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 | racism | female nudity | woman dies from abortion | sex scene | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Irving made a brief cameo as the St. Cloud stationmaster.

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Goofs

The scenes at the drive-in feature a full cinemascope-sized screen. Cinemascope was not available until 1953.

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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

Referenced in Tosh.0: Juggalo Kid (2012)

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Soundtracks

Count My Fingers
Composed by Jack Trombey
Published by Rouge Music Ltd. (ASCAP)
Courtesy of DeWolfe Music Ltd.

User Reviews

An ample helping of the warm and fuzzies.

Part of the charm of "Cider House Rules", a coming-of-age movie with Tobey Maguire at the center, is the finesse with which it presents itself as a "feel good" movie when most of the characters have precious little to feel good about. The film could easily have had a harder edge to it. However, the makers of this carefully crafted film tiptoe so adroitly around such issues as abortion, murder, infidelity, and incest as to leave the audience with an ample helping of the warm and fuzzies. The film deserves high marks for enjoyability and for bringing back the charm of Hollywood's golden years.

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

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