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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

He turned his back on civilization. Only to discover he had the power to save it.

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

---

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.

---

Goofs

Dr. Bronx' harness appears on her before she dons it.

---

Quotes

Dr. Robert Campbell: Well, we're back to square one. Where did I go wrong, the kissing up or the eating crow part?
Dr. Rae Crane: Well, it wasn't a total loss.
[Rae looks past Campbell. One of the natives has just walked up and looks to Campbell for help; he holds his sick child, now dying, in his arms]

---

Alternate Versions

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

---

Connections

Referenced in Animaniacs: Video Review/When Mice Ruled the Earth (1993)

---

Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Superb Score, Superb Movie

I've never understood why this movie is so poorly received. Sure, Lorraine Bracco is a bit shrill. No one said she came from a "high class" family, just that she was marrying well. My sister-in-law is a scientist with NIH and she came from humble roots. That Bracco got through to the tribe's medicine man when Connery had failed was the contrast between the two approaches the "white man" could make toward the natives. Bracco's negotiating skills and stubborn common sense contrasted nicely with Connery's unintentionally patronizing approach. Who COULD have been cast who would have been more convincing as the "civilized" woman "going native". Lauren Hutton, maybe. The solution to the mystery of "compound 37" was a genuine surprise, even though it was partially revealed on two separate occasions. The climax was intensely dramatic, ironic and sad; though, it too helped usher in the satisfying conclusion. Jerry Goldsmith's superb score raises what is already an outstanding movie. I don't care about anyone else's opinion. For me, "Medicine Man" is a "10".

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