One True Thing (1998)

Director:

Carl Franklin

Writers (WGA):

Anna Quindlen (novel)
Karen Croner (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Love What You Have.

Plot:

A career woman reassesses her parents' lives after she is forced to care for her cancer-stricken mother.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Job | Cancer | New York | Professor

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Kate Gulden
Renée Zellweger	...	Ellen Gulden
William Hurt	...	George Gulden
Tom Everett Scott	...	Brian Gulden
Lauren Graham	...	Jules
Nicky Katt	...	Jordan Belzer
James Eckhouse	...	District Attorney
Patrick Breen	...	G.A. Tweedy
Gerrit Graham	...	Oliver Most
David Byron	...	Senator Sullivan
Stephen Peabody	...	Harold
Lizbeth MacKay	...	Dr. Cohen
Mary Catherine Wright	...	Clarice
Sloane Shelton	...	Evelyn Best
Michele Shay	...	June
Bobo Lewis	...	Muriel
Marylouise Burke	...	Louisa
Marcia Jean Kurtz	...	Marcia
Diana Canova	...	Diana
John Deyle	...	Santa / Mayor
Hallee Hirsh	...	Ellen - Age 8
Jeffrey Scaperrotta	...	Brian - Age 4
Todd Cerveris	...	Casey
Anna Carolina Alvim	...	Nurse Teresa (as Anna Alvim)
Julie Janney	...	Hospital Nurse
Susan Stout	...	Tweedy's Secretary
Greg Hedtke	...	Magazine Executive
Christian James	...	Magazine Executive
Lauren Toub	...	Halloween Girl
Ashley Remy	...	Halloween Girl
Saul Williams	...	Graduate Student (as Saul Stacey Williams)
Julianne Nicholson	...	College Student
Amber Kain	...	College Student
Yolande Bavan	...	Nari
Benjamin Andrews	...	Party Kid
Kathryn Walsh	...	Party Kid
James E. Graseck	...	Violinist
Doug Allen	...	Club Bandleader
Kirk Driscoll	...	Club Band Member
Paul Pimsler	...	Club Band Member
Scott Spray	...	Club Band Member
Jay Stollman	...	Club Band Member
Cathy Comiskey	...	Christmas Choir Member
Ruth Egner	...	Christmas Choir Member
Phil Gamble	...	Christmas Choir Member
David Hutchings	...	Christmas Choir Member
Linda Hutchings	...	Christmas Choir Member
Wilbur Lewis	...	Christmas Choir Member
Rich Morin	...	Christmas Choir Member
Annette Mulholland	...	Christmas Choir Member
Rosemary Palmer	...	Christmas Choir Member
Gina Piccolo	...	Christmas Choir Member
Rebecca Raines	...	Christmas Choir Member
Barbara Russell	...	Christmas Choir Member
Joanna Hoty Russell	...	Christmas Choir Member
Barbara Savino	...	Christmas Choir Member
Normana Schaaf	...	Christmas Choir Member
Paul Schroeder	...	Christmas Choir Member
Mary G. Sims	...	Christmas Choir Member
Wolodymyr Smishkewych	...	Christmas Choir Member
Chris Sterling	...	Christmas Choir Member
Nancy Tkacs	...	Christmas Choir Member
Peter Zimmerman	...	Christmas Choir Member (as Peter Zimmermann)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ethan Aronoff	...	Princeton Student (uncredited)
Rachael Cohen	...	Girl Singing Carol (uncredited)
Bill Cook	...	Man on Escalator Next to Ellen Gulden (uncredited)
Catherine Dudley	...	Teacher (uncredited)
David Heymann	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Jon McAllister	...	Business Man (uncredited)
George F. Miller	...	Passenger Getting on Bus (uncredited)
Frank Anthony Polito	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Tim Realbuto	...	Soccer Player (uncredited)
Leif Riddell	...	Neighbor (uncredited)
Ric Sechrest	...	Student Teacher (uncredited)
Nick Stellate	...	School Teacher (uncredited)
Heather Whittington	...	Businesswoman (uncredited)

Directed by
Carl Franklin

Writing credits (WGA)
Anna Quindlen		(novel)
Karen Croner		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jesse Beaton	....	producer
Leslie Morgan	....	executive producer
Harry J. Ufland	....	producer
William W. Wilson III	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Cliff Eidelman

Cinematography by
Declan Quinn

Film Editing by
Carole Kravetz Aykanian		(as Carole Kravetz)

