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The Emerald Forest

  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
10K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,802
563
The Emerald Forest (1985)
Home Video Trailer from 20th Century Fox
Play trailer2:14
1 Video
61 Photos
ActionAdventureDrama
After the son of engineer Bill Markham is abducted by an aboriginal tribe on the edge of the rain forest, the engineer spends the next 10 years searching for him.After the son of engineer Bill Markham is abducted by an aboriginal tribe on the edge of the rain forest, the engineer spends the next 10 years searching for him.After the son of engineer Bill Markham is abducted by an aboriginal tribe on the edge of the rain forest, the engineer spends the next 10 years searching for him.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
10K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,802
563
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • John Boorman
    • Writers
      • Rospo Pallenberg
      • Leonard Greenwood(article "Long Hunt for Son Ends in Success, but -")
    • Stars
      • Powers Boothe
      • Meg Foster
      • Yara Vaneau
    Top credits
    • Director
      • John Boorman
    • Writers
      • Rospo Pallenberg
      • Leonard Greenwood(article "Long Hunt for Son Ends in Success, but -")
    • Stars
      • Powers Boothe
      • Meg Foster
      • Yara Vaneau
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 71User reviews
    • 47Critic reviews
    • Nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards
      • 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Emerald Forest
    Trailer 2:14
    The Emerald Forest

    Photos61

    Powers Boothe in The Emerald Forest (1985)
    The Emerald Forest (1985)
    The Emerald Forest (1985)
    Review version, 1 sheet movie poster
    The Emerald Forest (1985)
    The Emerald Forest (1985)
    The Emerald Forest (1985)
    The Emerald Forest (1985)
    The Emerald Forest (1985)
    The Emerald Forest (1985)
    Charley Boorman and Ruy Polanah in The Emerald Forest (1985)
    Powers Boothe, Meg Foster, William Rodriguez, and Yara Vaneau in The Emerald Forest (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Powers Boothe
    Powers Boothe
    • Bill Markham
    Meg Foster
    Meg Foster
    • Jean Markham
    Yara Vaneau
    • Young Heather
    William Rodriguez
    William Rodriguez
    • Young Tommy
    Estee Chandler
    Estee Chandler
    • Heather
    Charley Boorman
    Charley Boorman
    • Tomme
    Dira Paes
    Dira Paes
    • Kachiri
    Eduardo Conde
    Eduardo Conde
    • Uwe Werner
    Ariel Coelho
    • Padre Leduc
    Peter Marinker
    Peter Marinker
    • Perreira
    Mario Borges
    • Costa
    Átila Iório
    Átila Iório
    • Trader
    • (as Atilia Iorio)
    Gabriel Archanjo
    • Trader's Henchman
    Gracindo Júnior
    Gracindo Júnior
    • Carlos
    • (as Gracindo Junior)
    Arthur Muhlenberg
    • Rico
    Chico Terto
    • Paulo
    Ruy Polanah
    • Wanadi
    • (as Rui Polanah)
    Maria Helena Velasco
    Maria Helena Velasco
    • Uluru
    • Director
      • John Boorman
    • Writers
      • Rospo Pallenberg
      • Leonard Greenwood(article "Long Hunt for Son Ends in Success, but -") (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to TV Guide, "In October 1972 an account written by Leonard Greenwood appeared in the Los Angeles Times. It told of a Peruvian engineer whose son had been kidnapped by a band of Indians and of the man's successful search to locate the child. Screenwriter Rospo Pallenberg saw the news item and took it to producer-director John Boorman". The result was this movie.
    • Quotes

      Bill Markham: Why did you take my son?

      Wanadi: One day, i was hunting at the Edge of The World when Tomme appeared and he smiled; and even though you were a Termite Child, I had not the heart to send you back to The Dead World.

      Tomme: Why are they called The Termite People?

      Wanadi: They come into The World and chew down all the grandfather trees. Just like termites.

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Jungle Movies (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Maior Abandonado
      Written by Frejat and Cazuza

      Performed by Barão Vermelho

    User reviews71

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Great exploration of man vs. the wild
    THE EMERALD FOREST sees John Boorman returning to the dark heart of the world's wildernesses in this story about native tribes living in the Amazon. Powers Boothe plays an engineer whose son is kidnapped by one such tribe, leading him on a ten-year search for answers.

    The film works on a double level. First, it stands as a completely adequate action-adventure, with all manner of violent shoot-outs, especially a climactic showdown that brings back memories of hard-hitting '70s greats like ROLLING THUNDER. There's suspense a-plenty, along with strong turns from both Boothe and the director's son.

    The film's storyline also allows Boorman to explore themes that are clearly close to his heart, namely the destruction of the Amazonian rainforest by greedy developers and loggers, who turn out to be the real villains of the piece. Yes, it sounds like it could be preachy but it never is, thanks to Boorman's skill at handling the material with subtlety and grace.

    THE EMERALD FOREST is virtually unknown today - I caught it tucked away in a late-night showing - but it doesn't deserve to be; DELIVERANCE is the better known effort but this comes close at frequent intervals.
    helpful•11
    0
    • Leofwine_draca
    • Jan 13, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 3, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Portuguese
    • Also known as
      • Emerald Forest
    • Filming locations
      • Hidrelétrica Plant of Tucuruí, Tucuruí, Pará, Brazil
    • Production companies
      • Christel Films
      • Embassy Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $24,468,550
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,345,150
      • Jul 7, 1985
    • Gross worldwide
      • $24,468,550
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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