The Whole Wide World (1996)

In Texas in the 1930s, young schoolteacher Novalyne Price meets a handsome, eccentric, interesting young man named Robert Howard. He's a successful writer - of the pulp stories of 'Conan ... See full summary »

Director:

Dan Ireland

Writers:

Novalyne Price Ellis (memoir One Who Walked Alone), Michael Scott Myers (screenplay)

Stars:

Vincent D'Onofrio, Renée Zellweger, Ann Wedgeworth

6 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Robert E. Howard
Renée Zellweger	...	Novalyne Price
Ann Wedgeworth	...	Mrs. Howard
Harve Presnell	...	Dr. Howard
Benjamin Mouton	...	Clyde Smith
Helen Cates	...	Enid
Leslie Buesing	...	Ethel (as Leslie Berger)
Chris Shearer	...	Truett
Sandy Walper	...	Mammy
Marion Eaton	...	Woman on Bus
Dell Aldrich	...	Mrs. Hemphill (as Dell F. Aldrich)
Libby Villari	...	Etna Reed Price
Michael Corbett	...	Booth Adams
Antonia Bogdanovich	...	Teacher
Elizabeth D'Onofrio	...	Mrs. Smith

Storyline

In Texas in the 1930s, young schoolteacher Novalyne Price meets a handsome, eccentric, interesting young man named Robert Howard. He's a successful writer - of the pulp stories of 'Conan the Barbarian'; she's an aspiring one. A friendship develops into a sort of courtship. Based on a memoir by Novalyne Price.

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Plot Keywords:

corn stalk | courtship | friendship | writer | 1930s | 

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Taglines:

A true story about the true love of the greatest pulp fiction writer of all time.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for a substantial amount of mild language and mature thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 December 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alle Liebe dieser Welt

Filming Locations:

Paramount Theatre - 713 Congress, Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,318, 22 December 1996, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$136,933, 5 January 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineville,The Kushner-Locke Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Bastrop, Texas, home that stood in for the home of Robert Howard, was the World War II residence of Judge C. B, Maynard, a Major in the J.A.G. office at U.S. Army training center Camp Swift. On 6 October 1942, a G.I. trainee who had been institutionalized before induction kidnapped and choked to death the judge's eight-year-old daughter. Apprehended immediately in a stolen car. he was found guilty at court martial and sentenced to hang. He was executed 19 March 1943. The Maynard family left Bastrop later.

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Goofs

Early in the film, Mrs. Howard tells Bob that his publisher, Mr. Wright, called from New York. Weird Tales, edited by Farnsworth Wright, was actually published in Chicago.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Novalyne Price: I met Bob Howard today. My old sweetheart, Clyde, brought him over.

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Crazy Credits

During her interview on "Inside the Actor's Studio", Renee Zellweger revealed that the end credit for Woofgang Zellweger was an inside reference to her dog, "Woof."

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Dante's Peak/SubUrbia/The Beautician and the Beast/Rosewood/The Whole Wide World (1997)

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Soundtracks

The Girl with a Pink Rose
Composed by Roger-Roger (as Eric Swann)

User Reviews

Amazing, Must-See Movie

If there was only 1 movie ever, I would suggest anyone to watch, this would be the movie that I would suggest. I came across it on Netflix, DVD rentals, and rented it because the storyline seemed interesting, and I like Renee. I had never heard of this movie, and at the time it came out in 1996, I was working too many hours to even know what was in the movie theaters. Vincent D'Onofrio is more than amazing in this role, and should have been nominated and won the Oscar for this part. For me, his portrayal of his character in this movie is the best I have ever seen any actor do. Vincent's portrayal brings out Renee's character beautifully; how could she not act like she did, working against such an amazing actor. This screenplay is beautifully written, from Novalyne Price-Ellis's true book she wrote herself, covering her relationship with Robert E. Howard. I had no idea who he was, but after this movie, have read up on his life, and will purchase Novalyne's book, "One Who Walked ALone", from which this movie was taken. Great directing, screenplay, photography, acting, music; a movie that could not have been put together any more beautifully. BRAVO to all, thank you for one of the best movie experiences I have had, at the age of 48. Shame on whomever did not spend the money to distribute and advertise the heck out of this movie when it came out in 1996. I will purchase the DVD, and will buy it for gifts for many, but wish they had put more in the "special features", than only Renee's chat. Why not all of the "deleted scenes", "the making of", etc...Janet, NYC, Feb 2007