Awakenings (1990)
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- PG-13
- 2h 1min
- Biography, Drama
- 11 Jan 1991 (USA)
- Movie
- Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
Robert De Niro | ... |
Leonard Lowe
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Robin Williams | ... |
Dr. Malcolm Sayer
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Julie Kavner | ... |
Eleanor Costello
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Ruth Nelson | ... |
Mrs. Lowe
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John Heard | ... |
Dr. Kaufman
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Penelope Ann Miller | ... |
Paula
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Alice Drummond | ... |
Lucy
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Judith Malina | ... |
Rose
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Barton Heyman | ... |
Bert
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George Martin | ... |
Frank
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Anne Meara | ... |
Miriam
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Richard Libertini | ... |
Sidney
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Laura Esterman | ... |
Lolly
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Dexter Gordon | ... |
Rolando
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Jayne Haynes | ... |
Frances
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Le Clanché du Rand | ... |
Magda
(as Le Clanche Du Rand)
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Yusef Bulos | ... |
Joseph
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Steven Randazzo | ... |
Luis
(as Steve Randazzo)
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Gloria Harper | ... |
Dottie
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Gwyllum Evans | ... |
Desmond
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Mary Catherine Wright | ... |
Nurse Beth
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Mary Alice | ... |
Nurse Margaret
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Keith Diamond | ... |
Anthony
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Steve Vinovich | ... |
Ray
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Tiger Haynes | ... |
Janitor
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John Christopher Jones | ... |
Dr. Sullivan
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Bradley Whitford | ... |
Dr. Tyler
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Max von Sydow | ... |
Dr. Peter Ingham
(as Max Von Sydow)
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Harvey Miller | ... |
Hospital Director
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Tanya Berezin | ... |
Psychiatrist
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Peter Stormare | ... |
Neurochemist
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Shane Fistell | ... |
Man in Hall
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Waheedah Ahmad | ... |
Hysterical Woman
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Charles Keating | ... |
Mr. Kean
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Christina Huertes | ... |
Christina
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Linda Burns | ... |
Fishsticks
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Judy Jacksina | ... |
Hospital Receptionist
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Gary Tacon | ... |
George, Security Guard
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Rico Elias | ... |
Orderly #1
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Mel Gorham | ... |
Nurse Sara
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Chris Carolan | ... |
EEG Technician
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Debra Kovner-Zaks | ... |
Cafeteria Nurse
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Max Rabinowitz | ... |
Ward #5 Orderly
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Gordon Joseph Weiss | ... |
Ward #5 Patient
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Byron Utley | ... |
Ward #5 Patient #2
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Anthony McGowen | ... |
Ward #5 Patient #3
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Paul Montgomery | ... |
Ward #5 Patient #4
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Leonard Tepper | ... |
Ward #5 Patient #5
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Vincent Pastore | ... |
Ward #5 Patient #6
(as Vinny Pastore)
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Howard Feller | ... |
Ward #5 Patient #7
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Libby Titus | ... |
Club Singer
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Michael Hyde | ... |
Bus Driver
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Tomislav Novakovic | ... |
Bartender
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Adam Bryant | ... |
Librarian
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Anthony J. Nici | ... |
Young Leonard
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Oliver Block | ... |
Leonard's Friend #1
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Buck Smith | ... |
Leonard's Friend #2
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Joan E. MacIntosh | ... |
Teacher
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Harry L. Seddon | ... |
Medical Student
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Vin Diesel | ... |
Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
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Heather Rose Dominic | ... |
Neighborhood Girl (uncredited)
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Tom Farrell | ... |
Patient on Film (uncredited)
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Jason W. Fuchs | ... |
PotHeadHippie (uncredited)
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Michael Hurley | ... |
Orderly (uncredited)
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Doris McCarthy | ... |
Secretary in Board Room (uncredited)
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James Medina | ... |
(uncredited)
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Jack Mulcahy | ... |
Intern on Psych Ward (uncredited)
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Sherry Pagán | ... |
Mother in Subway (uncredited)
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Jan Saint | ... |
Man Hit with Ball (uncredited)
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Ruth Leon Weiman | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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Directed by
Penny Marshall | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
Oliver Sacks | ... | (book) (as Oliver Sacks M.D.) |
Steven Zaillian | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
Elliot Abbott | ... | executive producer |
Lawrence Lasker | ... | producer (produced by) |
Amy Lemisch | ... | associate producer |
Penny Marshall | ... | executive producer |
Walter F. Parkes | ... | producer (produced by) |
Arne Schmidt | ... | executive producer |
Music by
Randy Newman | ... | (music by) |
Cinematography by
Miroslav Ondrícek | ... | director of photography (as Miroslav Ondricek) |
Editing by
Battle Davis | ... | (edited by) |
Gerald B. Greenberg | ... | (edited by) (as Jerry Greenberg) |
Editorial Department
Donah Bassett | ... | negative cutter |
Kathryn Camp | ... | first assistant film editor |
Debbie Goldsmith | ... | assistant film editor |
Jere Huggins | ... | additional film editor |
Cynthia Kimoto | ... | apprentice film editor |
Nancy Novack | ... | apprentice film editor (as Nancy I. Novak) |
Suzanne Pillsbury | ... | assistant film editor |
Howard Spiro | ... | apprentice film editor |
Casting By
Bonnie Timmermann | ... | (casting by) |
Production Design by
Anton Furst |
Art Direction by
Bill Groom |
Set Decoration by
George DeTitta Jr. |
Costume Design by
Cynthia Flynt | ... | (costumes designed by) |
Makeup Department
Scott W. Farley | ... | hair stylist (as Scott Farley) |
William A. Farley | ... | hair stylist (as Bill Farley) |
Ilona Herman | ... | hair stylist: Mr. DeNiro / makeup artist: Mr. DeNiro |
Bernadette Mazur | ... | makeup artist |
Scott Hersh | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Craig Lyman | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
Timothy M. Bourne | ... | unit production manager |
Chantal Feghali | ... | post-production supervisor (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael DeCasper | ... | second second assistant director |
Tony Gittelson | ... | first assistant director |
Sean Hobin | ... | dga trainee |
Glen Trotiner | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
Gerald DeTitta | ... | leadman (as Jerry DeTitta) |
William Drake | ... | chargeman scenic artist |
John R. Ford | ... | assistant property master (as John Ford) |
Robert Griffon Jr. | ... | property master (as Bob Griffon) |
Sarah Knowles | ... | art department assistant |
John McConnell | ... | assistant property master |
Alan E. Muraoka | ... | assistant art director (as Alan Muraoka) |
Christopher Nelson | ... | set dresser |
Lynn Nigro | ... | art department assistant |
Ron Petagna | ... | construction coordinator |
James Sorice | ... | master scenic artist |
Thomas M. Southern | ... | scenic artist (as Thomas Southern) |
Sylvia Trapanese | ... | scenic artist |
Dave Weinman | ... | leadman (as David Weinman) |
Frank Didio | ... | head carpenter (uncredited) |
Vincent Guarriello | ... | key construction grip (uncredited) |
Sound Department
Michael Bedard | ... | cable person |
Anna Behlmer | ... | sound recordist |
Beth Bergeron | ... | supervising adr editor |
Gary C. Bourgeois | ... | re-recording mixer (as Gary Bourgeois) |
Joe Dorn | ... | adr editor |
Matthew Iadarola | ... | re-recording mixer |
Les Lazarowitz | ... | production mixer |
John Morris | ... | sound editor |
Linda Murphy | ... | boom operator |
Bob Newlan | ... | sound editor |
Mark Pappas | ... | foley editor |
Michele Perrone | ... | assistant sound editor |
Michelle Pleis | ... | assistant sound editor |
Jerry Ross | ... | supervising sound editor |
Hamilton Sterling | ... | sound editor |
Hugo Weng | ... | sound editor |
David Williams | ... | foley editor (as Dave Williams) |
Linda Yeaney | ... | assistant sound editor |
John Duvall | ... | foley editor (uncredited) |
Arnold Finkelstein | ... | sound effects recordist (uncredited) |
Dan O'Connell | ... | foley artist (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
Tony Parmelee | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Connors | ... | best boy electric (as Bobby Conners) |
James P. Dolan | ... | rigging gaffer (as James Dolan) |
Edwin Effrein | ... | second assistant camera: second camera (as Eddie Effrein) |
Kenneth Fundus | ... | dolly grip (as Kenny Fundus) |
Louis Goldman | ... | still photographer |
Billy Kerwick | ... | best boy grip |
