The Whole Wide World (1996)

Director:

Dan Ireland

Writers:

Novalyne Price Ellis (memoir One Who Walked Alone)
Michael Scott Myers (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 December 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A true story about the true love of the greatest pulp fiction writer of all time.

Plot:

In Texas in the 1930s, young schoolteacher Novalyne Price meets a handsome, eccentric, interesting young man named Robert Howard...

Plot Keywords:

1930s | Friendship | Writer | Texas | Courtship

Awards:

6 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Robert E. 'Bob' Howard
Renée Zellweger	...	Novalyne Price
Ann Wedgeworth	...	Mrs. Howard
Harve Presnell	...	Dr. Howard
Benjamin Mouton	...	Clyde Smith
Michael Corbett	...	Mayor Booth Adams
Helen Cates	...	Enid
Marion Eaton	...	Woman on Bus
Chris Shearer	...	Truett Vinson
Leslie Berger	...	Ethel
Libby Villari	...	Etna Reed Price
Sandy Walper	...	Mammy
Dell Aldrich	...	Mrs. Hemphill (as Dell F. Aldrich)
Elizabeth D'Onofrio	...	Mrs. Smith
Antonia Bogdanovich	...	Teacher

Also Known As:

Alle Liebe dieser Welt (Germany) [de]
Avara maailma (Finland) [fi]
Il mondo intero (Italy) [it]
Liebe auf dem Prüfstand (Germany) (TV title) [de]
Sidste telegram fra Cross Plains (Denmark) [da]
Sista telegrammet från Cross Plains (Sweden) [sv]
Um Amor do Tamanho do Mundo (Brazil) [pt]

MPAA:

Rated PG for a substantial amount of mild language and mature thematic elements.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Sweden:11 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Cineville

Trivia:

The infamous kiss shared between characters Robert E. Howard ('Vincent D'Onofrio (I)') and Novalyne Price (Renée Zellweger) was only shot once. The kiss shown in the movie is a cut and edited version of their single take.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Enid says that Bob Howard thinks he's "Max Schneling" when he is pretending to box. The German boxing champ's name was actually Max Schmeling.

Quotes:

Robert E. 'Bob' Howard: Hey girl. Take a look at the sunset that I ordered for you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Welcome to Hollywood (1998)

Soundtrack:

The Girl with the Pink Rose

A gem of a Movie based upon a Great and Original Book.

A wonderful romantic movie and obviously a labor of love for all concerned in its production. "One Who Walked Alone" as a miraculously excellent memoir, written by Novaline Price-Ellis decades after the events portrayed, based upon notes she had written at the time. The interplay between Novaline and Robert is mostly conversations when he takes her for a drive and "shoots off his mouth." Here's the greatest action writer in history, with worldwide fans, living with his mother in a town where nobody sees him as either hero or star, just a big over-sized hunk who lives with his folks. Vincent d'Ofrino is ALWAYS a joy to watch and Rene Zellwiger can always be depended upon for a solid performance. As for sex appeal, Rene is definitely not a plump or fat Brigit Jones but rather she's slender, lithe, and not heavy enough to hold down a job as a paperweight. In other words, just what this 6'4" hunk goes after --- every time. But aside from that, Whole Wide World is the kind of great movie you'll never forget. Search for it in VHS or DVD and go to a specialty store if need be.