)
Angelo J. Immordino	....	laborer: Rochelle
Guy C. Johnson	....	labor foreperson: Los Angeles
Jeff L. Johnson	....	propmaker foreperson: Los Angeles (as Jeffrey L. Johnson)
Kurt Johnson	....	laborer: Los Angeles
Philip W. Johnson	....	propmaker
Scott Jump	....	laborer: Los Angeles
James Kenny	....	carpenter
Kay Kropp	....	lead scenic
Jennifer Lagura	....	set dresser: Los Angeles (as Jennifer LaGura)
George Lee	....	set designer (as George R. Lee)
Kathy Lucas	....	buyer: Los Angeles
Richard A. McCarthy	....	plaster foreperson (as Rick McCarthy)
Ryan McCormick	....	laborer: Los Angeles
Johnny P. McIntyre	....	labor foreperson: Los Angeles
Todd McKibben	....	propmaker foreperson: Rochelle
Robert W. McLain	....	laborer: Rochelle
Andrew Menzies	....	set designer
Bill Miscevich	....	scenic: Rochelle
Angi Neff	....	buyer: Rochelle
Michael V. Nichols	....	set dresser: Rochelle
Robert J. Nuckles	....	laborer: Los Angeles
Timothy J. Osman	....	greensperson: Rochelle
Tom Osman	....	assistant greens: Rochelle
Susan Palm	....	scenic: Los Angeles
David K. Pederson	....	scenic foreperson
Robert Prchal	....	propmaker gangboss
Davis Reyes	....	propmaker gangboss (as David Reyes)
Glenn H. Roberts	....	on-set dresser (as Glenn Roberts)
Greg Rocco	....	set dresser: Los Angeles (as Gregory N. Rocco)
Ingred Rofkar	....	scenic: Los Angeles (as Ingrid C. Rofkar)
David Saltzman	....	second assistant props (as David E. Saltzman)
Elliott J. Sanders	....	tool keeper
Jack Sandgren	....	carpenter foreperson: Rochelle
Lori Schory	....	scenic: Rochelle
Brian Sobaski	....	on-set scenic
Brian Sobaski	....	stand-by scenic
Gary Sproule	....	scenic: Rochelle
Julie Stein	....	construction medic
George Stewart	....	stand-by carpenter: Los Angeles
Nikki Stone	....	carpenter
Philip J. Strohm	....	carpenter coordinator: Rochelle
Darryl Tannhauser	....	carpenter
Gary Thomas	....	storyboard artist
Michael A. Truesdale	....	art department production assistant
Mark S. Turner	....	scenic: Los Angeles
Devin Tuuri-Derby	....	scenic: Rochelle (as Devin Derby)
John Vela	....	labor foreperson: Rochelle
H. Lou Villalon	....	carpenter
Chandler Vinar	....	set dresser: Los Angeles
Wynn Wolfe	....	propmaker
Edward Wouters	....	general foreperson: Los Angeles (as Ed Wouters)
Dan Yates	....	carpenter
Susan Zeh	....	art department coordinator
Andrew Marc Zerebko	....	propmaker location gangboss
Darrin Sullivan	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Mark S. Turner	....	sculptor (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charlie Bouis	....	sound recordist
G.W. Brown	....	adr editor
Weldon Brown	....	additional foley mixer
Gabriel Cubos	....	boom operator
Yann Delpuech	....	sound effects editor
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kim Drummond	....	assistant sound editor (as Kim Haves)
Kira Edmunds	....	assistant sound editor
Ryan Eldred	....	foley editor
David E. Fluhr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Grieve	....	supervising sound editor
Adam Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Darren King	....	dialogue editor
Gregory King	....	supervising sound editor (as Greg King)
Aaron Levy	....	sound recordist (as Aaron M. Levy)
Richard Lightstone	....	sound mixer
Dmitriy Lipay	....	assistant sound engineer
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist (as Alyson Moore)
Eric Moore	....	machine room operator
Patricia Nedd	....	foley artist (as Patsy Nedd-Doski)
Rob Nokes	....	assistant sound editor
Nancy Parker	....	foley artist
Brian Ruberg	....	adr mixer
Brian Ruberg	....	foley mixer
Meg Taylor	....	first assistant sound editor
James Wright	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Jim Wright)
Ronald L. Wright	....	cableperson
Dan Yale	....	foley editor
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
E. Niles Klein	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Martin Becker	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Jennifer Law-Stump	....	digital effects artist: Pacific Title Digital
Jeff Wells	....	digital effects artist: Pacific Title Digital

