The Chocolate War (1988)

Director:

Keith Gordon

Writers:

Robert Cormier (novel)
Keith Gordon (written by)

Release Date:

18 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A surreal portrait of a Catholic Private School and it's hierarchy. A new student must submit to the...

Plot Keywords:

Catholic | Chocolate | Headmaster | Student | Vigil

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Glover	...	Brother Leon
Ilan Mitchell-Smith	...	Jerry
Wallace Langham	...	Archie (as Wally Ward)
Doug Hutchison	...	Obie
Corey Gunnestad	...	Goober
Brent David Fraser	...	Emile Janza (as Brent Fraser)
Robert Davenport	...	Brian Cochran
Jenny Wright	...	Lisa
Bud Cort	...	Brother Jacques
Adam Baldwin	...	Carter
Ethan Sandler	...	Caroni
Wayne Young	...	Gregory Bailey
Kurt Bloom	...	Impressed Kid on Bus
Wyeth Orestes Johnston	...	Senior 'Environment' Kid
Landon Wine	...	Frank Bollo
Matthew Burke	...	Porter
Douglas A. Forsyth	...	Johnson
Peter Boyack	...	McClosky
Sean Hagerty	...	Perkins (as Sean K. Hagerty)
Colin Mitchell	...	Crane
Max Dixon	...	Coach
Rick May	...	Doctor
John Sudol	...	Priest
Roger Tompkins	...	Jerry's Father
Elizabeth Yoffe	...	Jerry's Mother
Robert Munns	...	Brother Eugene
Jason Hrdlicka	...	Young Jerry
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John English	...	Darryl (uncredited)

Directed by
Keith Gordon

Writing credits
Robert Cormier		(novel)
Keith Gordon		(written by)

Produced by
Ron Diamond	....	line producer
Jonathan D. Krane	....	producer
Simon R. Lewis	....	co-producer
William J. Rouhana Jr.	....	executive producer (as William Rouhana)
Susan Sprivak	....	associate producer (as Susan I. Spivak)

Cinematography by
Tom Richmond		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jeff Wishengrad

Production Design by
David Ensley

Set Decoration by
Melissa Matthies		(as Melissa Mathies)

Costume Design by
Elizabeth Kaye

Makeup Department
Robin Knutson	....	assistant hair stylist
Robin Knutson	....	assistant makeup artist
Omi	....	hair stylist
Omi	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Ron Diamond	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lynn Iffland	....	second assistant director
Ginger Montague	....	second second assistant director
Elisa Sansalone	....	second second assistant director
Michelle Solotar	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kate Allen	....	storyboard artist
Charles Armstrong	....	construction coordinator
Antoinette A. Ensley	....	property mistress (as Antoinette Ensley)
Geoff Harper	....	carpenter
Thomas D.G. Johnson	....	swing gang
Lachlin Loud	....	painter
Jonathan Saturen	....	props assistant
Rob 'Rich' Taylor	....	painter

Sound Department
Sally Aberg	....	apprentice sound editor
Mark Berger	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mary Jo Devenney	....	sound mixer
Francesca Dodd	....	apprentice sound editor
Patrick Dodd	....	supervising sound editor
Steve Itano	....	boom operator
Mark Levinson	....	assistant sound editor
Douglas Murray	....	sound effects editor
Robert Shoup	....	sound effects editor
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Martin Bosworth	....	electrician: best boy
Mike Commins	....	grip
Jim Hicks	....	grip
Mark Lorge	....	dolly grip
Shaun Madigan	....	gaffer
Matthew Neal McVay	....	still photographer
Richard Miller	....	first assistant camera (as Rich Miller)
Carl Morgan	....	key grip
Ryan Purcell	....	grip
Keehn Thomsen	....	best boy grip
Peter J. Vogt	....	electrician
Bob Webeck	....	second assistant camera

Casting Department
Rachel Griffin	....	special casting
Jeff Williams	....	extras casting assistant
Elizabeth Yoffe	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Deborah Barnes	....	seamstress
Destiny Itano	....	assistant costumer
Lynne Elann Morrow	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Anita Fendrich	....	color timer
Clara Frame	....	apprentice editor
David Frame	....	assistant editor
Tim Heyen	....	negative cutter
R. Orlando Duenas	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Other crew
Virginia Bogert	....	production coordinator (as Virginia Berta Bogert)
Jim Bouvet	....	production assistant
Bradley Cox	....	production assistant
Lora Goncharoff	....	production assistant
Lynette Goto	....	production assistant
Rachel Griffin	....	assistant to director
Kelly Johnson	....	script supervisor (as Kellie Johnson)
Lynne Elann Morrow	....	craft service
Elijah Muied	....	security officer
Olivia Nagel	....	production auditor
Sally Oien	....	production assistant
Michael Perman	....	production assistant
Pete Rupert	....	production assistant
Cathy Sarkowsky	....	production assistant
Wade Smith	....	production assistant
Chriss Strauss	....	completion bond company representative

Thanks
Billy Van Zandt	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Management Company Entertainment Group (MCEG)

Distributors

• Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (1989) (Canada) (video)
• M.C.E.G. Virgin Home Entertainment
• MCA (1989) (Canada) (video)

Other Companies

• Albert G. Ruben and Company  insurance (as Albert G. Ruben & Co.)
• Completion Bond Company  completion bond (as The Completion Bond Company)
• Crest National Laboratory  color
• Filmlites Ltd.  production equipment
• MacB's  catering
• Mercer Titles & Optical Effects Ltd.  titles and opticals
• Rogers & Cowan  public relations (as Rogers and Cowan)
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  post production sound by (as The Saul Zaentz Company Film Center)
• William F. Hooper Inc.  insurance

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Sammamish High School - 100 140th Avenue SE, Bellevue, Washington, USA

Company:

Management Company Entertainment Group (MCEG)

Trivia:

The film had a paltry music budget of about $15,000. Most of the artists featured on the soundtrack allowed the filmmakers to use their songs at bargain basement prices. David Bowie, however, asked for $100,000 to utilize his song "Heroes" during the final scene and credits, so Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" was substituted.

Quotes:

Brother Leon: I'm warning you Archie, if the sale goes down the drain, you and the Vigils go down the drain. We all go down the drain together!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Celluloid Closet (1995)

Soundtrack:

Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)

The Chocolate Score

This film was not along the same lines as the ordinary (David conquers Goliath) high school film of the 80's. And for that respect was probably appreciated by anyone who had experiences of being bullied when they were growing up. Though it has been said that the film was not as good as the actual book, I think the adaption made its point and the lesson was learned. Many of the young people in this world who are fornunate enough to see it, even if by accident, will understand that they are not alone. There are others who are having an even harder time as they grow up, and that "their own life" isn't so bad after all !!!