Casting by
Richard Pagano

Production Design by
Paul Peters

Art Direction by
Jefferson Sage

Set Decoration by
Elaine O'Donnell
Leslie A. Pope

Costume Design by
Donna Zakowska

Makeup Department
Colleen Callaghan	....	key hair stylist
Kymbra Callaghan	....	assistant makeup artist
Toni Coburn	....	additional hair stylist
Joseph Farulla	....	additional makeup artist
Gloria Grant	....	additional makeup artist
Gudrun Halt	....	additional hair stylist
J. Roy Helland	....	hair stylist: Ms. Streep
J. Roy Helland	....	makeup artist: Ms. Streep
Sharon Ilson	....	key makeup artist
Jackie Payne	....	additional hair stylist
James Post	....	assistant hair stylist
Karen Reuter Fabbo	....	additional makeup artist
Linda Grimes	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Rosanne Puchal	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Taurance F. Williams	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Carl Clifford	....	unit production manager
Michele Giordano	....	production supervisor
Tim Pedegana	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alexandra K. Browne	....	trainee assistant director (as Alexandra Kipani Browne)
Terry Ham	....	second second assistant director
Sam Hoffman	....	first assistant director
Dale M. Nielsen	....	second assistant director (as Dale Pierce Nielsen)
Jono Oliver	....	first assistant director: second unit
Jono Oliver	....	second assistant director
William W. Wilson III	....	second unit director
Linda Brachman	....	first assistant director: reshoots (uncredited)
Shea Rowan	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
James J. Archer	....	assistant property master (as James Archer)
Martin Bernstein	....	construction coordinator
Anne Carroll	....	shop production assistant
Michael Curry Sr.	....	construction foreman (as Michael Curry)
Ellen Doak	....	scenic artist
Richard Bryan Douglas	....	carpenter
Warren Drummond	....	storyboard artist
Joan Finley	....	props: second unit
Ralph Fratianni	....	construction grip foreman
Steve Fratianni	....	construction grip
Jim Galvin	....	shop electrician
John D. Genovese	....	art department production assistant
Nancy Griffith	....	assistant property master
Bruce Lee Gross	....	lead man
Denise Gurkas	....	camera scenic artist
Gregory A. Jennings	....	art department coordinator
Richard S. Kamin	....	carpenter
Philip Kennedy	....	scenic artist (as Phil Kennedy)
Clifford Klatt	....	set dresser
Robert H. Klatt	....	set dresser (as Robert Klatt)
Robin Koenig	....	set dresser
Melanie Lynch	....	art department production assistant
Christine Mayer	....	assistant set decorator
Jeffrey D. McDonald	....	assistant art director (as Jeffrey McDonald)
Darius Menard	....	scenic artist
Kay Michaels	....	art department researcher assistant
Scott P. Murphy	....	assistant art director
Dennis Murray	....	set dresser
William V. Nesherbon	....	set dressing production assistant
Mark Nissenholtz	....	scenic artist
Arne Olsen	....	key construction grip
Ellen Oshins	....	scenic artist
Mark Peltzer	....	property master
Jim Power	....	set dresser
Pamela Roy-Stasney	....	assistant set decorator (as Pam Roy)
Francesco Sciarrone	....	scenic artist (as Frank Sciarrone)
Lee Suta	....	scenic artist
Bruce Swanson	....	set dresser
Robert Vaccariello	....	carpenter
Amy Walker	....	scenic shop person
Patricia Walker	....	scenic charge
Ben White	....	carpenter
Kate Yatsko	....	assistant set decorator
Denis Zack	....	set dresser
Ryan Cassidy	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Clarissa Shanahan	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Randle Akerson	....	supervising sound editor
Andrew Bock	....	assistant sound editor (as Andrew L. Bock)
Richard Burton	....	sound editor
Allan Byer	....	production sound mixer
Simon Coke	....	sound editor
Gary Gegan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Don Givens	....	sound recordist
Kimberly Harris	....	adr supervisor (as Kimberly Ann Harris)
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary Hecker)
Matthew Iadarola	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Robin Johnston	....	sound recordist
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Kim Maitland	....	sound recordist
Karen Minahan	....	assistant sound editor
Bob Newlan	....	foley supervisor
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Brian Ruberg	....	adr mixer
Monique Salvato	....	adr assistant
Micah Solomon	....	boom operator
Scott A. Tinsley	....	sound editor
Hugo Weng	....	sound editor
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
James R. Bilz	....	special effects
J.C. Brotherhood	....	special effects foreman
Carmen Campolo	....	special effects
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects coordinator
Wayne Miller	....	special effects
Matthew W. Mungle	....	special effects makeup (as Matthew Mungle)

