The Majestic (2001)

In 1951, a blacklisted Hollywood writer gets into a car accident, loses his memory and settles down in a small town where he is mistaken for a long-lost son.

Director:

Frank Darabont

Writer:

Michael Sloane

Stars:

Jim Carrey, Martin Landau, Bob Balaban

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jim Carrey	...	Peter Appleton
Bob Balaban	...	Elvin Clyde
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Ernie Cole
Hal Holbrook	...	Congressman Doyle
Laurie Holden	...	Adele Stanton
Martin Landau	...	Harry Trimble
Brent Briscoe	...	Sheriff Cecil Coleman
Ron Rifkin	...	Kevin Bannerman
Gerry Black	...	Emmett Smith
David Ogden Stiers	...	Doc Stanton
James Whitmore	...	Stan Keller
Susan Willis	...	Irene Terwilliger
Catherine Dent	...	Mabel
Brian Howe	...	Carl Leffert / Head of the Studio
Karl Bury	...	Bob Leffert

Storyline

Peter Appleton is an ambitious young screenwriter working for HHS Studios during Hollywood's Golden Age, 1951 in particular. "Ashes to Ashes" is about to be released, and he's dating the attractive movie star, Sandra Sinclair. Just when everything seems to be going his way, it is discovered he (unwittingly) attended a Communist meeting during college when pulled there by his girlfriend at the time, and thus heavy suspicion settles over him and he'll have to stand before Congress. Afraid of what might happen if they don't, HHS cancels Appleton's contract and aborts the release date of the film. Appleton promptly begins to wallow in self-pity and spends nearly an entire night at a bar, then drives intoxicated through the streets of the California course until plummeting into a stormy river and getting knocked unconscious. Washing up on the beaches of a small town called Lawson. Although the people there are pleasant and likable, the town is depressed and lifeless due to having lost 62 ...

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Plot Keywords:

mccarthyism | hollywood blacklist | hollywood | film industry | movie palace | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes your life comes into focus one frame at a time.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and mild thematic elements

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scriptwriter Michael Sloane is a close schoolfriend of Frank Darabont. He also doubles as Kindly Old Professor Meredith in The Majestic's film within a film, Sand Pirates of the Sahara. He first showed Darabont the script back in 1999 and while he wanted to make the film, Darabont was already committed to The Green Mile (1999). As soon as it was finished, he got to work on The Majestic (2001).

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Goofs

In Mabel's Diner, the catsup bottles have the rounded metal, quick twist tops. In the early fifties, the tops were a cylindrical design with vertical ridges to aid with grip.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Studio Executive: What about the kid?
Studio Executive: What kid?
Studio Executive: You know, the kid who rings the bell.
Studio Executive: What kid? What bell? What are you talking about?
Studio Executive: The kid. After the mine caves in. The kid. He runs up the hill. He rings the bell to alert the town.
Studio Executive: Is that in the script? What page are we on?
Studio Executive: What if we gave the kid - a disease.
Studio Executive: A disease?
Studio Executive: A *disease*. Braces on the legs, that sort of thing.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The Hollywood executives heard in the first scene are briefly heard over the Castle Rock logo. Postcards of Lawson fall down around the opening credits.

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Connections

References Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

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Soundtracks

Pennsylvania 6-5000
Written by Jerry Gray and Carl Sigman
Produced by Claudia Cummings
Performed by The Spencer Wyatt Big Band

User Reviews

6.6/10? What absolute bull. Don't believe the low rating.

I heard bad things about this movie. I heard it wasn't well written and that Jim Carrey was a bad actor in it etc. DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT! It's not true. This movie is absolutely amazing. Jim Carrey did an excellent job at acting serious. He was 100% serious in this movie. He didn't try any facial expressions or noises he was 100% serious. He did an unforgettable role. He's even more serious than The Truman Show. The story is well put together and well written. Carrey losing his memory after a car crash in the river. The town people think he's someone that went to war and who has come back. Carrey must try to remember who he is. The people they know who he is are looking for him and will cause a lot of trouble if he doesn't find out quick. Fantastic, sweet and dramatic story. I recommend it to anyone. It is to be enjoyed by anyone. 10/10

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. Awards Site - trailer, screenings [United States] Warner Bros. story, trailer, downloads [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bijou

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$72,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,904,339, 23 December 2001

Gross USA:

$27,807,266

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$37,317,673

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castle Rock Entertainment, Village Roadshow Pictures, NPV Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

152 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1