The Basket (1999)

A picturesque Pacific Northwest community raising its wheat and children in the midst of a nation reeling from World War I sets the stage for The Basket. In a time of pain and prejudice ... See full summary »

Director:

Rich Cowan

Writers:

Don Caron (screenplay), Rich Cowan (screenplay),

Stars:

Peter Coyote, Karen Allen, Robert Burke

4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Coyote	...	Martin Conlon
Karen Allen	...	Bessie Emery
Robert Burke	...	Helmut Brink (as Robert Karl Burke)
Amber Willenborg	...	Brigitta Brink
Jock MacDonald	...	Nicholas Emery
Eric Dane	...	Tom Emery
Brian Skala	...	Nathan Emery
Casey Cowan	...	Samuel Emery
Tony Lincoln	...	Reverend Simms
Patrick Treadway	...	Frederick Treadway
Ellen Travolta	...	Agnes
Jack Bannon	...	Marcus
Elwon Bakly	...	Ben Emery
Joey Travolta	...	Charlie Cohn
Paul Hostetler	...	Old Helmut Brink

Storyline

A picturesque Pacific Northwest community raising its wheat and children in the midst of a nation reeling from World War I sets the stage for The Basket. In a time of pain and prejudice woven against a background of beauty, The Basket ultimately points to triumph and hope in a changing America.

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Plot Keywords:

world war one | war orphan | opera | german immigrant | xenophobia | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild violence and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

5 May 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Basket

Filming Locations:

Garfield, Washington, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$61,300 (USA) (5 May 2000)

Gross:

$609,042 (USA) (27 April 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

North by Northwest Entertainment, Privileged Communication

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color Color (Alphacine)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The music for the opera Der Korb used in the film was composed by co-writer/composer Don Caron of Spokan who mentions in the featurette "Behind the Basket: Composing" that as the screenplay was developed, a story for the opera was also developed. He started composing some of the music during the three year process of writing the script, but the bulk of the music was composed in the six weeks after the movie was posted. The record booklet shown in the film at 16:06 shows the composer as Gottlieb Mueller, possibly taken from Christian Gottlieb Müller, the first music composition teacher of Richard Wagner.

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Goofs

When we see the envelope Mr. Conlon is mailing (04:38), it shows the 2-letter state abbreviations for Washington and Massachusetts. These weren't adopted until 1963, when zip codes were introduced. More likely, the abbreviations would have been Wash. and Mass.

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Quotes

[Tom tries to justify his going to war after his brother Ben dies of battle injuries]
Tom Emery: Ben told me all about the war.
Brigitta: And where is Ben now?

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Crazy Credits

"You Name It" ... Mike Cassell Thanks to ... All the Babysitters

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Soundtracks

"Der Korb"
(The Basket) The Opera
Composed by Don Caron
Performed by The Hungarian Symphony Orchestra

User Reviews

A GREAT HEART-WARMING FILM

I had the pleasure of seeing 'THE BASKET' over the Christmas holiday and thought it was fantastic. It wasn't a film that I had really heard much about although I gather it is beginning to make waves. I saw a mention of it in a newspaper saying that it starred KAREN ALLEN and had got good reviews, so I thought 'she's a cool actress - sounds good - I'll check it out'. I was really blown away!

The film is visually stunning with fantastic scenery and incredible framing. The acting by ALLEN (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Starman, Perfect Storm) and PETER COYOTE (E.T., Erin Brockovich) was superb, especially when ALLEN looks at her dying son Ben, then lifts her eyes to the heavens as if begging God for him to recover. I found this part of the film to be particularly poignant and moving. We were all crying when ALLEN breaks down and runs into the field. Wonderful acting - not O.T.T. - just right.

The young German children were also fab. I really felt for them all. The rousing music was nicely integrated as were the fully developed subplots regarding the harvester and Mr Emery's initial discrimination against the children. I would rate this film as one of the best all year. A very, very big well done for cast and crew and in particular first time director RICH COWEN! I think he has a great career ahead of him and I can't wait to see more of his work if it is of this calibre.

If you have not done so, seek out this film and go and see it. A 10 out of 10 all round winner! Apparently a 'loaded' DVD is in the works.