- Stephen King(novella "Apt Pupil")
- Brandon Boyce(screenplay)
- Stars
- Stephen King(novella "Apt Pupil")
- Brandon Boyce(screenplay)
- Stars
- Stephen King(novella "Apt Pupil")
- Brandon Boyce(screenplay)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBrad Renfro was only fourteen at the time of filming.
- GoofsWhen Todd is walking down the hall to give Kurt Dussander the costume, the dolly track is visible on the floor in the hall.
- Quotes
Todd Bowden: Have you lost your mind? What the hell were you thinking, 'Grandpa'?
Kurt Dussander: What are you so excited about?
Todd Bowden: Oh, you've got some fucking balls! I could have screwed you up, anything could have happened!
Kurt Dussander: You played it beautifully, boy. I knew you would.
Todd Bowden: Are you fucking drunk? I could have busted you right there!
Kurt Dussander: Yes, you could have, but you did not. Now, why was that? Your Edward French is not going to give you any more trouble, so now you are upset because the only way you can make things right is to work.
Todd Bowden: I'm upset because you had that asshole thinking I can do something that can't be done!
Kurt Dussander: Oh, but it can. And it will. You will simply have to work. No more stories. No more screwing around.
Todd Bowden: I don't take orders from you.
Kurt Dussander: [sniggers] You do now.
Todd Bowden: Oh, you think so? Yeah, well, don't forget I could walk right in there and pick up that phone...
Kurt Dussander: And do what? Do you really think that I would stand aside and let you turn me in without dragging you with me, do you? Your American self confidence is so bloated you've forgotten the reality of the situation. 90,000 died in Patin. To the whole world, I am a monster. And you have known about me all this time. If I'm caught, when those reporters stick their microphones in my face it will be your name that I will repeat over and over again. Todd Bowden, Todd Bowden... Todd Bowden, yes, that was his name. For how long, for months, almost a year, he wanted to know everything. That was how he put it, yes, everything.
Todd Bowden: You're crazy. They'll never believe you.
Kurt Dussander: It doesn't matter. Oh, you're going to be infamous, boy, take my word for it. And do you know what such a scandal can do? It never goes away. Not for you, not for your parents. And besides, lying to judges and reporters isn't as easy as you think. You'd have to be brilliant. Can you do that? I know I can.
- Crazy creditsThe film has a 1997 copyright date in the credits.
- Alternate versionsAccording to the Technical Specifications link for this film, there is a one minute longer version available in Argentina (total time 1 hr 52 min (112 min)).
- SoundtracksTristan Und Isolde
Written by Richard Wagner
Performed by Carlos Kleiber and The Bayeurth Festival Orchestra
Courtesy of Koch International by arrangement with Source/Q
As for the movie version, I'm sorry to say it doesn't work. While there have been much worse Stephen King adaptations, this is still pretty weak. Someone else here said it's been sugarcoated, and I agree. It's been watered down so much, that character's actions that were easy to understand in the book become "Whaa - why did he do that?" here. The ending is the worst part - though I can understand why they may not have been able to recreate the novella's original ending onscreen, couldn't they have thought of a new ending that was better than the one they used here?
The acting is good, one of the few things that works here.
In short: if you have read the novella, do NOT watch this movie - you'll be horrified in a way the filmmakers didn't intend. The positive comments here seem to come from people who haven't read the novella. I still wouldn't recommend this movie even for non-readers, but if you must watch this movie, I strongly urge you to read the novella after you've seen the movie. It'll really open your eyes (in more ways than one), and you'll see how much better the movie could have been.
- Wizard-8
- Apr 19, 1999
Details
Box office
- 1 hour 51 minutes
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