The Door in the Floor (2004)

Director:

Tod Williams

Writers (WGA):

John Irving (novel)
Tod Williams (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 September 2004 (Norway)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

The most dangerous secrets are the ones we're afraid to tell ourselves.

Plot:

A writer's young assistant becomes both pawn and catalyst in his boss's disintegrating household.

Plot Keywords:

Assistant | Summer | Beach | Children's Book | Book

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Elle Fanning	...	Ruth Cole
Jeff Bridges	...	Ted Cole
Kim Basinger	...	Marion Cole
Jon Foster	...	Eddie O'Hare
Larry Pine	...	Interviewer
John Rothman	...	Minty O'Hare
Harvey Loomis	...	Dr. Loomis
Bijou Phillips	...	Alice
Mimi Rogers	...	Evelyn Vaughn
Mike S. Ryan	...	Reception Fan
Libby Langdon	...	Woman at Reception
Louis Arcella	...	Eduardo Gomez
Robert LuPone	...	Mendelssohn
Rachel Style	...	Bookstore Assistant
Amanda Posner	...	Frame Shop Clerk
Donna Murphy	...	Frame Shop Owner
Marion McCorry	...	Bookstore Customer
Kristina Valada-Viars	...	Effie
LeAnna Croom	...	Glorie Mountsier
Claire Beckman	...	Mrs. Mountsier
Tod Harrison Williams	...	Thomas Cole
Carter Williams	...	Timothy Cole
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lisa Burrascano	...	Girl at Bon-Fire (uncredited)
Lynn Laurence	...	Fishmonger's Wife (uncredited)
Charlie Rose	...	Himself (uncredited)

Directed by
Tod Williams

Writing credits (WGA)
John Irving		(novel "A Widow for One Year")
Tod Williams		(screenplay)

Produced by
Anne Carey	....	producer
Michael Corrente	....	producer
Julie Fischer	....	post-production producer
Ted Hope	....	producer
Amy J. Kaufman	....	executive producer (as Amy Kaufman)
Roger Marino	....	executive producer
Marisa Polvino	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Marcelo Zarvos

Cinematography by
Terry Stacey

Film Editing by
Affonso Gonçalves

Casting by
Ann Goulder

Production Design by
Thérèse DePrez

Art Direction by
Nicholas Lundy

Set Decoration by
Nick Evans

Costume Design by
Eric Daman

Makeup Department
Jane English	....	body makeup artist: Ms. Basinger
Susan Germaine	....	hair stylist: Mr. Bridges
Lori Hicks	....	key makeup artist
Thomas Nellen	....	makeup artist: Mr. Bridges
Valli O'Reilly	....	makeup artist: Ms. Basinger
Aaron F. Quarles	....	key hair stylist
Sacha Quarles	....	hair stylist
Ronnie Specter	....	makeup artist: Ms. Basinger
Mitchell Stone	....	hair stylist: Ms. Basinger (as Mitch Stone)

Production Management
Lori Johnson	....	production supervisor
Susan Lazarus	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jesse Falewicz	....	second second assistant director
Bernadette Lee	....	second assistant director
Chip Signore	....	first assistant director
Meryl Stavitz	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Jeff Bridges	....	illustrator
Gary Cergol	....	art department coordinator
Gary Cergol	....	graphic artist
Brent Godek	....	set dresser
Dierdre Kane	....	on-set dresser
Jennifer Santucci	....	art department assistant
Steven Shellooe	....	on-set scenic
Danielle Webb	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Leslie Bloom	....	foley artist
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Flynch	....	foley editor (as Dave B. Flynch)
Paul Hsu	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Hsu	....	supervising sound editor
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
George A. Lara	....	foley recordist
Tod A. Maitland	....	sound mixer
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Bob Olari	....	sound recordist (2004)
Nicholas Renbeck	....	supervising adr editor
Nicholas Renbeck	....	supervising dialogue editor
Victoria Rose Sampson	....	adr editor (as Victoria Sampson)
Michael Scott	....	boom operator
Steve F.B. Smith	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Lila Yomtoob	....	first assistant sound editor
Allan Zaleski	....	sound effects librarian
Kyle Godbey	....	sound effects intern (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Conrad V. Brink Jr.	....	special effects foreman (as Conrad V. Brink)
Connie Brink	....	special effects coordinator (as Conrad F. Brink)
Edward Drohan	....	special effects (as Ed Drohan)
Charlie Simunik	....	special effects (as Charles Simunek)

