The Cider House Rules (1999)

A compassionate young man, raised in an orphanage and trained to be a doctor there, decides to leave to see the world.

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers:

John Irving (novel), John Irving (screenplay)

Stars:

Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron, Michael Caine

Won 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tobey Maguire	...	Homer Wells
Charlize Theron	...	Candy Kendall
Delroy Lindo	...	Mr. Rose
Paul Rudd	...	Wally Worthington
Michael Caine	...	Dr. Wilbur Larch
Jane Alexander	...	Nurse Edna
Kathy Baker	...	Nurse Angela
Erykah Badu	...	Rose Rose
Kieran Culkin	...	Buster
Kate Nelligan	...	Olive Worthington
Heavy D	...	Peaches
K. Todd Freeman	...	Muddy
Paz de la Huerta	...	Mary Agnes
J.K. Simmons	...	Ray Kendall
Evan Parke	...	Jack (as Evan Dexter Parke)

Storyline

Homer is an orphan in remote St. Cloud, Maine. Never adopted, he becomes the favorite of orphanage Director Dr. Larch, who imparts his full medical knowledge on Homer, who becomes a skilled, albeit unlicensed, physician. But Homer yearns for a self-chosen life outside the orphanage. When Wally and pregnant Candy visit the orphanage, Dr. Larch provides a medically safe, albeit illegal, abortion, Homer leaves with them to work on Wally's family apple farm. Wally goes off to war, leaving Homer and Candy alone together. What will Homer learn about life and love in the cider house? What of the destiny that Dr. Larch has planned for him?

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Plot Keywords:

premarital sex | woman dies from abortion | jim crow | abortion | sexual attraction | 

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Taglines:

A story about how far we must travel to find the place where we belong.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexuality, nudity, substance abuse and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 January 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Cider House Rules

Filming Locations:

Vermont, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$24,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$110,098, 12 December 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$57,545,092

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$88,545,092

Company Credits

Production Co:

FilmColony, Miramax, Nina Saxon Film Design

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jan Sverák refused to direct it.

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Goofs

The rules that Homer "reads" do not match the typed list we see.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[Opening narration; a couple of snippets of interspersed dialog are omitted]
Dr. Wilbur Larch: In other parts of the world young men leave home and travel far and wide in search of a promising future. Their journeys are often fueled by dreams of triumphing over evil, finding a great love, or the hopes of fortunes easily made. Here in St. Cloud's not even the decision to get off the train is easily made, for it requires an earlier, more difficult decision - add a child to your life, or leave one ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movie Doctors (2014)

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Soundtracks

All I Want Is Just One Girl
Composed by Leo Robin / Richard A. Whiting
Performed by Gus Arnheim and His Cocoanut Grove Ambassadors
Published by Famous Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Courtesy of the RCA Records Label of BMG Entertainment

User Reviews

Moral dilemmas presented in an easily digestible form

Sentimental but well-told, visually beautiful and enjoyable story of an orphanage and the moral dilemmas of abortion, exploring emotional issues from leaving home and fatherhood, to first love, self-discovery and the burdens of responsibility. "Sometimes you have to break the rules to make things right."