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The Substance of Fire

  • 19961996
  • RR
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
649
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Substance of Fire (1996)
HV
Play trailer1:40
1 Video
16 Photos
  • Drama

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

IMDb RATING
6.0/10
649
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Daniel J. Sullivan
  • Writer
    • Jon Robin Baitz(play)
  • Stars
    • Tony Goldwyn
    • Benjamin Ungar
    • Timothy Hutton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Daniel J. Sullivan
  • Writer
    • Jon Robin Baitz(play)
  • Stars
    • Tony Goldwyn
    • Benjamin Ungar
    • Timothy Hutton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    The Substance of Fire
    Trailer 1:40
    The Substance of Fire

    Photos16

    1 sheet movie poster
    The Substance of Fire (1996)
    The Substance of Fire (1996)
    The Substance of Fire (1996)
    The Substance of Fire (1996)
    The Substance of Fire (1996)
    The Substance of Fire (1996)
    Timothy Hutton in The Substance of Fire (1996)
    Tony Goldwyn and Ron Rifkin in The Substance of Fire (1996)
    The Substance of Fire (1996)
    The Substance of Fire (1996)
    The Substance of Fire (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tony Goldwyn
    Tony Goldwyn
    • Aaron Geldhartas Aaron Geldhart
    Benjamin Ungar
    • Young Isaac Geldhartas Young Isaac Geldhart
    Timothy Hutton
    Timothy Hutton
    • Martin Geldhartas Martin Geldhart
    Tom McDermott
    Tom McDermott
    • Old Printeras Old Printer
    Sarah Jessica Parker
    Sarah Jessica Parker
    • Sarah Geldhartas Sarah Geldhart
    George Morfogen
    George Morfogen
    • Otto the printeras Otto the printer
    Ron Rifkin
    Ron Rifkin
    • Isaac Geldhartas Isaac Geldhart
    Lee Grant
    Lee Grant
    • Cora Cahnas Cora Cahn
    Andrew Pang
    Andrew Pang
    • Mr. Otani jras Mr. Otani jr
    Edmund Ikeda
    • Mr. Otani sras Mr. Otani sr
    Elizabeth Franz
    Elizabeth Franz
    • Miss Barzakianas Miss Barzakian
    Gil Bellows
    Gil Bellows
    • Val Chenardas Val Chenard
    Eric Bogosian
    Eric Bogosian
    • Gene Byckas Gene Byck
    Ronny Graham
    Ronny Graham
    • Louis Foukoldas Louis Foukold
    John Sullivan
    • Stewartas Stewart
    Sophia Salguero
    • Rachelas Rachel
    John Patrick Walker
    • Peteras Peter
    Roger Rees
    Roger Rees
    • Maxas Max
    • Director
      • Daniel J. Sullivan
    • Writer
      • Jon Robin Baitz(play) (screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Jesse Garon <grifter@primenet.com>
    • book
    • screenplay adapted by author
    • publishing
    • family relationships
    • suvivor
    • 1 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Doing What Is Right... Could Cost Him Everything.
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Film debut of Viola Davis.
    • Quotes

      Sarah Geldheart: Tell me the truth. Does anybody actually finish a book once they have formed an opinion of it?

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Devil's Own/Cats Don't Dance/B*A*P*S/The Sixth Man/The Eighth Day/The Substance of Fire (1997)

    User reviews16

    Review
    Top review
    Film version of play Has "Substance",lacks "Fire".
    The Main reason to see the film version of "The Substance Of Fire" is Ron Rifkin's splendid performance. He reprises the role he created on stage with great aplomb.It is however,one of the few reasons to see this film.The plot has been drastically altered from the original play,even adding major characters that did not exist in the original.The basic story remains, a Jewish Publisher and his slow decent into dementia brought on through his loss of control of the company to his son. But there it ends. The messages in this film are very clear,but the execution,direction and scripting destroy the impact of the original play.
    helpful•5
    1
    • peacham
    • Dec 19, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 14, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Det förflutnas skuggor
    • Production company
      • Miramax
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $31,638
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $56,211
      • Mar 16, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $31,638
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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