Richard C. Kratina | ... | second camera operator (as Richard Kratina) |
Gary Muller | ... | first assistant camera |
Scot A. Nederman-Paul | ... | additional loader (as Scott Nederman) |
Douglas Pellegrino | ... | first assistant camera: second camera |
Tom Priestley Jr. | ... | camera operator (as Tom Priestley) |
Andrew Priestley | ... | second assistant camera |
Richard Quinlan | ... | chief lighting technician (as Dick Quinlan) |
Ed Quinn | ... | key grip (as Eddie Quinn) |
Joseph Trammell | ... | video playback operator (as Joe Tremmel) |
Thomas Yacuk | ... | Best Boy Rigging Grip |
Chris Hammond | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
Petr Hlinomaz | ... | gaffer: second unit (uncredited) |
Thomas Landi | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
Rick Raphael | ... | steadicam operator (uncredited) |
Tom Volpe | ... | dolly grip (uncredited) |
Casting Department
Judie Fixler | ... | additional casting |
Ronna Kress | ... | additional casting |
Todd Thaler | ... | additional casting (as Todd M. Thaler) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Dumais | ... | wardrobe: men |
Irene Ferrari | ... | wardrobe: women |
George Potts | ... | assistant costume designer |
Location Management
Richard Baratta | ... | location manager |
Dennis T. Benatar | ... | location assistant (as Dennis Benatar) |
Drew Dillard | ... | location assistant |
Charles 'Man' Johnson | ... | location assistant |
Pamela Thur | ... | location assistant |
Tom Tumminello | ... | location assistant |
Music Department
James Flamberg | ... | music editor (as Jim Flamberg) |
Jack Hayes | ... | orchestrator |
Laura Perlman | ... | music editor |
Michael Boddicker | ... | musician: synthesizer (uncredited) |
Tom Boyd | ... | musician: oboe soloist (uncredited) |
Tom Brown | ... | music preparation (uncredited) |
Sandy De Crescent | ... | orchestra contractor (uncredited) |
Vince De Rosa | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
David Duke | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
Jim Hoffman | ... | music preparation (uncredited) |
Tony Kadell | ... | assistant music editor (uncredited) |
Shawn Murphy | ... | scoring mixer (uncredited) |
Brian O'Connor | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
Kurt Snyder | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
Sebastian Toettcher | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
Louise Di Tullio | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
Sheila Paige | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
David Hyde | ... | transportation coordinator |
Michael Hyde | ... | transportation captain |
Patrick Hogan | ... | driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
Christine Belson | ... | assistant: Ms. Flynt |
Shannon Rayle Bourne | ... | office production assistant (as Shannon Leigh Rayle) |
Tristan Paris Bourne | ... | set production assistant (as Tristan Bourne) |
Katie Cerio | ... | assistant: Mr. Lasker and Mr. Parkes |
Robin Chambers | ... | assistant: Mr. De Niro |
Susan Fanara | ... | assistant: Mr. Lasker and Mr. Parkes |
Bonnie Hlinomaz | ... | assistant: Ms. Marshall (as a different name) |
Sam Hoffman | ... | set production assistant |
Harriette Kanew | ... | production office coordinator |
Larry Kaplan | ... | unit publicist |
Margaret Mitchell | ... | production accountant (as Margaret A. Mitchell) |
Oliver Sacks | ... | technical consultant (as Oliver Sacks M.D.) |
Donna Santora | ... | assistant accountant |
Jon-Michael Smith | ... | assistant: Ms. Marshall |
Tim Williams | ... | key set production assistant |
Jeff Block | ... | assistant: Ms. Timmermann (uncredited) |
Peter Bækkel | ... | Location Assistant (uncredited) |
Jay Johnson | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
Ernie Karpeles | ... | animal handler (uncredited) |
Matthew Running Water McFadden | ... | archival specialist (uncredited) |
Todd Rathner | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Suzanne Ryan | ... | assistant: Ms. Timmermann (uncredited) |
Jonathan Silver | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Thanks
Patricia Birch | ... | special thanks (as Pat Birch) |
Kate Edgar | ... | special thanks |
Carrie Fisher | ... | special thanks |
Jaynee Keyes | ... | special thanks: New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting (as Jayne Keyes) |
Michael Lieber | ... | special thanks |
Pepper O'Brien | ... | special thanks: New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture and Television Development |
Tracy Reiner | ... | special thanks |
Yakov Sklyansky | ... | special thanks (as Yasha Sklansky) |
Lillian Tighe | ... | special thanks |
Ed. Weinberger | ... | special thanks (as Ed Weinberger) |
Jack Winter | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
- Columbia Pictures (presents)
- Parkes/Lasker productions
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1990) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures of Canada (1990) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Films AB (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Films (1991) (France) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Films (1991) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1991) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1991) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Prooptiki (1991) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Syncron Film (1991) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1991) (Spain) (DVD)
