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Awakenings (1990)

PG_13 121 min  -  Biography | Drama  -   20 December 1990 (USA)
7.6
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Ratings: 7.6/10 from 45,573 users   Metascore: 74/100 
Reviews: 142 user | 20 critic | 18 from Metacritic.com

The victims of an encephalitis epidemic many years ago have been catatonic ever since, but now a new drug offers the prospect of reviving them.

Director:

Penny Marshall

Writers:

Oliver Sacks (book), Steven Zaillian (screenplay)
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Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 7 nominations See more awards »

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Awakenings -- The victims of an encephalitis epidemic many years ago have been catatonic ever since, but now a new drug offers the prospect of reviving them. Awakenings -- Clip: Robin Williams presents De Niro
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro ...
Robin Williams ...
Julie Kavner ...
Eleanor Costello
Ruth Nelson Ruth Nelson ...
Mrs. Lowe
John Heard ...
Dr. Kaufman
Penelope Ann Miller ...
Paula
Alice Drummond Alice Drummond ...
Lucy
Judith Malina ...
Rose
Barton Heyman Barton Heyman ...
Bert
George Martin George Martin ...
Frank
Anne Meara ...
Miriam
Richard Libertini ...
Sidney
Laura Esterman Laura Esterman ...
Lolly
Dexter Gordon Dexter Gordon ...
Rolando
Jayne Haynes Jayne Haynes ...
Frances
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Storyline

A new doctor finds himself with a ward full of comatose patients. He is disturbed by them and the fact that they have been comatose for decades with no hope of any cure. When he finds a possible chemical cure he gets permission to try it on one of them. When the first patient awakes, he is now an adult having gone into a coma in his early teens. The film then delights in the new awareness of the patients and then on the reactions of their relatives to the changes in the newly awakened. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Patient | Coma | Hope | Doctor | Medical Experiment  | See more »

Taglines:

There is no such thing as a simple miracle.

Genres:

Biography | Drama

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Despertares See more »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$417,076 (USA) (25 December 1990) (12 Screens)

Gross:

$52,096,475 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Famed jazz saxophonist Dexter Gordon who portrayed Rolando in the film passed away 8 months before the films release. See more »

Goofs

Anachronisms: When Doctor Sayer and Leonard are driving through the streets, the New York City Buses are GMC RTSs which were not produced until 1979. The film takes place in the 1960s. See more »

Quotes

Dr. Peter Ingham: Most died during the acute stage of the illness, during a sleep so deep they couldn't be roused. A sleep that in most cases lasted several months. Those who survived, who awoke, seemed fine, as though nothing had happened. Years went by - five, ten, fifteen - before anyone suspected they were not well...
[...]
See more »

Connections

Referenced in "House M.D.: Son of Coma Guy (#3.7)" (2006) See more »

Soundtracks

"O Soave Fanciulla"
from Puccini's "La Bohème"
Performed by Mirella Freni & Nicolai Gedda
Orchestra of the Opera House, Rome
Conducted by Thomas Schippers
Courtesy of Angel/EMI, a division of Capitol Records, Inc.
by arrangment with CEMA Special Markets See more »