Visual Effects by
Janos Pilenyi	....	opticals
Adam Stern	....	digital compositor
Alex Thiesen	....	visual effects producer: main title sequence, THDX

Stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunt coordinator
Loyd Catlett	....	stunts
Frank Ferrara	....	stunts
Janet Paparazzo	....	stunts
Keith Siglinger	....	stunts
D.J. Surgent	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Kip Bogdahn	....	camera operator
Oliver Cary	....	first assistant camera
John Clifford	....	still photographer
Jeffrey Dutemple	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Robert K. Feldmann	....	grip
Gary Jackiewicz	....	grip
Tim McAuliffe	....	best boy electric
Sean McCardell	....	electrician
Hernan Otaño	....	camera operator (as Hernan Michael Otaño)
Steve Ramsey	....	gaffer
Chris Reynolds	....	additional assistant camera
Jon W. Rosenbloom	....	best boy grip
Tom Vulliez	....	dolly grip

Casting Department
Sage Lehman	....	casting assistant
Michelle Levitt	....	casting assistant
Terri Tracy	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marta Font	....	costumer
Nancy Mayer Allan	....	costume assistant: Ms. Basinger
Christopher Peterson	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Fred Heid	....	color timer
Jamie Kirkpatrick	....	second assistant editor
Craig Seti	....	telecine operator
Katy Skjerping	....	assistant editor (as Katherine Fisher)
Stan Sztaba	....	negative matcher
Ben Urquhart	....	post-production assistant
Joe Violante	....	dailies supervisor
Martin Zeitler	....	telecine operator

Music Department
Nancy Allen	....	assistant music editor
Gary Chester	....	music contractor
Sonny Kompanek	....	orchestrator
Lawrence Manchester	....	score mixer
Lawrence Manchester	....	score recordist
Suzana Peric	....	music editor
Pavel Pranil	....	music contractor
Beth Rosenblatt	....	music supervisor (as Beth Amy Rosenblatt)
Jiri Simunek	....	copyist (as Jiri Simunek)
Marcelo Zarvos	....	score producer

Other crew
Adi Amit	....	assistant: Mr. Williams
Abby Bailey	....	assistant accountant
Carlos Barbot	....	production intern
David Bausch	....	production coordinator
Danielle Blumstein	....	production secretary
Jenn Bubka	....	production assistant
Tomas Cabral	....	production assistant
Alison S. Cohen	....	production counsel
Anthony Demarinis	....	security: Ms. Basinger
Joan Devilla	....	payroll accountant
Kimberly Feinman	....	location scout
Pablo Ferro	....	title consultant
Simona Fish	....	production intern
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post-production accountant: Trevanna Post
Rich Glassey	....	assistant: Michael Corrente
Nancy Grigor	....	location scout
Mitchell Gutman	....	production assistant
Nicola Hulme	....	assistant: Mr. Bridges
Andrew Kassov	....	production intern
Alan Kenny-Rudolph	....	production assistant
Julie Landholt	....	graphic artist: titles
Christine Leaman	....	assistant location manager
Annie Marter	....	assistant: Ms. Polvino
Howard Neustadt	....	projectionist
Kim Noble	....	assistant location manager
Kathy Orloff	....	unit publicist
Claire Pacacha	....	assistant: Anne Carey
Eric Papa	....	assistant: Mr. Hope
Martha Pinson	....	script supervisor
Jonathan Rubenstein	....	production intern
Ashley Rudden	....	assistant: Ms. Carey
Ray Sullivan	....	stand-in
Carter Williams	....	set production assistant
Tom Yeager	....	location manager
Samara Yeshaiek	....	production executive

Production Companies

• Focus Features
• This Is That Productions
• Revere Pictures
• Good Machine

Distributors

• Focus Features (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Dendy Films (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (2004) (Spain) (all media)
• Eagle Pictures (2004) (Italy) (all media)
• Imagem Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (VHS) (DVD)
• Paradise Group (2004) (Russia) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2005) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Cineric (opticals)

