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Harrison Bergeron

  • TV Movie
  • 19951995
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Sean Astin, Christopher Plummer, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Hayden Christensen, and Andrea Martin in Harrison Bergeron (1995)
  • Sci-Fi
In a distant future, egalitarianism has created a truly equal state. The cost? The sacrifice of everything great about humankind. The question: is peace worth the price?In a distant future, egalitarianism has created a truly equal state. The cost? The sacrifice of everything great about humankind. The question: is peace worth the price?In a distant future, egalitarianism has created a truly equal state. The cost? The sacrifice of everything great about humankind. The question: is peace worth the price?
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bruce Pittman
  • Writers
    • Kurt Vonnegut Jr.(story)
    • Arthur Crimm
    • Jon Glascoe(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Sean Astin
    • Miranda de Pencier
    • Eugene Levy
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bruce Pittman
  • Writers
    • Kurt Vonnegut Jr.(story)
    • Arthur Crimm
    • Jon Glascoe(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Sean Astin
    • Miranda de Pencier
    • Eugene Levy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 41User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Photos

    Sean Astin in Harrison Bergeron (1995)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sean Astin
    Sean Astin
    • Harrison Bergeronas Harrison Bergeron
    Miranda de Pencier
    Miranda de Pencier
    • Phillipaas Phillipa
    Eugene Levy
    Eugene Levy
    • President McCloskeyas President McCloskey
    Howie Mandel
    Howie Mandel
    • Charlie (of 'Chat with Charlie')as Charlie (of 'Chat with Charlie')
    Andrea Martin
    Andrea Martin
    • Diana Moon Glampersas Diana Moon Glampers
    Christopher Plummer
    Christopher Plummer
    • John Klaxonas John Klaxon
    Nigel Bennett
    Nigel Bennett
    • Dr. Eisenstockas Dr. Eisenstock
    Peter Boretski
    Peter Boretski
    • Newmanas Newman
    David Calderisi
    David Calderisi
    • Commissioner Bensonas Commissioner Benson
    Emmanuelle Chriqui
    Emmanuelle Chriqui
    • Jeannieas Jeannie
    Hayden Christensen
    Hayden Christensen
    • Ericas Eric
    Cindy Cook
    • Weatherpersonas Weatherperson
    Roger Dunn
    Roger Dunn
    • George Bergeronas George Bergeron
    Jayne Eastwood
    Jayne Eastwood
    • Ms. Newboundas Ms. Newbound
    Hal Eisen
    • TV Announcer - San Quentinas TV Announcer - San Quentin
    Matthew Ferguson
    Matthew Ferguson
    • Garth Bergeronas Garth Bergeron
    Michael Fletcher
    • Technicianas Technician
    John Friesen
    • Frank the Plumberas Frank the Plumber
    • Director
      • Bruce Pittman
    • Writers
      • Kurt Vonnegut Jr.(story)
      • Arthur Crimm
      • Jon Glascoe(uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    "All men are not created equal. It is the purpose of the Government to make them so." This is the premise of the Showtime film adaption of Kurt Vonnegut's futuristic short story Harrison Bergeron. The film centers around a young man (Harrison) who is smarter than his peers, and is not affected by the usual "Handicapping" which is used to train all Americans so everyone is of equal intelligence. —Glenn Kurtzrock <glennk@pegasus.rutgers.edu>
    • character name as series title
    • future
    • dystopia
    • reference to ludwig van beethoven
    • under achiever
    • 10 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Welcome to the future. It's a no-brainer.
    • Genre
      • Sci-Fi
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language, and for some sexuality and violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Harrison asks "who was that old guy in 'King Lear'?" and is told it's actor Macaulay Culkin. This is meant as a joke, as Culkin was a child actor at the time this movie was made and will be 73 in 2053.
    • Quotes

      Harrison Bergeron: Anyway, I don't think you're all that stupid.

      Alma Starbuck: Thanks! Well I don't think that you're all that smart.

    • Connections
      Features Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
    • Soundtracks
      Lollipop
      Music and Lyrics by Beverly Ross and Julius E. Dixson Sr. (as Julius Dixon)

      Used by permission of Edward B. Marks Music Co.

    User reviews41

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Good, smart sci-fi
    Bruce Pittman's intelligent and modest TV adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's short story is a wonderful and much under-appreciated piece of high sci-fi. Films of this kind are rarely made, simply because there's not much potential audience for low-budget science fiction - most people are in sci-fi mainly for special effects and impressive battles. Harrison Bergeron, though, is one of those few adaptations made of real philosophical sci-fi, the kind that creates an image of the future as a reflection of our own reality. And it succeeds quite well in delivering its message, and for what it is it could be enjoyed by almost everyone - though I doubt it could have done well in the theaters.

    The film revolves around two wonderful lead actors - one is Sean Astin, who recently gained success and fame as Sam Gamgee in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. The other is the wonderful British actor Christopher Plummer, remembered by sci-fi buffs as the Klingon General Chang from Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country. Brilliant comedian Eugene Levy gives an eerily funny performance as the President. The story is of a future America in which equality is achieved by discouraging exceptional talent or intelligence and creating forced mediocrity. Harrison (Sean Astin) is one of the exceptional few whose intelligence surfaces despite the government's best efforts and is therefore given the chance to work for the government. There he discovers the timeless Orwellian truth of Fascist regimes - all are equal, but some are more equal than others. Astin's interplay with Clummer (the classic 'Big Brother') is wonderful, and the ending is beautiful. The script does an excellent job of expanding Vonnegut's very short story into a 100 minute film.

    Harrison Bergeron is well worth watching - if you can get your hands on it. As far as I know there isn't a DVD available, but the VHS can be ordered on Amazon and the movie plays occasionally on television. If you're interested in science fiction literature of authors like Vonnegut, Philip K. Dick, or Isaac Asimov, this wonderful little think-piece is a good purchase.
    helpful•13
    1
    • itamarscomix
    • May 24, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 13, 1995 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • Cypress Films home page
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Гаррісон Бержерон
    • Filming locations
      • Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Atlantis Films
      • Cypress Films (I)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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