Camera and Electrical Department
Samuel S. Arcure	....	generator operator
Tony Arnaud	....	grip
Daniel Beaman	....	key grip: second unit (as Dan Beaman)
Daniel Beaman	....	rigging grip (as Dan Beaman)
James R. Belletier	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Jim Belletier)
Jason Boughton	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as J. Boughton)
Paul Candrilli	....	grip: second unit
Andrew Casey	....	Steadicam operator
Andrew Casey	....	director of photography: second unit
Eugene C. DePasquale	....	grip (as Eugene DePasquale III)
Christopher Dolan	....	electrician
Richard Dolan	....	rigging gaffer
Andrew J. Farley	....	grip (as Andrew Farley)
Ken Ferris	....	camera operator
Richie Ford	....	electrician (as Richard Ford)
Thomas Ford	....	best boy (as Tom Ford)
Dennis Green	....	24 frame video operator
Mai Iskander	....	camera loader
Mai Iskander	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Gábor Kövér	....	director of photography: second unit
Jason Lanci	....	electrician
John R. MacDonald	....	second assistant camera: second unit (as John MacDonald)
Todd MacNicholl	....	key grip: second unit
Edgar Martin	....	grip
Frances 'Buddy' McBride	....	electrician (as Buddy McBride)
Jim McCullagh	....	electrician (as James McCullagh)
Robert Merk	....	gaffer: second unit (as Rob Merk)
Robert Merk	....	generator operator
John Mitchell	....	electrician
Paul Nickason	....	dolly grip
David Noble	....	best boy
Jim Nolan	....	grip: second unit
Chris Norr	....	director of photography: second unit
Heather Norton	....	second assistant camera
Eli Reed	....	still photographer
Nat Russell	....	key grip: second unit
Joseph Sciretta	....	electrician (as Joe Sciretta)
Robert Sciretta	....	gaffer
Kevin Smyth	....	key grip
Susan Starr	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Adam Sternin	....	camera production assistant
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera
Ken Tanzer	....	grip
Joseph Trammell	....	24 frame video operator
Rosie Vanek	....	grip
Deborah Brozina	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Jason Micallef	....	electrician (uncredited)
Michael 'Rodi' Rodia	....	grip (uncredited)
Eric Swanek	....	steadicam assistant (uncredited)

Casting Department
Eyde Belasco	....	casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Anna Liza Recto	....	casting associate: New York
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amy Andrews	....	costume supervisor
Jeanne DuPont	....	assistant costume designer
Frank L. Fleming	....	assistant costume designer
Sheila Grover	....	costume supervisor (as Sheila Gentile)
Virginia D. Patton	....	costume supervisor (as Ginnie Patton)
Gillian Martin Waterman	....	wardrobe production assistant (as Gillian Waterman)

Editorial Department
Marcus Franklin	....	post-production assistant
Moonstar Greene	....	first assistant film editor
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Anthony L. Jamison	....	assistant editor: New York (as Anthony Jamison)
Vincent Mourou	....	apprentice editor
David Rogow	....	first assistant editor: avid

Music Department
Bruce Botnick	....	music mixer
Bruce Botnick	....	music recordist
Julian Bratolyubov	....	music preparation
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Cliff Eidelman	....	conductor
Cliff Eidelman	....	orchestrator
Alex Gibson	....	supervising music editor
Darrell Hall	....	music editor
Dan Lieberstein	....	music supervisor: New York
Dan Lieberstein	....	supervising music recordist: New York
Charles Mingus	....	musician: "Body and Soul"
Patrick Russ	....	orchestrator
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: French horn (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Ernie Acquavella	....	driver
Joe Amoruso	....	driver
David Babcock	....	driver (as Dave Babcock)
Ed Battista	....	driver
Thomas H. Beattie	....	driver (as Tom Beattie)
Ed Bentz	....	driver
Patrick Bentz	....	transportation co-captain
Henry Boyle	....	driver
John Carroll	....	driver
Jerry Carter	....	driver
David Chacon	....	driver
Robert Collins	....	driver (as Bob Collins)
Steven Curtis	....	driver (as Steve Curtis)
John Featherstone	....	driver
Joe Flynn	....	driver
Roy A. Grace	....	driver (as Roy Grace)
Albert W. Hamilton Sr.	....	driver
Kevin Harrigan	....	driver
Steve Hollingsworth	....	driver
John Hunt	....	driver
Michael Iriarte	....	driver
Jim Jelardi	....	driver
Joseph W. Kelly	....	driver (as Joe Kelly)
Bernie Martin	....	driver
Charlie Murphy	....	driver
George Nadramia Jr.	....	driver
Kevin O'Neill	....	driver
Joe Parvis	....	driver
Frank Perrotti	....	driver
Joe Quigley	....	driver
Frank Riva	....	driver
Caesar Rivera	....	driver
Scott Ross	....	driver
Dennis Salomone	....	transportation captain
Larry Sinclair	....	driver
Charles Spillane	....	driver (as Charlie Spillane)
Barry Sweeney	....	driver
James Sweeney	....	driver (as Jim Sweeney)
Francis Volpe	....	driver

