The Cider House Rules (1999)

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers (WGA):

John Irving (novel)
John Irving (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 January 2000 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A story about how far we must travel to find the place where we belong.

Plot:

A compassionate young man, raised in an orphanage and trained to be a doctor there, decides to leave to see the world.

Plot Keywords:

Orphanage | Abortion | Orphan | Apple | Doctor

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 28 nominations

Cast

Tobey Maguire	...	Homer Wells
Charlize Theron	...	Candy Kendall
Delroy Lindo	...	Arthur Rose
Paul Rudd	...	Lt. Wally Worthington
Michael Caine	...	Dr. Wilbur Larch
Jane Alexander	...	Nurse Edna
Kathy Baker	...	Nurse Angela
Erykah Badu	...	Rose Rose
Kieran Culkin	...	Buster
Kate Nelligan	...	Olive Worthington
Heavy D	...	Peaches
K. Todd Freeman	...	Muddy
Paz de la Huerta	...	Mary Agnes
J.K. Simmons	...	Ray Kendall
Evan Parke	...	Jack (as Evan Dexter Parke)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexuality, nudity, substance abuse and some violence.

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #36692) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | South Korea:15 | Taiwan:GP | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bellows Falls, Vermont, USA

Company:

FilmColony

Trivia:

John Irving subsequently wrote two novels - Until I Find You (2005) and Last Night In Twisted River (2009) which feature characters who win the 1999 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay that Irving won for this movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Wally and Candy arrive at the orphanage, Curly can be seen running down the steps to approach their car. He looks as if he's helping to open the door, directly in front of Candy. However in the next shot Curly's seen running in from the left to introduce himself to Candy.

Quotes:

Candy Kendall: I know what's going on Rose. Homer told me. You don't know this, but I got pregnant about a year ago. Do you want to have this baby? No? Who's the father? Does he know? If you don't want to have this baby, Homer and I will take you to a place. It's safe. He knows this doc...
Rose Rose: I can't go nowhere.
Candy Kendall: Why? Rose, listen to me. You can tell me. It's ok.
[Rose starts crying]
Arthur Rose: Morning.
Candy Kendall: Morning, Mr. Rose.
Arthur Rose: I'm gonna be up top, ok?
[Rose gestures to Arthur as the father of her baby]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Hugh Jackman/Mick Jagger (#27.8)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Alligator Crawl

Funny, moving, incredibly well-done

I didn't think it was possible, but one of John Irving's most difficult books was condensed by the author himself (the last third of the book is gone) into a very very good movie. All the acting is great (especially the nice low key performances by Macguire and Caine), BEAUTIFULLY shot (in Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts), a score that fits the movie like a glove and fully realized three-dimensional characters. Plot-wise there's nothing new (young man goes out to see the world, discovers himself, etc etc) but the cast makes it seem new. They all find depth in roles that have been done before--especially Caine who speaks with a very convincing Maine accent! Bring lots of tissues with you--the movie is sad and disturbing at points (all kept in the PG-13 rating however), but it has a happy ending. Well worth seeing. See it on a BIG screen--all the beautiful shoots won't work on TV.