Beautiful Dreamers (1990)

When the superintendent of the Canadian insane asylum, Dr. Maurice Bucke, meets poet Walt Whitman, his life and that of his wife and patients is radically changed. Like Dr. Bucke, Whitman ... See full summary »

Director:

John Kent Harrison

Writer:

John Kent Harrison

Stars:

Colm Feore, Rip Torn, Wendel Meldrum

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colm Feore	...	Dr. Maurice Bucke
Rip Torn	...	Walt Whitman
Wendel Meldrum	...	Jessie Bucke
Sheila McCarthy	...	Molly Jessop
Colin Fox	...	Rev. Haines
David Gardner	...	Dr. Lett
Tom McCamus	...	Leonard Thomas
Barbara Gordon	...	Agatha Haines
Marsha Moreau	...	Birdie Bucke
Albert Schultz	...	Dr. John Burgys
Angelo Rizacos	...	Wallace
Gordon Master	...	John Carver
Gerry Quigley	...	John Freeman
Roland Hewgill	...	Timothy Pardee
Roger Clown	...	Kenneth

Storyline

When the superintendent of the Canadian insane asylum, Dr. Maurice Bucke, meets poet Walt Whitman, his life and that of his wife and patients is radically changed. Like Dr. Bucke, Whitman has avant-garde ideas on the subject of mental illness. "Dreamers" is based on true events. Dr. Bucke became an important biographer of Walt Whitman.

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Plot Keywords:

walt whitman | poet | insane asylum | female nudity | victorian era | 

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Taglines:

The World Changes Some People. Some People Change The World.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

User Reviews

most viewers missed the heart of this movie

This little film had long been on my "keeper" list. Do people realize how stressed out, menopausal, emotionally abused women (as well as the mentally retarded) were REALLY treated by the medical profession at the turn of the century??!! All of the pious uptight Christian attitudes of that time were deadly to exploring TRUE emotional feelings that would allow us to embrace suffering souls, let alone explore what it means to embrace our humanity. Can you really imagine (by today's standards) that Walt Whitman's books were banned because he acknowledged women as having feelings and emotional responses as great as a mans? Think about that! The sensitivity of this movie still gets me and I give credit to the director for capturing this through his eyes.

Details

Official Sites:

NFB (english) [Canada]

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 June 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Belos Sonhadores

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Film Board of Canada (NFB), Starway Films Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color