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The Chocolate War

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Chocolate War (1988)
  • Drama
The Vigils are a gang of students at Trinity Catholic School... part of the tradition. They control the other boys by intimidation and the threat of violence.The Vigils are a gang of students at Trinity Catholic School... part of the tradition. They control the other boys by intimidation and the threat of violence.The Vigils are a gang of students at Trinity Catholic School... part of the tradition. They control the other boys by intimidation and the threat of violence.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Keith Gordon
  • Writers
    • Robert Cormier(novel)
    • Keith Gordon
  • Stars
    • John Glover
    • Ilan Mitchell-Smith
    • Wallace Langham
Top credits
  • Director
    • Keith Gordon
  • Writers
    • Robert Cormier(novel)
    • Keith Gordon
  • Stars
    • John Glover
    • Ilan Mitchell-Smith
    • Wallace Langham
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 43User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Photos11

    The Chocolate War (1988)
    Ilan Mitchell-Smith in The Chocolate War (1988)
    Bud Cort in The Chocolate War (1988)
    John Glover in The Chocolate War (1988)
    The Chocolate War (1988)
    Ilan Mitchell-Smith in The Chocolate War (1988)
    John Glover and Wallace Langham in The Chocolate War (1988)
    Wallace Langham in The Chocolate War (1988)
    The Chocolate War (1988)
    The Chocolate War (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Glover
    John Glover
    • Brother Leonas Brother Leon
    Ilan Mitchell-Smith
    Ilan Mitchell-Smith
    • Jerry Renaultas Jerry Renault
    Wallace Langham
    Wallace Langham
    • Archieas Archie
    Doug Hutchison
    Doug Hutchison
    • Obieas Obie
    Corey Gunnestad
    • Gooberas Goober
    Brent David Fraser
    Brent David Fraser
    • Emile Janzaas Emile Janza
    • (as Brent Fraser)
    Robert Davenport
    • Brian Cochranas Brian Cochran
    Jenny Wright
    Jenny Wright
    • Lisaas Lisa
    Bud Cort
    Bud Cort
    • Brother Jacquesas Brother Jacques
    Adam Baldwin
    Adam Baldwin
    • Carteras Carter
    Ethan Sandler
    Ethan Sandler
    • Caronias Caroni
    Wayne Young
    • Gregory Baileyas Gregory Bailey
    Kurt Bloom
    • Impressed Kid on Busas Impressed Kid on Bus
    Wyeth Orestes Johnston
    • Senior 'Environment' Kidas Senior 'Environment' Kid
    Landon Wine
    • Frank Bolloas Frank Bollo
    Matthew Burke
    • Porteras Porter
    Douglas A. Forsyth
    • Johnsonas Johnson
    Peter Boyack
    • McCloskyas McClosky
    • Director
      • Keith Gordon
    • Writers
      • Robert Cormier(novel)
      • Keith Gordon
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A surreal portrait of a Catholic Private School and its hierarchy. A new student must submit to the bizarre rituals of his peers and the expectations of the school's administration by selling chocolates. —Brooke <soylent@ican.net>
    • teacher student relationship
    • peer pressure
    • classroom
    • based on novel
    • homosexual
    • 130 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film's music budget was about $15,000. Most of the artists featured on the soundtrack allowed the filmmakers to use their songs at bargain basement prices. David Bowie wanted $100,000 to use his song "Heroes" during the final scene and credits, so Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" was substituted.
    • Quotes

      Archie Costello: You've disobeyed the Viglis once already Jerry. This calls for punishment. Now, we the Vigils don't believe in physical violence, but we've found it necessary to have a punishment code. The punishment is usually worse then the assignment. We can make your life sad. But we're letting you off easy Jerry. Tomorrow, we're simply asking you to sell the chocolates.

      Bill Carter: We're not asking Archie, we're telling!

    • Connections
      Featured in The Celluloid Closet (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      In My Room
      Performed by Yazoo (as Yaz)

      Written by Vince Clarke

      Used with permission of Stainless Music (BMI) on behalf of Sonet Records and Publishing Ltd.

      Courtesy of Sire Records / Mute Records

      By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

    User reviews43

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    In the face of intimidation, who is the last one standing?
    In my book there are about five political films (as of this writing) that I revere as the best that I've ever seen (and though some may argue with my choice, don't forget that I have not seen every political film ever made). One of those five is Kieth Gordon's, The Chocolate War.

    Actually, I found myself watching this film when searching out titles starring Ilan Mitchell Smith who portrays Wyatt Donnelly in Weird Science. And, I walked away being a new fan of Keith Gordon-directed films. (For those of you who don't recognize the name, Keith played the lead in John Carpenter's Christine). His talents as a director far exceed his acting abilities. And, for those of you who have enjoyed the Chocolate War, I recommend watching Gordon's film from the early '90s drama, A Midnight Clear, another adaptation.

    I never got through the Chocolate War on the first try. It was a little too gloomy for my liking. But after a full viewing on the second try, I came to love this film. It's based on the fantastic Robert Cormier novel of the same title, which was once censored reading for some public schools. It is a nearly word-for-word adaptation, but has a different ending.

    Mitchell-Smith portrays Jerry Renault, a student at a private all boy's school. The acting headmaster, played the very excellent John Glover, decides that because the school is running out of money, they will hold a chocolate sale to boost the revenues. Renault doesn't want to participate, for his own reasons. But, he's the only one. And before Renault's influence can spread to the rest of the boys and cost the school their needed profits, the headmaster employs the services of a vindictive and influential secret society at the school known as The Vigils, headed by Archie (Wally Ward). Thus, the test comes down to this: in the face of intimidation, who will break?

    Filmed on what looked like the dreariest days in Washington state, this is a very gloomy movie, but nonetheless presents a powerful psychological study of what people will do under pressure when alone or when in groups. I thought everyone in the movie did a fantastic job (and surprise--nearly everyone--except for maybe Adam Baldwin--looked like they were actually high schoolers). Like other commentors have posted, it is not your usual feel good eighties fun fest.

    Gordon changes the ending, but does not make it a happy-ending. Instead, the vicious cycle of inhumane power-wielding structures continue to exist, but in hero-less manner different than imagined by Cormier (as it had to be, since Cormier developed a sequel to the book). It is one of the most intelligent political films and well worth watching.
    helpful•21
    7
    • vertigo_14
    • Mar 3, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 18, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cokoladni rat
    • Filming locations
      • St. Edward's Seminary, Kenmore, Washington, USA
    • Production company
      • Management Company Entertainment Group (MCEG)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $303,624
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $14,351
      • Nov 20, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $303,624
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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    ‘The Chocolate War’ Pits U.S. Human Rights Lawyer Against Corporate America
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    ‘The Chocolate War’ is the Kind of Film Young Adult Audiences Deserve But So Rarely Get
    ‘The Chocolate War’ is the Kind of Film Young Adult Audiences Deserve But So Rarely Get
    Dec 4Slash Film

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