- LK-TEL (1991) (Argentina) (VHS)
- VideoVisa (1991) (Mexico) (VHS)
- CBS (1996) (United States) (tv)
- Nordisk Film (1999) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
- LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-edited)
- Image Entertainment (2011) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2013) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- RTL Entertainment (2016) (Netherlands) (tv) (RTL8)
- Hoyts Fox Columbia TriStar Films (1990) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (Brazil) (DVD)
- LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Netflix (2021) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Pluto TV (2023) (United States) (video)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1990) (Australia) (video)
Special Effects
- Navestar (process projection effects)
Other Companies
- Cinema Research (titles and opticals)
- Columbia Pictures Industries (copyright 1990)
- Columbia Pictures (presents)
- National Theatre of the Handicapped (special thanks)
- New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development (special thanks)
- P.F. Vintage Clothing (special thanks)
- Panavision (camera equipment provided by)
- Panavision (lenses and Panaflex supplied by)
- Reprise Records (soundtrack available on)
- Something's Cooking (craft service)
- Staff & Patients of Beth Abraham Hospital (special thanks)
- Staff & Patients of Creedmoor Psychiatric Center (special thanks)
- Staff & Patients of Kingsboro Psychiatric Center (special thanks)
- The New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (special thanks)
Storyline
Plot Summary |
1969. Dr. Malcolm Sayer is hired as a clinical physician at a local hospital in the Bronx, despite only having a research background. The job is not ideal on his side as he has difficulties relating to people which is the reason he has focused on research projects not involving human subjects, while the hospital hires him somewhat out of desperation in not finding anyone else with the qualifications who wants the job. Most of his patients are in a semi-catatonic state and are housed no in what some of the orderlies coin the "garden" ward, where all they can do for the patients is water and feed them. He notices that some of the patients, despite their generally catatonic state, respond in unusual ways to certain stimuli. In doing some research, he also finds that some common bonds between these patients are that they suffered from encephalitis in the 1920s or 1930s, and that their physical states are like they have Parkinson's disease frozen in time. As such, he is able to convince, albeit reluctantly, his skeptical boss, Dr. Kaufman, to administer an expensive experimental drug therapy on only one patient with family consent. That patient is forty-one year old Leonard Lowe, who has been in his current state since he was eleven years old, and who has been supported by his loving mother through all these years. As the drug therapy "awakens" Leonard, there are several issues that come into play. Malcolm has to try and convince Kaufman and the hospital administration to extend the therapy to the other patients. Despite not knowing the long term effects, Leonard, who was aware of his surroundings through his catatonic state, may have mixed emotions about his situation, wanting both to be treated as human being and an experiment guinea pig to ensure that what is happening benefits him and others in the long run. Mrs. Lowe may be unprepared for the new Leonard, she expecting who she remembers as a sweet eleven year old boy. Through all these issues, what may be the most illuminating issue for Malcolm is the need to stimulate the human spirit, including his own in dealing with people around him. Written by Huggo |
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Taglines | There is no such thing as a simple miracle. See more » |
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Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
Budget | $31,000,000 (estimated) |
Opening Weekend United States | $417,076, 25 Dec 1990 |
Did You Know?
Trivia | Robert De Niro wanted Shelley Winters to play his mother. However, the studio insisted that she read for the part first. Winters refused to do so and when she met the casting director, she reportedly put both her Oscars on his desk and said, "Some people think I can act". See more » |
Goofs | When Leonard gets the correct dose of medicine and 'awakens', he walks with almost no difficulty. If he had been catatonic for years, and even if he had been exercised regularly, he would not have been able to just get up and walk around so easily. His muscles would have atrophied. His voice would also have been raspy from disuse. See more » |
Movie Connections | Featured in The Rookie/Berkeley in the Sixties/Edward Scissorhands/The Grifters (1990). See more » |
Soundtracks | I'm Always Chasing Rainbows See more » |
Quotes |
Leonard Lowe:
We've got to tell everybody. We've got to remind them. We've got to remind them how good it is. Dr. Sayer: How good what is, Leonard? Leonard Lowe: Read the newspaper. What does it say? All bad. It's all bad. People have forgotten what life is all about. They've forgotten what it is to be alive. They need to be reminded. They need to be reminded of what they have and what they can lose. What I feel is the joy of life, the gift of life, the freedom of life, the wonderment of life! See more » |