Other crew
Erica Bamforth	....	set production assistant
Craig Bankey	....	publicist
Jack Bavaro	....	location assistant
Maureen Beitler	....	set medic
Lisa Bergen	....	production intern
Lynne Bergen	....	production intern
Zoran Blazevic	....	location assistant
J.P. Blonshine	....	craft service
Mark Bodnar	....	location scout
Joe Buda	....	payroll accountant (as Joe Buda)
Daniel Coss	....	assistant location manager (as Danny Coss)
Robert Dawson	....	title designer: main titles
Peter J. Dowd Jr.	....	set production assistant (as Peter Dowd)
Ted Duncan	....	stand-in
Alyson Evans	....	assistant production coordinator
Robert Fajardo	....	assistant: Mr. Ufland
Laura Franses	....	location assistant
James French	....	set production assistant
Marie Gabriel	....	stand-in
John Gaskin	....	production accountant
Stefan Gesek	....	location assistant
Mike Gonzales	....	caterer
Remi Guyton	....	assistant: Mr. Flanklin & Mr. Beaton
Meredith Hant	....	assistant: Mrs. Streep
Donna D. Hernandez	....	craft service (as Donna Hernandez)
Ryan Hintz	....	post-production auditor
Tina Hong	....	assistant accountant
Stuart Kelly	....	set production assistant
Brendan Kennedy	....	office production assistant
Steiner C. Kierce	....	office production assistant
Leslie Martino	....	tutor
Maureen McComsey	....	location assistant
Brita McVeigh	....	production secretary
Jerry Mitchell	....	choreographer
Jason Ninness	....	assistant: Mr. Wilson
Pepper O'Brien	....	assistant accountant
Mobolaji Olambiwonnu	....	set production assistant
Katie Petrosky	....	assistant: Mr. Hurt
Michael A. Pinckney	....	set production assistant (as Michael Pinckney)
Carole Leigh Podell	....	stand-in
Bill Purple	....	set production assistant (as William Purple)
Gregory L. Qualles	....	set production assistant
Rudy Segna	....	technical advisor
Paige Stewart	....	craft service
Heidi Topper	....	location manager
Lorne Volat	....	assistant: Ms. Morgan
Christine Welker	....	location coordinator
Annie Welles	....	script supervisor
Ashley Edner	....	adr artist (uncredited)
Julie Janney	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Mandy Key	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Abbie Ludwig	....	production coordinator: additional photography (uncredited)
Peter Pamela Rose	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Thanks
Dan Genetti	....	special thanks
Kevin Reidy	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Monarch Pictures
• Ufland
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2003) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (DVD)
• Finnkino (1999) (Finland) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (France)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Greece)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Universal Pictures (Spain)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2002) (2008) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

USA | Brazil

Language:

English | Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | New Zealand:M | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Finland:S | Sweden:11 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Morristown, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Monarch Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: In some birthday-party scenes, daylight is visible through some windows, and lighting on the staircase suggests daylight, although the action is supposed to be at night, and other windows show darkness outdoors.

Quotes:

Kate Gulden:[dressed as Dorothy] Welcome! There's no place like home!
Ellen Gulden:[silently, to herself] Thank God.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Renée Zellweger/Eve (#26.17)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

If I Only Had A Brain Heart and Nerve

A Sombre Movie With Good Performances

The DVD jacket in which this movie came describes it as "uplifting and humorous." Those are not the words I would have chosen - not by a long shot. I would choose a word like "sombre," sometimes even "depressing." Which isn't to say that it's a bad movie. It's actually a pretty good movie, featuring good performances from the leads, with enough uncertainty throughout about what's going to happen at the end that you keep watching. The uncertainty comes from the structure of the movie - it seems to revolve around Ellen's reminiscences of her mother's slow death from cancer, as she is interviewed by the DA. So, we know from the start that something suspicious happened at the end - the questions are "what?" and "who?"

Renee Zellweger was very good as Ellen - the somewhat resentful daughter who has to give up her life and job in New York to return home to care for her sick mother. Ellen evolves through the movie - moreso than any other character - as she learns to deal with both the strengths and weaknesses of her parents. Her relationship with her father (William Hurt) is quite interesting. My initial impression was that they were quite close, but the warts in the relationship start to show after a while. Hurt was effective as the detached husband - detached not in an uncaring way, but in the sense of being unable to cope with what's happening to his wife, and seeking escape from it in various ways. Finally, Meryl Streep as the cancer-stricken Kate was very convincing in the role, seeking to live out what remains of her life in the most fulfilling way possible, then dealing with the anger she feels at her increasing debilitation. In a way, watching a family deal with this kind of crisis reminded me a little bit of "Ordinary People," although this movie was far less emotionally intense. So, not "uplifting and humorous" (with all due respect to whoever wrote the synopsis on the DVD jacket) but very good in its own way. 7/10