5.9/10
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15 user 14 critic

The Substance of Fire (1996)

R | | Drama | 14 March 1997 (USA)
The Substance of Fire Poster
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1:40 | Trailer

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Publishing magnate refuses to publish a book by his son's male lover so the kids buy out their father and run it themselves!

Director:

Daniel J. Sullivan

Writers:

Jon Robin Baitz (play), Jon Robin Baitz (screenplay)

Stars:

Tony Goldwyn, Benjamin Ungar, Timothy Hutton | See full cast & crew »
54
Reviews
1 win & 1 nomination. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Goldwyn ... Aaron Geldhart
Benjamin Ungar Benjamin Ungar ... Young Isaac Geldhart
Timothy Hutton ... Martin Geldhart
Tom McDermott ... Old Printer
Sarah Jessica Parker ... Sarah Geldhart
George Morfogen George Morfogen ... Otto the printer
Ron Rifkin ... Isaac Geldhart
Lee Grant ... Cora Cahn
Andrew Pang ... Mr. Otani jr
Edmund Ikeda Edmund Ikeda ... Mr. Otani sr
Elizabeth Franz ... Miss Barzakian
Gil Bellows ... Val Chenard
Eric Bogosian ... Gene Byck
Ronny Graham Ronny Graham ... Louis Foukold
John Sullivan John Sullivan ... Stewart
See full cast »
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Storyline

Isaac Geldhart is a Holocaust survivor who, overcome by grief at the recent death of his wife, seems determined to run his publishing firm into the ground by printing books that have no hope of financial success. His son Aaron, who also works at the company, grows frustrated with Isaac's emotional decline and attempts to take over the firm. The resulting crisis involves Isaac's other two children, his daughter Sarah and his dying son Martin. Written by Jesse Garon <grifter@primenet.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

gay secondary character | gay lead character | blonde | dancing alone | television show | See All (159) »

Taglines:

Doing What Is Right... Could Cost Him Everything.

Genres:

Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 March 1997 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

A tűz melege See more »
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Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$56,221, 16 March 1997, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$56,221, 16 March 1997
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Viola Davis. See more »

Quotes

Issac Geldheart: You think I'm going to publish some trashy novel by some slicko hipster?
See more »

Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Devil's Own/Cats Don't Dance/B*A*P*S/The Sixth Man/The Eighth Day/The Substance of Fire (1997) See more »

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User Reviews

A tough drama that's worth sitting through.
5 July 2000 | by Pete8139 – See all my reviews

I have to admit, I once began watching this and didn't get very far. But I tried again and found it very interesting - more interesting, at least, than the other poster. I thought Ronny Graham was hilarious as the elderly, cantankerous author. In fact, there was more humor in the movie than I imagined. Tony Goldwyn and Sarah Jessica Parker could easily pass as siblings, and the children of Ron Rifkin, but Tim Hutton didn't seem to belong to the same family. The most interesting thing to me, and perhaps a reason to watch it, was the brief scene of Goldwyn and Gil Bellows (as his boyfriend) dancing together.
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