Where the Heart Is (1990)

Stewart McBain (Coleman) is a real-estate mogul who spends his living blowing up old buildings to make room to erect new buildings. All goes as planned for a new subdivision, until a group ... See full summary »

Director:

John Boorman

Writers:

Telsche Boorman, John Boorman

Stars:

Dabney Coleman, Uma Thurman, Joanna Cassidy

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dabney Coleman	...	Stewart McBain
Uma Thurman	...	Daphne McBain
Joanna Cassidy	...	Jean
Crispin Glover	...	Lionel
Suzy Amis	...	Chloe McBain
Christopher Plummer	...	Shitty
David Hewlett	...	Jimmy
Maury Chaykin	...	Harry
Dylan Walsh	...	Tom
Ken Pogue	...	Hamilton
Sheila Kelley	...	Sheryl
Michael Kirby	...	Lionel's Father
Dennis Strong	...	Marvin X
Timothy Stickney	...	Marcus
Emma Woollard	...	Olivia

Storyline

Stewart McBain (Coleman) is a real-estate mogul who spends his living blowing up old buildings to make room to erect new buildings. All goes as planned for a new subdivision, until a group of protesters object to the destruction of one lonely, ugly building, called the Dutch House. Typically, the media is sent to the scene of the protest, and McBain appears on TV in a bad way. His children - Daphne (Thurman), Chloe (Amis), and Jimmy (Hewlett) - ridicule him for appearing on TV, and as a reward for their remarks, he drops them off at the Dutch House with $750 apiece, and tells them they're on their own. They must find jobs if they expect to make money to stay warm. McBain and his wife Jean watch from afar as their children adapt to their new lifestyle, meeting new friends, and inviting others into their new home, including a decrepit bum.

---

Plot Keywords:

body paint | photo shoot | female photographer | photographer | camera | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 February 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ahol a szív lakik

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,106,475

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV, Where the Heart Is

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Crispin Glover filmed this movie at the same time Back to the Future Part II (1989) was being shot. Crispin Glover did not reach a payment agreement for BTTF2 and archived footage was used with prosthetics added to stand-ins to portray his character. Glover later sued and won.

---

Quotes

Stewart McBain: Harry, your loyalty was an accusation. Blame someone else.

---

Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Mountains of the Moon/Where the Heart Is/Revenge/Hard to Kill/Madhouse (1990)

---

Soundtracks

A Song Of India
Written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Performed by Tommy Dorsey

User Reviews

Captivating Film

This is quite honestly a beautiful film. The women and men are gorgeous and there is eye-candy here for many and charm and grace for other's. I don't agree with the "comedy" classification. This is a film that stretches social boundaries. Maybe the biggest problem with this film was it tried to say too much in far to many areas, thus leaving holes or unfinished plot lines.

In the late eighties and early 90's the impact of computers (and internet) on business made a mint for some and lost a mint for other's. Those that fought the old ways, no found themselves to be the outsiders in society. Not the artists, gay males, old homeless men, etc. It was and still is a time to reaccess priorities.

I liked there was a gay male character shown in such a positive light. The ending is a bit of a sell out for his story line, but should not impact the importance of the role during the time it was filmed. There was interracial dating, the realization that homelessness could happen to anyone at any time.

I also understood the main character's motivation for "tossing" his college educated children out of their wealthy home ..... he didn't exactly leave them on the street. As was mentioned briefly, most of the parents in this super wealthy world were more then ready for their children to leave the nest.

The way the adult children adjusted to a new lifestyle and fending for themselves (or not) and the strange yet strikingly beautiful life they built with friends and new friends, was IMO well developed. The movie also covers the territory of the empty nest syndrome and the parents realizing after 26 years they are "strangers." The reawakening and strengthening of family values was very inspiring.

Final note .... students of art and art lovers, or those that enjoy beautifully filmed movies should not miss it.