Avalon (1990)

A Polish-Jewish family comes to the U.S. at the beginning of the twentieth century. There, the family and their children try to make themselves a better future in the so-called promised land.

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writer:

Barry Levinson

Stars:

Aidan Quinn, Elizabeth Perkins, Leo Fuchs

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leo Fuchs	...	Hymie Krichinsky
Eve Gordon	...	Dottie Kirk
Lou Jacobi	...	Gabriel Krichinsky
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Sam Krichinsky
Elizabeth Perkins	...	Ann Kaye
Joan Plowright	...	Eva Krichinsky
Kevin Pollak	...	Izzy Kirk
Aidan Quinn	...	Jules Kaye
Israel Rubinek	...	Nathan Krichinsky
Elijah Wood	...	Michael Kaye
Grant Gelt	...	Teddy Kirk
Mindy Loren Isenstein	...	Mindy Kirk
Shifra Lerer	...	Nellie Krichinsky
Mina Bern	...	Alice Krichinsky
Frania Rubinek	...	Faye Krichinsky

Storyline

A Polish-Jewish family arrives in the U.S. at the beginning of the twentieth century and they and their children try to build themselves a better future in the promised land.

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Plot Keywords:

trolley | close up of eyes | suburb | baltimore maryland | nightclub | 

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Taglines:

Three generations of family. They shared a dream called America in a place called Avalon.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The home in the suburbs where the Kaye family moves from Avalon is Writer, Producer, and Director Barry Levinson's actual childhood home in Forest Park, west of Baltimore's city center.

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Goofs

When Baltimore's Bromo-Seltzer clock tower is shown at the movie's opening, that 1914 depiction omits the brightly-lit 51-foot tall blue Bromo-Seltzer bottle that had adorned the top of the tower from 1911 through 1936. Descriptions from the time period report the blue glow could be seen from miles around. The oversight is particularly notable because the film's concurrent narration mentions the city's bright lights.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Sam Krichinsky: I came to America in 1914 - by way of Philadelphia. That's where I got off the boat. And then I came to Baltimore. It was the most beautiful place you ever seen in your life. There were lights everywhere! What lights they had! It was a celebration of lights! I thought they were for me, Sam, who was in America. Sam was in America! I didn't know what holiday it was, but there were lights. And I walked under them. The sky exploded, people cheered, there were fireworks! What a welcome ...

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Crazy Credits

The credits roll over a photograph of Avalon, which begins as a sharp color photograph, but fades into a worn black-and-white picture at the end.

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Connections

References Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)

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Soundtracks

Broadway
Written by Henri Woode, Teddy McRae & Wilbur "Billy" H. Bird

User Reviews

The Layers are always present

"Avalon": I don't put a film into my TOP category with ease. I take it very seriously. Each time I see "Avalon" by Barry Levinson, I appreciate it, and him, more. This film has depth, humor, complexity, subtlety, sadness, resignation, joy… It is Family. For better and for worse, Family. The passage of Time, the scars we Inherit, Create, Share. Moments and Memories - precious commodities. A beautiful film that looks at five generations of Family, over a 60+ year span. It's a totally emotional film. The layers are always present. We see this family through the eyes of everyone, which is quite a feat. You get to know everyone. You see their point, then you see someone else's point, then you see what is happening and what may not be repaired. On it goes. And it makes you want to hold your family a little closer, and work a little harder at making it the center of Life, even when it seems impossible.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Yiddish

Release Date:

19 October 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Avalon

Filming Locations:

Saint Mary's Seminary & University, Roland Park, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$226,613, 8 October 1990

Gross USA:

$15,740,796

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$15,779,578

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, Baltimore Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1