Clara's Heart (1988)

David is a teenager whose parents are in a deteriorating marriage after their infant daughter dies. Clara is a chambermaid at a Jamaican resort who's hired to be a housekeeper. She and ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Mulligan

Writers:

Joseph Olshan (novel), Mark Medoff (screenplay)

Stars:

Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Ontkean, Kathleen Quinlan

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Clara Mayfield
Michael Ontkean	...	Bill Hart
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Leona Hart
Neil Patrick Harris	...	David Hart
Spalding Gray	...	Peter Epstein
Beverly Todd	...	Dora
Hattie Winston	...	Blanche Loudon
Jason Downs	...	Alan Lipsky
Caitlin Thompson	...	Celeste
Maria Broom	...	Felicia
Wanda Christine	...	Lydia
Maryce Carter	...	Babs
Angel Harper	...	Rita
Frederick Strother	...	Bundy (as Fred Strother)
Joseph Muth	...	Father Joe (as Father Joseph Muth)

Storyline

David is a teenager whose parents are in a deteriorating marriage after their infant daughter dies. Clara is a chambermaid at a Jamaican resort who's hired to be a housekeeper. She and David develop a close bond, opening his eyes and heart to new experiences, and eventually leading to a disturbing secret in Clara's past.

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Plot Keywords:

jamaican woman | boy wearing glasses | teen angst | writer | choir | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 October 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Claras Geheimnis

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$588,869, 9 October 1988

Gross USA:

$5,194,491

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,194,491

Company Credits

Production Co:

MTM Enterprises, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in 1986, not released until two years later.

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Quotes

Catherine the decorator: Um David, what do you think of your dad's apartment?
David Hart: Well, it's pretty goddamn ostentatious if you ask me, but of course that's just a kid's opinion. I mean, I don't even speak Italian. Are you sexually involved with my father?

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Connections

Referenced in Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)

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Soundtracks

See What The Lord Has Done
Written by Luther Barnes

User Reviews

Warm black and white story

I only caught "the rest of the movie" But seeing W Goldberg I decided to watch it and loved it. Young white American boy find out his parents will not stay together and has to deal with it. House Keeper W G is supposed to be Jamaican and it seems has "raised" this child along his parents and somehow has become part of the family all hierarchy still in vigor but not really imposed as it seems this family has much relied on her. Young David is also faced with a mystery with his allied house keeper and his growing up is doubly challenged by his own situation but also with his parent's substitute unclear past. I do have a lot of time for W G and enjoyed her performance never giving into over emotional yet displaying a genuine caring attitude. Some may find the final finding a little over the top, but I know sometimes reality can be larger than fiction so personality I go with the flow. I wonder why there are so few reviews...to each its own