Other Companies

• ARRI  camera equipment provided by
• C-5  post-production sound facility
• Cineric  opticals
• Donna Daniels Public Relations  publicity
• Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein  legal services
• Manhattan Center Studios  score mixed at
• Manhattan Center Studios  score mixed at (as Manhattan Center)
• POP Sound  adr recorded at
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Pivotal Post  editing facilities
• Pivotal Post  post-production facilities
• Smécky Studios  score recording
• Sound One Corporation  adr recorded at (as Sound One Corp.)
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recording (as Sound One Corp.)
• Technicolor  color timing
• Technicolor  color
• Technicolor  dailies
• The Image Group  telecine transfers
• Title House Digital  main and end credits
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting
• Wilshire Stages, The  adr recorded at

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and graphic images, and language

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Ireland:16 | Netherlands:MG6 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #40314) | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Brazil:16 | Japan:R-15 | Iceland:14 (theatrical rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Canada:R | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

The deceased Cole boys, Thomas and Timothy, were played by director/screenwriter Tod Williams's cousins Tod Harrison Williams and Carter Williams, and the photographs featured in the film are their actual childhood photos.

Goofs:

Continuity: The title of the paper that Eddie is typing is "A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound." As he is typing it the first occurrence of 'Sound' is upper case. When he finishes typing the title 'sound' is lower case. Later in the movie when he looks at the paper 'Sound' is upper case again.

Quotes:

Eddie O'Hare:[matter-of-factly] Wrong cubes!
Ted Cole:[looks at his glass and realizes he did not used ice cubes for his whisky]
Ted Cole:[gets rid of the glass contents]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

Soundtrack:

Dubsonix (Bass and Drum Remix)

Challenging, unique script, beautifully directed and edited

"The Door in the Floor" may be one of the best movies so far this year. It offers a moving experience and memorable characters that you will not soon forget.

The story is an adaptation of the best-selling novel, "A Widow for One Year" by John Irving (who also wrote "The World According to Garp" and "The Cider House Rules"). I haven't read the book, but the screenplay by writer/director Tod Williams is so good that it's hard to imagine that it doesn't do justice to its source. (Apparently, the book spans many decades in the life of this family; that's certainly a different approach than what is presented in the film.) Applause to Tod again for his brilliant direction in which he obtains sensitive, extraordinary performances from the sterling cast.

Jeff Bridges is sublime as Ted Cole, a children's book author. His character dominates the plot and it's an Academy Award level portrayal. Bridges only gets better with time, and he is at the top of his form here. In a more understated, introspective role, Kim Basinger plays Ted's wife, Marion Cole. It's another performance deserving of Academy Award notice. Basinger's beauty is only exceeded by the depth of her acting ability. Elle Fanning, younger sister of the talented ten-year-old Dakota Fanning ("I Am Sam", "The Cat in the Hat", "Man on Fire") is an amazing, natural talent as young Ruth, daughter of Ted and Marion.

Jon Foster plays teenaged Eddie O'Hare in yet another superlative job of acting in this movie. Mimi Rogers supports well as Mrs. Vaughn. Her filmography notes she was born in January 1956, which makes her 48 years old. Few actresses would have the ability to play this movie role. She appears in a tense scene, fully nude, and filmed from every angle while she is revolved on a life model's turntable. Wow! More power to her!

"The Door in the Floor" title comes from one of Ted's children's books. We hear the story as Ted does a reading before a local audience. It is clear from the outset that the Cole family is in a state of severe distress, which relates to earlier losses of two sons. Writer/director Tod Williams is masterful in carrying the audience through the gradual and painful exposition of what happened to the couple's children, Tommy and Timothy.

Pleased be aware that all of the principals (except Ruthie) are seen in various stages of nudity in this film -- front, side, back and on top of one another. Everything is shown with great subtlety and sensitivity within the delicate context of the film. There was certainly no prurient interest in any of it. All of the nude scenes are handled in a realistic and matter-of-fact way. For example, little Ruthie sees her father naked, which some viewers may find objectionable, but which certainly works within the context of this film.

This is a movie for all seasons. It's still early in the year and we can only hope that "The Door in the Floor," with its wonderful script, direction, editing, and acting, will still be remembered as we approach nominations for the best films at the end of the year. Go out of your way to see this A++ accomplishment.