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Orphans (1987)

R | | Drama | 18 September 1987 (USA)
Orphans Poster
The two brothers Treat and Philip lived alone since they were kids. Interdependent they dwell in a loft house and live on little thefts, until an aging minor criminal moves in with them and takes over the role of a father.

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
... Harold
... Treat
... Phillip
... Barney
... Man in Park
... Mattie
Elizabeth Parrish ... Rich Woman
B. Constance Barry ... Lady in Crosswalk
... Cab Driver
Clifford Fearl ... Doorman
See full cast »
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Storyline

The two brothers Treat and Philip live alone since they were kids. Interdependent they dwell in a left house and live of little thefts, until an aging minor criminal moves in with them and takes over the role of a father. Written by Tom Zoerner <Tom.Zoerner@informatik.uni-erlangen.de>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

criminal | one word title | father figure | wasteland | briefcase | See All (17) »

Genres:

Drama

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

18 September 1987 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Kellerkinder - Orphans  »

Filming Locations:

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Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$252,430
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

(1990, Movieline) Alan J. Pakula remarked on his casting of Matthew Modine that, at first, "there was 1 in 20 chances of his getting the role," largely because Modine had shown only the more innocent side of his range so far on screen. But, "when Modine came in to discuss the film, he had a shaved head and was very tall, so he looked intimidating, and he made me laugh a lot. I saw colors that were not in the other roles he'd done." See more »

Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Fatal Attraction/The Principal/Orphans/Amazon Women on the Moon/In the Mood (1987) See more »

Soundtracks

IS IT TRUE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT DIXIE
Written by Irving Caesar, Samuel Lerner and Gerald Marks
(c) 1936 Irving Caesar Music Corp.
(Administered by WB Music Corp.)
Copyright Renewed / All Rights Reserved
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User Reviews

A film not to be missed
5 August 2008 | by – See all my reviews

I saw this film about 100 times as a child and it forever stuck in our household as a classic to watch every Christmas.

The film is about 2 young boys, Treat, an angry young man who must make his living through petty thievery, and his house-ridden younger brother, Phillip, who never leaves the house from fear of "the toxic air outside" which apparently nearly killed him as a child. A third character, Harold who is supposedly a rich businessman,played by film veteran Albert Finney, comes into the lives of the two boys after they attempt to kidnap him and hold him for ransom. Little do they know that Harold has a thing or two to teach the boys about life, family, and how to become grown men.

Orphans is an old film, but is absolutely wonderful. I am saddened by the fact that it didn't make it into the mainstream to be regarded a classic along the lines of Casablanca, Gone with the wind, Titanic, etc.

I recommend this film for anybody who has a heart.
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