The Cider House Rules (1999)

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers (WGA):

John Irving (novel)
John Irving (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 January 2000 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A story about how far we must travel to find the place where we belong.

Plot:

A compassionate young man, raised in an orphanage and trained to be a doctor there, decides to leave to see the world.

Plot Keywords:

Orphanage | Abortion | Orphan | Apple | Doctor

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 28 nominations

Cast

Tobey Maguire	...	Homer Wells
Charlize Theron	...	Candy Kendall
Delroy Lindo	...	Arthur Rose
Paul Rudd	...	Lt. Wally Worthington
Michael Caine	...	Dr. Wilbur Larch
Jane Alexander	...	Nurse Edna
Kathy Baker	...	Nurse Angela
Erykah Badu	...	Rose Rose
Kieran Culkin	...	Buster
Kate Nelligan	...	Olive Worthington
Heavy D	...	Peaches
K. Todd Freeman	...	Muddy
Paz de la Huerta	...	Mary Agnes
J.K. Simmons	...	Ray Kendall
Evan Parke	...	Jack (as Evan Dexter Parke)

Also Known As:

Ciderhusreglerna (Finland: Swedish title) (Sweden) [sv]
L'oeuvre de Dieu, la part du diable (Canada: French title) (TV title) (France) [fr]
Árvák hercege (Hungary) [hu]
Æblemostreglementet (Denmark) [da]
Gottes Werk & Teufels Beitrag (Germany) [de]
Las normas de la casa de la sidra (Spain) [es]
Las reglas de la vida (Argentina) [es]
Le regole della casa del sidro (Italy) [it]
Oman elämänsä sankari (Finland) [fi]
Regras da Casa (Portugal) [pt]
Regras da Vida (Brazil) [pt]
Tanri'nin eseri, seytanin parçasi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Thea ston okeano (Greece) [el]
Wbrew regulom (Poland) [pl]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexuality, nudity, substance abuse and some violence.

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #36692) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | South Korea:15 | Taiwan:GP | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bellows Falls, Vermont, USA

Company:

FilmColony

Trivia:

One of the attractions of adapting the film for author John Irving was that he wanted his son, Colin Irving, to play Wally Worthington. However, as the development process took over a decade, eventually his son was too old for the part and was not known enough to be considered for it in any event. However, the role of Major Winslow did ultimately provide Colin Irving a part in the film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The package containing Homer's doctor bag bears four examples of a stamp honoring railroad engineers that was released on April 29, 1950.

Quotes:

Homer Wells: I've never actually seen a lobster.
Candy Kendall: Are you serious?
Homer Wells: I've never seen the ocean either.
Wally Worthington: You've never seen the ocean? That's not funny, that's serious.

Movie Connections:

Features King Kong (1933)

Soundtrack:

All I Want Is Just One Girl

Wonderful film!

This is one of my favourite films (if not my favourite), so I cannot be altogether objective, but I must say I find it an eye-opener. It's a lesson on tolerance carried out by a really talented cast and crew.

Everyone fits in his/her role, although the movie is more Maguire's than anyone else's. He's definitely a natural, and while other actors in the business try to impress the audience and make the most to show their talent, Maguire acts with subtlety and thoughtfulness.

The film might seem a bit slow for some people accustomed to more pacey and epic films. However, those who have read the novel will realize just how fast everything goes.

Rachel Portman's score is truly beautiful: probably one of her best.