Kinsey (2004)

A look at the life of Alfred Kinsey, a pioneer in the area of human sexuality research, whose 1948 publication "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" was one of the first recorded works that saw science address sexual behavior.

Director:

Bill Condon

Writer:

Bill Condon

Stars:

Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Chris O'Donnell

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 17 wins & 50 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Liam Neeson	...	Alfred Kinsey
Laura Linney	...	Clara McMillen
Chris O'Donnell	...	Wardell Pomeroy
Peter Sarsgaard	...	Clyde Martin
Timothy Hutton	...	Paul Gebhard
John Lithgow	...	Alfred Seguine Kinsey
Tim Curry	...	Thurman Rice
Oliver Platt	...	Herman Wells
Dylan Baker	...	Alan Gregg
Julianne Nicholson	...	Alice Martin
William Sadler	...	Kenneth Braun
John McMartin	...	Huntington Hartford
Veronica Cartwright	...	Sara Kinsey
Kathleen Chalfant	...	Barbara Merkle
Heather Goldenhersh	...	Martha Pomeroy

Storyline

Called Prok as an adult (short for Professor Kinsey), Alfred Kinsey has been interested in biology since he was a child growing up in the early twentieth century, despite the criticisms of such being evil nonsense from his overbearing and devoutly Christian father, professor Alfred Seguine Kinsey. Prok goes on to become a biology professor at Indiana University, initially focusing on the study of gall wasps. But those studies in combination with questions from his students, coming to terms with the needs of sex with his own wife, a former student of his named Clara McMillen (who he calls Mac), and what he sees as the gross misinformation on the subject currently within popular belief makes him change his focus to human sexuality. Many of those gross untruths - as he sees them - are that oral sex and masturbation cause a slew of maladies, which are perpetuated by what is presented in the university's hygiene class taught by Professor Thurman Rice. With the approval of faculty head ...

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Plot Keywords:

sexuality | sex | student | research | professor | 

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Taglines:

Let's talk about sex.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive sexual content, including some graphic images and descriptions

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 January 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dr. Kinsey

Filming Locations:

Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$169,038, 14 November 2004, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$10,214,647, 27 March 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures, Qwerty Films, N1 European Film Produktions GmbH & Co. KG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the second movie in which John Lithgow has played a preacher. The first time was in the 1984 Footloose. In both movies he is seen preaching to a congregation about the corrupt values of that period's society.

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Goofs

Kinsey is talking with reporters upon arriving in New York and his dialogue does not match up with the shot of him.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Alfred Kinsey: Don't sit so far away. Anything that creates a distance should be avoided.

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the film (following the main cast credits), a montage featuring Kinsey Institute footage of the mating habits of various animals is accompanied by "Fever" by Little Willie John.

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Connections

Featured in Indie Sex: Censored (2007)

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Soundtracks

Too Darn Hot
(1948)
Written by Cole Porter
Performed by Ella Fitzgerald
Published by Chappell & Co (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Polygram Records, Inc./Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

My brief review of the film

A rather well researched, interesting and involving biography of an important man to science, the film not only provides an insight into Kinsey's life and the attitudes of the time, but it also digs deep into the characters. Superb acting assists too, with Neeson and Sarsgaard both in good form, however it is Linney who shines the most as Kinsey's wife. But what gives the film such an extra boost is how confronting it manages to be. It is a daringly different film, packing the punches and managing to even have a few good laughs. The style feels unique, yet the technical aspects of the film are rather ordinary. It is a bit too uncomfortable to watch at times also, but it generally succeeds. Condon has quite evidently put a lot of effort into writing and directing the film, and without much question, his efforts have paid off with success.