Stunts
James Fierro	....	stunt coordinator (as Jim Fierro)
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Batzdorff	....	still photographer
Tony Bendt	....	grip
Rick A. Benedetto	....	best boy electric (as Rick Benedetto)
Richard L. Carden	....	dolly grip (as Rick Carden)
Scott Carden	....	grip
Yusef Edmonds	....	camera loader: Los Angeles (as Yusef G. Edmonds)
Joe Evreniadis	....	best boy grip
Blair Forward	....	video assist: Los Angeles
David Golia	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Michael Guthrie	....	grip (as Mike 'Miglet' Guthrie)
Kim Heath	....	key grip
Craig Heffern	....	best boy grip (as Craig Steven Heffern)
Rory Herbster	....	best boy electric: Rochelle
Brent Lon Hershman	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Dale Holmen	....	lamp operator: Los Angeles (as Dale M. Holmen)
Beth Horton	....	second assistant camera: Rochelle (as S. Beth Horton)
Anthony J. Lullo	....	key grip: Rochelle
Bradley T. Matthys	....	grip
Tim McDonald	....	lamp operator: Los Angeles (as Timothy P. McDonald)
Chris Napolitano	....	gaffer
Dick Oakes	....	lamp operator: Rochelle
Timothy O'Toole	....	video assist operator: Rochelle
Richard Pelusi	....	grip
Walter Royle	....	grip
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Art Schwab	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Robert Sikora	....	lamp operator: Los Angeles (as Robert 'Skipper' Sikora)
Baird Steptoe	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Baird Benton Steptoe Sr.)
Chris Tango	....	lamp operator: Los Angeles
David Terry	....	grip (as David 'D.T.' Terry)
Nick Thomas	....	lamp operator: Rochelle
Al Bruce	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Michael Dronge	....	grip (uncredited)
David Golia	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Richard Lund	....	background plate photographer (uncredited)
Richard Lund	....	translite photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Leigh French	....	additional voice casting
Tracy Kaplan	....	casting: Chicago
Elizabeth Marx	....	casting associate
Mark A. Ridge	....	extras casting: Rochelle (as Mark Ridge)
Franklyn Warren	....	extras casting: Central Casting (as Frank Warren)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rachel Heilpern	....	costumer
Jennifer Morrison Holyfield	....	costumer: Ms. Pfeiffer
Michelle Kurpaska	....	costume supervisor
JoAnn Lam	....	costumer: Ms. Lange
Tom Macdonald	....	set costumer: men
Zabel Noybarian	....	seamstress (as Zabel Noubarian)
Garet Reilly	....	costumer
Peggy A. Schnitzer	....	key costumer (as Peggy Schnitzer)
Beth Beasley	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
David Blackburn	....	assistant editor: avid
Chris Boscardin	....	assistant editor: Rochelle (as Christopher Boscardin)
Donn Cambern	....	additional editor
William Fletcher	....	first assistant editor
Bryan Lamoureux	....	post-production assistant
Bob Putynkowski	....	color timer (as Robert Putynkowski)
Carrie Shepard	....	assistant editor
Dave Viden	....	color timer
Fred C. Vitale	....	assistant editor: Rochelle
Steve Kraus	....	editing systems technician (uncredited)

Music Department
Ted Barela	....	scoring crew
Greg Buttars	....	music preparation
Leslie Buttars	....	music preparation
Guy Carbonneau	....	liaison: Le Mobile music audio recording facility (as Guy Charbonneau)
James Fahlgren	....	scoring crew
John Finklea	....	music editor
Sienna Finklea	....	assistant music editor
Richard Hartley	....	conductor
Richard Hartley	....	orchestrator
Arthur Kempel	....	orchestrator
David Sabee	....	orchestra contractor
Dawn Soler	....	executive in charge of music: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (as Dawn Solér)
Armin Steiner	....	scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Raymond C. Andersen	....	driver: Rochelle
Anton Aseves	....	driver: Rochelle
Phil Balani	....	driver: Los Angeles (as H. Phil Balani)
Rudolf Beilecke	....	driver: Los Angeles (as Rudolf C. Beilicke)
Paul Burlin	....	driver: Los Angeles
Michael R. Cairo	....	driver: Rochelle (as Michael Cairo)
Bruce Callahan	....	driver: Los Angeles
Ronald Chesney	....	driver: Los Angeles
Victor W. Chin	....	driver: Rochelle
Charles Clevering	....	driver: Los Angeles
Jeff Coffman	....	driver: Los Angeles (as Jeffrey A. Coffman)
Tony Commiso	....	driver: Rochelle
George DiLeonardi	....	transportation: Rochelle (as George Di Leonardi)
Mike Doyle	....	driver: Los Angeles
Brian Duellman	....	driver: Rochelle
Steve Earle	....	driver: Los Angeles
Don Feeney	....	driver: Los Angeles
Craig S. Frigo	....	driver: Rochelle
Scotty Goudreau	....	driver: Los Angeles (as Scott Goudreau)
Kenneth L. Grider	....	driver: Rochelle
Donald B. Martin	....	driver: Los Angeles (as Don Martin)
Henry Matesi	....	driver: Rochelle (as Henry J. Matesi)
James S. Matusiak	....	driver: Rochelle
Burt Melcher	....	driver: Los Angeles
Jerry Meyers	....	driver: Rochelle (as Jerry E. Meyers)
Brian Joseph Moore	....	driver: Los Angeles (as Joseph Moore)
John Nallen	....	transportation co-captain: Rochelle
James 'Obee' Oberman	....	driver: Los Angeles
Marco A. Orozco	....	driver: Los Angeles (as Marco Antonio Orozco)
Evelyn Patzkowski	....	driver: Los Angeles
Derek Raser	....	transportation coordinator
Walter Ressetar	....	driver: Rochelle (as Walter 'DC' Ressetar)
Edward M. Riley	....	driver: Rochelle
George A. Sack	....	driver: Los Angeles
Jennifer Scott	....	driver: Los Angeles
Geoff Teagardin	....	driver: Los Angeles (as Geoffrey Teagardin)
J.T. Thayer	....	transportation captain: Los Angeles (as J.T. Thayer II)
Earl Thielen	....	driver: Los Angeles (as Earl V. Thielen)
Tracy Thielen	....	driver: Los Angeles (as Tracy 'Ace' Thielen)
Mickey Vendafreddo Jr.	....	driver: Rochelle (as Michael Vendafreddo Jr.)
Chuck Visconte	....	driver: Los Angeles
Gary Zarris	....	driver: Rochelle (as Gary M. Zarris)
Michael Zebell	....	driver: Rochelle

