Medicine Man (1992)

In the beautiful and dangerous Amazon rainforest, dissimilar people must make their choices between business, science, and love.

Director:

John McTiernan

Writers:

Tom Schulman (story), Tom Schulman (screenplay)

Stars:

Sean Connery, Lorraine Bracco, José Wilker

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sean Connery	...	Dr. Robert Campbell
Lorraine Bracco	...	Dr. Rae Crane
José Wilker	...	Dr. Miguel Ornega
Rodolfo De Alexandre	...	Tanaki (as Rodolfo de Alexandre)
Francisco Tsiren Tsere Rereme	...	Jahausa
Elias Monteiro Da Silva	...	Palala
Edinei Maria Serrio Dos Santos	...	Kalana
Bec-Kana-Re Dos Santos Kaiapo	...	Imana
Angelo Barra Moreira	...	Medicine Man
José Lavat	...	Government Man

Storyline

An eccentric scientist working for a large drug company is working on a research project in the Amazon jungle. He sends for a research assistant and a gas chromatograph because he's close to a cure for cancer. When the assistant turns out to be a "mere woman", he rejects her help. Meanwhile, the bulldozers get closer to the area in which they are conducting research, and they eventually learn to work together, and begin to fall in love.

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Plot Keywords:

stethoscope exam | gas chromatograph | jungle | cancer | nature | 

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Taglines:

On the trail of an amazing discovery he finds an explosive adventure!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

It was said that Lorraine Bracco turned down the role of Catwoman/Selina Kyle in Batman Returns (1992) to do this movie. On 10/16/2019 Lorraine confirms this is completely NOT TRUE on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as the host and Dr. Oz as the co-guest.

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Goofs

When Dr. Campbell is saying the things that Tommy Fallon won't notice about Dr. Crane, he says it is her left ear that hangs low, when it is actually her right ear that "hangs low."

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Quotes

Dr. Robert Campbell: I gave Alka-Seltzer to a kid with a belly ache.
Dr. Rae Crane: You did what?
Dr. Robert Campbell: Alka-Seltzer. Cured him in one belch. It was the 'plop-plop'-'fizz-fizz' that really dazzled them.

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Alternate Versions

All film and video releases are cut in the UK to get a "PG" rating.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Worst Films of 1992 (1993)

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Soundtracks

That Old Black Magic
Written by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen
Famous Music Corp. (ASCAP)

User Reviews

McTiernan excellently weaves science, ethics and humor in this story about the search for a cancer cure in the jungle

A fine movie, not to be judged on the basis of Hollywood's usual recipe for storytelling. The eccentric scientist Robert Campbell (Connery) who has found a cure for cancer out in the jungle, is not able to reproduce its exact composition. Biologist Rae Crane (Bracco) biologist has dropped in from academia to be his judge and jury and decide on Campbell's continued funding.

The film pays a fair amount of attention to scientific detail (such as "running baselines" and using "experimental controls") interspersing it throughout with lively and shrewd exchanges between Campbell and Crane. To that they add mildly sarcastic observations on field work and fund-raising committees. Whilst this scientific sub-story line runs along, we are shown glimpses of life in a sympathetic tribe for which Campbell has become a sort of sugar daddy. Ethics and personal choice confront both scientists as they struggle with the decision to reserve the last bit of serum either for the good of humanity or the life of one of the tribe's children.

McTiernan has weaved all these elements excellently and Connery and Bracco play their roles so convincingly that you could be excused for thinking they may have scientific backgrounds in real life.

The film is a feast for educated people - which is probably the reason why many of the critics have missed the fine points and proceeded to rattle off some vitriolic commentary more aimed, in my view, at self-aggrandizement than constructive film criticism. One even complained that Medicine Man didn't quite match up to Die Hard. Now there is a proper comparison for you.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 February 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Stand

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,494,271, 9 February 1992

Gross USA:

$45,500,797

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$45,500,797

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Cinergi Pictures Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1