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IMDbPro

The Whole Wide World

  • 1996
  • PG
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
3.9K
YOUR RATING
Renée Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio in The Whole Wide World (1996)
Theatrical Trailer from Sony Pictures Classics
Play trailer2:29
2 Videos
27 Photos
BiographyDramaRomance

In 1933 Texas, a schoolteacher and aspiring writer meets a pulp fiction writer, and a relationship soon develops between the two, but it is doomed by his slavishly devotion to his ailing mot... Read allIn 1933 Texas, a schoolteacher and aspiring writer meets a pulp fiction writer, and a relationship soon develops between the two, but it is doomed by his slavishly devotion to his ailing mother and insistence on his freedom.In 1933 Texas, a schoolteacher and aspiring writer meets a pulp fiction writer, and a relationship soon develops between the two, but it is doomed by his slavishly devotion to his ailing mother and insistence on his freedom.

  • Director
    • Dan Ireland
  • Writers
    • Novalyne Price Ellis
    • Michael Scott Myers
  • Stars
    • Vincent D'Onofrio
    • Renée Zellweger
    • Ann Wedgeworth
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    3.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Dan Ireland
    • Writers
      • Novalyne Price Ellis
      • Michael Scott Myers
    • Stars
      • Vincent D'Onofrio
      • Renée Zellweger
      • Ann Wedgeworth
    • 95User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 7 nominations

    Videos2

    The Whole Wide World
    Trailer 2:29
    Watch The Whole Wide World
    The Whole Wide World - Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
    Watch The Whole Wide World - Official Trailer

    Photos27

    Renée Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio in The Whole Wide World (1996)
    Renée Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio in The Whole Wide World (1996)
    Renée Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio in The Whole Wide World (1996)
    Renée Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio in The Whole Wide World (1996)
    Novalyne Price Ellis in The Whole Wide World (1996)
    Photo of Robert E. Howard, the great 1930's pulp fiction writer.
    Renée Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio in The Whole Wide World (1996)
    Renée Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio in The Whole Wide World (1996)
    Renée Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio in The Whole Wide World (1996)
    Renée Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio in The Whole Wide World (1996)
    Renée Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio in The Whole Wide World (1996)
    Renée Zellweger and Vincent D'Onofrio in The Whole Wide World (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Vincent D'Onofrio
    Vincent D'Onofrio
    • Robert E. Howard
    Renée Zellweger
    Renée Zellweger
    • Novalyne Price
    Ann Wedgeworth
    Ann Wedgeworth
    • Mrs. Howard
    Harve Presnell
    Harve Presnell
    • Dr. Howard
    Benjamin Mouton
    Benjamin Mouton
    • Clyde Smith
    Helen Cates
    • Enid
    Leslie Buesing
    • Ethel
    • (as Leslie Berger)
    Chris Shearer
    • Truett
    Sandy Walper
    • Mammy
    Marion Eaton
    Marion Eaton
    • Woman on Bus
    Dell Aldrich
    • Mrs. Hemphill
    • (as Dell F. Aldrich)
    Libby Villari
    Libby Villari
    • Etna Reed Price
    Michael Corbett
    Michael Corbett
    • Booth Adams
    Antonia Bogdanovich
    Antonia Bogdanovich
    • Teacher
    Elizabeth D'Onofrio
    Elizabeth D'Onofrio
    • Mrs. Smith
    Stephen Marshall
    • Director
    Bridgett
    • Wolf
    • Director
      • Dan Ireland
    • Writers
      • Novalyne Price Ellis
      • Michael Scott Myers
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Renée Zellweger, upon receiving her Oscar for Cold Mountain (2003), thanked Vincent D'Onofrio for teaching her how to act, referring to her experiences in this movie.
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Novalyne Price: Why don't you tell me about your character, Conan?

      Robert E. 'Bob' Howard: Conan? Conan is the damnedest bastard there ever was! He's got a long black mane of hair, and crystal blue eyes. He's a fighter, born on the battlefield! To him, combat's a way of life. It's all he's ever known, all he ever WANTS to know! But he's no soldier who was taught to fight. To him, fighting's an instinct... it's a part of him, like his legs, his arms, his chest, his bull neck! And believe me, he don't take it from nobody; he'll fight man, beast, devil or god! And when those women feel those tree trunk-firm arms around their waist... they melt like butter on a hot skillet!

    • 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."
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Dante's Peak/SubUrbia/The Beautician and the Beast/Rosewood/The Whole Wide World (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Depression Blues
      Composed by Peter Cork (as P. Cork)

    User reviews95

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Dating Conan the Barbarian's creator in the heart of Texas in 1934-1936
    Released in 1996, the movie focuses on budding writer Novalyne Price Ellis (Renée Zellweger) and her experiences with famous pulp writer, Robert E. Howard (Vincent D'Onofrio), creator of Conan the barbarian and other characters, like Kull, Solomon Kane and Red Sonya. The events take place in central Texas (Cross Plains and Brownwood) during the last two years of Howard's life, 1934-1936, and are based on Novalyne's memoirs "One Who Walked Alone" and "Day of the Stranger: Further Memories of Robert E. Howard." Ann Wedgeworth is on hand as Robert's sickly mother.

    Howard's great imagination and expertise with words made him "the greatest pulp fiction writer in the whole wide world," as he was known. Unfortunately he died way too young at the age of 30 but, thankfully, he was prolific and so we have a lot of material by him to enjoy. It has always been a mystery to me why this talented man died the way he did, but this film gives life to REH's last two years and helps the viewer understand what happened.

    This is a true-life drama with elements of romance consisting of the simple way of life of a writer, his parents and friends in the plains of central Texas in the mid-30s. Most of the sequences take place at the quaint Howard abode, the theater in Brownwood, the school where Novalyne taught and, mostly, Robert & Novalyne driving the desolate landscapes or walking and talking, sometimes in conflict. In other words, this is a simple drama. The potency comes with the subject matter, Robert E. Howard. I found the drama gripping as insights emerge in the dialogues and other sequences.

    The film runs 1 hour, 51 minutes and was shot in the heart of Texas (Austin, Bartlett, Bastrop and Rockne).

    GRADE: A-
    helpful•3
    0
    • Wuchakk
    • Sep 12, 2018

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 20, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Pictures Classics
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 鍾愛一世情
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Theatre - 713 Congress, Austin, Texas, USA(exterior and interior)
    • Production companies
      • Cineville
      • The Kushner-Locke Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,300,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $375,757
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,316
      • Dec 22, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $375,757
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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