Other crew
Rachel Aberly	....	unit publicist
Alison Balian	....	assistant: Ms. Moorhouse
Kelly Barr	....	production coordinator
Barbara Bass	....	studio teacher
Cory Berg	....	production assistant
Elizabeth A. Bergman	....	accounting clerk
Katherine M. Bishop	....	assistant: Mr. Bliss
Michele R. Boissiere	....	assistant production coordinator (as Michele Boissiere)
Thomas Brunelle	....	additional voices
William Calvert	....	additional voices
Kristen M. D'Angelo	....	production assistant
Scott Devereaux	....	production assistant
Sara Endsley	....	assistant: Mr. Bernstein
Lauren Erickson	....	assistant: Ms. Leigh
Michael Etheridge	....	production assistant (as Mike M. Etheridge)
Gwen Everman	....	production accountant (as Gwendolyn Everman)
Kristi Frankenheimer	....	location manager: Los Angeles (as Kristi Frankenheimer-Davis)
Leigh French	....	additional voices
Siri Dharma Galliano	....	assistant: Ms. Lange
Will Gatlin	....	craft service
Jay Gibson	....	production assistant
Jason Elliot Goldberg	....	production assistant
Misty Green	....	assistant: Mr. Abraham (as Misty R. Green)
Brett Greenstein	....	assistant: Mr. Golin
Anne Healy	....	assistant location manager: Rochelle
Wilfredo Hernandez	....	production assistant
Brian Herskowitz	....	additional voices
Ellen Hofstadter	....	accounting supervisor (as Ellen Hofstadter-Shapiro)
Caren Horwitz	....	assistant: Ms. Pfeiffer
Mark D. Houston	....	accounting clerk (as Mark Douglas Houston)
Bob Hudgins	....	location manager: Rochelle
Phill Kane	....	production assistant
Mary Kohnert	....	assistant: Ms. Guinzburg
James R. McAllister	....	assistant location manager: Rochelle
Charles Mcdonald	....	title designer (as Charles McDonald)
Christie Mellor	....	additional voices
Carla Meyer	....	dialect coach
Jonise Misiewicz	....	payroll accountant
Amy L. Myers	....	production assistant
Leslie Park	....	script supervisor
Julie Payne	....	additional voices
Ken Perkins	....	production assistant
Jacquie Perryman	....	senior vice president: PolyGram Soundtracks
Sargent Pillsbury	....	assistant: Mr. Golin
Brian Pope	....	accounting clerk
Todd Redilla	....	production assistant
Sandra Roche	....	production secretary (as Sandra Roach)
Elizabeth Sarnoff	....	assistant: Ms. Pokorny
Elizabeth Schulze	....	assistant production coordinator
Jalee Marie Simaan	....	post-production accountant
Gail Thomas	....	additional voices
Tim Werle	....	set medic: Los Angeles
Doreen Wilcox	....	assistant: Mr. Arost
Whitney J. Willard	....	first assistant auditor
Judy Williams	....	set medic: Rochelle
Matthew Woody	....	assistant location manager: Los Angeles
Kevin Bissada	....	assistant: Via Rosa Productions (uncredited)
Traci Glodery	....	intern: Via Rosa Productions (uncredited)
Paul Hargrave	....	executive location manager: Propaganda Films (uncredited)

