Bogus (1996)

Recently orphaned, a young boy is taken in by his godmother who is shocked to realize that she can see the boy's imaginary friend: a flamboyant, French magician named Bogus.

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

Jeff Rothberg (story), Francis X. McCarthy Jr. (story) (as Francis X. McCarthy)

Stars:

Whoopi Goldberg, Gérard Depardieu, Haley Joel Osment

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Harriet Franklin
Gérard Depardieu	...	Bogus (as Gerard Depardieu)
Haley Joel Osment	...	Albert Franklin
Andrea Martin	...	Penny
Nancy Travis	...	Lorraine Franklin
Denis Mercier	...	Monsieur Antoine
Ute Lemper	...	Babette
Sheryl Lee Ralph	...	Ruth Clark
Barbara Hamilton	...	Mrs. Partridge
Al Waxman	...	School Principal
Elizabeth Harpur	...	Ellen
Fiona Reid	...	School Teacher
Kevin Jackson	...	Bob Morrison
Richard Portnow	...	M. Clay Thrasher
Mo Gaffney	...	Travellers Aide - New Jersey

Storyline

Seven year-old Albert is the son of a Las Vegas circus performer. When she is killed in a car wreck, Albert is sent to live with his mother's foster sister, Harriet Franklin, a no-nonsense businesswoman struggling in New Jersey. Albert hates it with the dour Harriet, but takes refuge in the company of Bogus, a flamboyant, gentle, loving, and altogether imaginary Frenchman. With Bogus's help, Albert can perhaps come to terms with his mother's death, and Harriet with her own loss of childhood innocence.

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Plot Keywords:

close up of eyes | character name as title | magician | imaginary friend | circus | 

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Taglines:

Could you use a friend? All you need is a little imagination

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and some mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Barbara Hamilton's final film.

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Goofs

Albert's mother's car stalls at the intersection of Desert Inn Road and Paradise Road, but the collision takes place near Jerry's Nugget, more than four miles away in real life. The wrecked car then reappears at Desert Inn and Paradise.

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Quotes

Harriet Franklin: This isn't going to work. I haven't had a conversation with a child since I was a child.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Bogus/The Big Squeeze/Bulletproof/The Trigger Effect/The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

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Soundtracks

Mon Manège à Moi
Music by Norbert Glanzberg
Lyrics by Jean Constantin

User Reviews

A beautiful movie...

"Bogus" is a touching and heart warming example of Albert Einsteins famous quote: "Reality is our worst enemy and imagination is our best friend."

A seven year old boy Albert (Haley Joel Osment), has a very happy life,living in Las Vegas with his circus entertainer mother,Lorraine (Nancy Travis).

This almost perfect life is tragically torn away from Albert when Lorraine is killed in car crash. After squabbling over who Albert should stay with,Lorraine's colleagues find that in her will,Lorraine had stated that she wished for Albert to be put in the care of her foster sister Harriet Franklin (Whoopi Goldberg).

When Harriet learns of this, she is not to happy. She has always lived alone and doesn't like the idea of being suddenly responsible for this little boy. But Harriet realizes that it's what Lorraine wanted and through thick and thin, Lorraine was always there for her.

So Albert goes to live with Harriet in the less glamorous city of Newark, New Jersey.

But he has not come alone!!

With him,Albert has bought a friend. A gentle giant called Bogus (Gerard Depardieu) who has been his only friend since the death of his mother.

Bogus is out to bring Harriet and Albert together as a family and to remind Harriet that imagination brings happiness.

Whoopi, Gerard and Haley make a fantastic team and are perfectly cast in this beautiful movie! 10 out of 10!!

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

6 September 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bogus

Filming Locations:

New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,895,593, 8 September 1996

Gross USA:

$4,357,406

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,357,406

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Regency Productions, New Regency Productions, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1