Dead Poets Society (1989)

English teacher John Keating inspires his students to a love of poetry and to seize the day.

Director:

Peter Weir

Writer:

Tom Schulman

Stars:

Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke

Won 1 Oscar. Another 14 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Williams	...	John Keating
Robert Sean Leonard	...	Neil Perry
Ethan Hawke	...	Todd Anderson
Josh Charles	...	Knox Overstreet
Gale Hansen	...	Charlie Dalton
Dylan Kussman	...	Richard Cameron
Allelon Ruggiero	...	Steven Meeks
James Waterston	...	Gerard Pitts
Norman Lloyd	...	Mr. Nolan
Kurtwood Smith	...	Mr. Perry
Carla Belver	...	Mrs. Perry
Leon Pownall	...	McAllister
George Martin	...	Dr. Hager
Joe Aufiery	...	Chemistry Teacher
Matt Carey	...	Hopkins

Storyline

Painfully shy Todd Anderson has been sent to the school where his popular older brother was valedictorian. His room-mate, Neil, although exceedingly bright and popular, is very much under the thumb of his overbearing father. The two, along with their other friends, meet Professor Keating, their new English teacher, who tells them of the Dead Poets Society, and encourages them to go against the status quo. Each, in their own way, does this, and are changed for life.

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Plot Keywords:

english teacher | teacher | professor | poet | student | 

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Taglines:

He was their inspiration. He made their lives extraordinary.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 June 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

La sociedad de los poetas muertos

Filming Locations:

Everett Theatre - 47 West Main Street, Middletown, Delaware, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$16,400,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$95,860,116 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Norman Lloyd was most surprised to discover that he was expected to audition for the film. Initially, he refused. He said that he'd just finished six years of St. Elsewhere and that the producers should use that. He was told that Peter Weir was on location and had never seen Lloyd's TV series, so Lloyd finally acquiesced.

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Goofs

Snow starts and stops, depending upon the camera shot, when Knox is trying to convince Chris to attend the play with him.

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Quotes

Chet Danburry: Next time I see you, you die.

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Connections

Featured in Peter Weir Industry Seminar 1989 (1989)

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Soundtracks

"The Battle of New Orleans"
Written by Jimmie Driftwood

User Reviews

Impressive.

I'm impressed. It was an all around good film. Perhaps I'm biased - Robert Frost's poem, A Road Not Taken, was quoted - yet so many other things were as well.

It's not about poetry. It's about how you look at the world. How you look, how others look... how you think, how you feel... and a warning to never, ever become conformist (though being conformist about walking is perhaps slightly exaggerated). Never become conformist - always make up your own mind.

I liked the music, as well. The bag pipes give a certain special touch.

I gave it an 8/10 - a high score for me.