Thanks
Jerilynn Goodman	....	thanks (as Jerilyn Goodman)
Tracy Holder	....	thanks: The Holiday Inn, Rochelle, IL
Alec Kaplanes	....	thanks: Aunt Mary's Yarns and Crafts
Brian Mastre	....	thanks: KIMT-TV
Jerry Sedars	....	thanks: Sedars Motor Company
Kevin Skarupa	....	thanks: KIMT-TV
Bernie Taupin	....	thanks: The Farm Dogs
Barbara Terhune	....	thanks
Ron VerKuilen	....	thanks: Illinois State Film Office (as Ron Ver Kuilen)

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures (presents)
• Propaganda Films (in association with)
• Beacon Communications (in association with) (copyright owners)
• Via Rosa Productions (as Via Rosa)
• Prairie Films
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment (copyright owners)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (1998) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• GAGA (1998) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Humax Pictures (1998) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Líder Films (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Film Distribution (1998) (France) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Vitória Filmes (1998) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1999) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1999) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Lebensfeld Productions (uncredited)
• Pacific Title Digital (digital effects)

Other Companies

• American Cancer Society  the producers wish to thank
• Aunt Mary's Yarns and Crafts  the producers wish to thank
• Buena Vista Negative Cutting  negative matching
• Bureau County Sheriff's Department  the producers wish to thank
• City of Rochelle, Illinois  the producers wish to thank
• DeKalb County Sheriff's Department  the producers wish to thank
• Deluxe Catering  catering: Los Angeles
• Des Moines Register, The  historical photos courtesy of
• Discovery Records  video: Farm Dogs courtesy of
• Eat Your Hearts Out  additional catering: Rochelle
• Farm Dogs, The  the producers wish to thank
• Holiday Inn, The, Rochelle, Illinois  the producers wish to thank
• Home on the Range  catering: Rochelle
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals
• Illinois Department of Transportation  the producers wish to thank
• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency  the producers wish to thank
• Illinois Film Office, The  the producers wish to thank (as Illinois State Film Office)
• International Film Guarantors  completion bond
• KIMT  footage: Storm Warning courtesy of
• KIMT  the producers wish to thank
• Le Mobile  music recording facility
• Lee County Sheriff's Department  the producers wish to thank
• Mazda Automobiles  the producers wish to thank
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• Near North Insurance Brokerage  insurance
• Ogle County Sheriff's Department  the producers wish to thank
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Parker Brothers  trademark owned by: Monopoly
• Revlon/UCLA Breast Center  the producers wish to thank
• Rhonda Fleming Mann Resource Center for Women with Cancer  the producers wish to thank
• Seattlemusic  music performed by
• Sedars Motor Company  the producers wish to thank
• Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division  permission given for use of: "The Hidden Window Mystery" by Caroline Keene, ©1956 by Statameyer Syndicate (as Simon & Schuster)
• Sound Dogs  sound editorial
• St. Thomas Chapel, Bastyr University  music recorded at
• Streamline Images  footage: Giraffe footage courtesy of
• Subaru of America  the producers wish to thank
• Todd-AO Studios  post-production sound
• UPP Entertainment Services  the producers wish to thank
• US Army Engineer Corps  the producers wish to thank (as U.S. Corps of Engineers)
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack
• Vista Group  the producers wish to thank

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong sexual language.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Denmark:7 | USA:R (certificate #35105) | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:R(A) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Illinois, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Michelle Pfeiffer, who produced the film, wanted Paul Newman to play patriarch Larry Cook, but he turned down the role.

Quotes:

Larry Cook: You can't have children, but you, Rose, your children will laugh when you die.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 55th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1998) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Crazy

Competent screen adaptation of an excellent novel

I liked this movie a lot, but the feeling that I most came away with was the memory of how much I´d enjoyed the novel. The film features two of the best actresses working today--Jessica Lange, who is great here, and the divine Jennifer Jason Leigh, who does the best she can with the thinly-drawn character she is given--as well as a surprisingly excellent Michelle Pfeiffer and a steady Jason Robards. The adaptation is basically faithful to the book, at least as faithful as it can be in an hour and forty minutes. The film doesn´t really dazzle, except for certain scenes between Lange and Pfeiffer, but it does a thoroughly competent job of visualizing this wonderfully tragic story. As far as movies adapted from novels go, this was definitely among the better ones. If nothing else, it has sent me back to my bookshelves to rediscover favorite passages from Jane Smiley´s excellent novel, and back to King Lear to brush up on the minor characters in order to see just how deep the parallels go. Worth your time as a film, definitely, and hopefully enough to make you remember that reading great literature is a joy as well.