Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Stephen Herek

Writer (WGA):

Patrick Sheane Duncan (written by)

Release Date:

19 January 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

We are your symphony Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. We are the music of your life.

Plot:

A frustrated composer finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher.

Plot Keywords:

School | Teaching | Teacher | Composer | High School

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Richard Dreyfuss	...	Glenn Holland
Glenne Headly	...	Iris Holland
Jay Thomas	...	Bill Meister
Olympia Dukakis	...	Principal Jacobs
William H. Macy	...	Vice Principal Wolters (as W.H. Macy)
Alicia Witt	...	Gertrude Lang
Terrence Howard	...	Louis Russ
Damon Whitaker	...	Bobby Tidd
Jean Louisa Kelly	...	Rowena Morgan
Alexandra Boyd	...	Sarah Olmstead
Nicholas John Renner	...	Cole at 6 Years Old
Joseph Anderson	...	Cole at 15 Years Old
Anthony Natale	...	Cole at 28 Years Old
Joanna Gleason	...	Adult Gertrude
Beth Maitland	...	Deaf School Principal
Patrick Fong	...	Study Hall Student
Benjamin J. Dixon	...	Mr. Mims
Kathryn Arnett	...	Ms. Swedlin
Freeman O. Corbin	...	Mr. Sullivan
Moira Feeney	...	Ms. Godfrey
Joshua Minnick	...	Mr. Shapiro
Ashley Hamrick	...	Miss Reeves
Janine Shouse	...	Miss Schumaker
Spencer Riviera	...	Mr. Hosta
Daniel J. Vhay	...	Mr. Malone
Sean Bevington	...	Mr. McMartin
John Henry Redwood	...	Mr. Russ
Ted Roisum	...	Dr. Sorenson
Mark Daniels	...	Ralph
Kaili Carlton	...	Ms. Wayne
Adam Fitzhugh	...	Mr. McKenzie
Eric Michael Cole	...	Boy 2
Joe Campbell	...	Boy 3
Tomiko Peirano	...	Girl 2
Kasey Nelson	...	Girl 3
Zoe McLellan	...	Girl 4
Kelly M. Casey	...	Deaf School Teacher
Michael Mendelson	...	Chaplain
Alex Dudgeon	...	Auditioner 1
Rachel Wooley	...	Auditioner 2
Jordan Carlton	...	Auditioner 3
Aurora Miller	...	Auditioner 4 (as Aurora J. Miller)
Paul Bernard	...	Auditioner 5
Mary Kay O'Mealy	...	Auditioner 6
Dieffyd Gilman-Frederick	...	Auditioner 7
Tara Eng	...	Auditioner 8
Jay Frank	...	Auditioner 9
Conan Doherty	...	Toby Klein
Stacey Siegel	...	Diner Waitress
Nicolas Sirianni	...	Football Player 1
Jacob Adams	...	Football Player 2
Chris Marth	...	Football Player 3
Brent Archie	...	Football Player 4
Kevin Calaba	...	Football Player 5
Keith Swift	...	Football Player 6
John Boyer	...	Billy Faraday
Linda Williams Janke	...	Secretary
David Clegg	...	Superintendent
Don Burns	...	City Official
Dennis Biasi	...	Adult Stadler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alexander Emmert	...	Cellist (uncredited)
Balthazar Getty	...	Stadler (uncredited)
Tom Peterson	...	Parade Announcer (uncredited)
Heather Wakehouse	...	High School Student-1980's (uncredited)

Directed by
Stephen Herek

Writing credits (WGA)
Patrick Sheane Duncan		(written by)

Produced by
Robert W. Cort	....	producer
Patrick Sheane Duncan	....	executive producer
Ted Field	....	producer
Judith James	....	co-producer
Scott Kroopf	....	executive producer
Michael Nolin	....	producer
William Teitler	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Michael Kamen

Cinematography by
Oliver Wood		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Trudy Ship

Casting by
Sharon Bialy

Production Design by
David Nichols

Art Direction by
Dina Lipton

Set Decoration by
Jan K. Bergstrom		(as Jan Bergstrom)

Costume Design by
Aggie Guerard Rodgers

Makeup Department
Ken Chase	....	makeup artist: Mr. Dreyfuss
Martin 'Vinnie' Hagood	....	makeup artist
Susan V. Kalinowski	....	hair stylist: Mr. Dreyfuss
Mary L. Pyanowski	....	hair stylist
Gerald Quist	....	makeup artist
Werner Sherer	....	key hair stylist (as Werner G. Sherer)
JoJo Myers Proud	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Jeffrey Downer	....	production supervisor
Geno Escarrega	....	post-production supervisor
Ira Halberstadt	....	executive in charge of production
William Teitler	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Boyum	....	second unit director
Michael Greenwood	....	second second assistant director (as Michael Scott Greenwood)
Jeff Okabayashi	....	second assistant director
Jeffrey Wetzel	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Michael Atwell	....	shop foreman
Larry Boyd	....	lead man (as Lawrence A. Boyd)
John Ceniceros	....	on-set dresser
Kobe Enright	....	set dresser
Shari Griffin	....	draper (as Shari Griffen)
Shane Hawkins	....	location foreman
Michael Kolb	....	lead scenic artist (as Mike Kolb)
Alan Locke	....	set designer
Alan Manzer	....	set designer
Brian Markey	....	construction coordinator
Robert D. McClung	....	set dresser
Greg McMickle	....	property master
Jeff Seats	....	set dresser
Nicholas Starin	....	assistant property master (as Nicholas Q. Starin)
Bob Warner	....	on-set painter (as Robert Warner)
Ken Erck	....	signwriter (uncredited)
Michael McCombe	....	greensman (uncredited)
Kai Shelton	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Sean Skelding	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Carmen Baker	....	assistant sound editor (as Carmen Hocson)
Tim Chau	....	sound designer
Tim Chau	....	supervising sound editor
Kay Colvin	....	cable person
Kirk Francis	....	production sound
Richard C. Franklin	....	sound designer (as Rick Franklin)
Richard C. Franklin	....	supervising sound editor (as Rick Franklin)
Albert Gasser	....	sound editor
Phil Gitomer	....	sound: Remote Recording Services Inc.
David Hewitt	....	sound: Remote Recording Services Inc.
Hilda Hodges	....	foley artist
Chris Jargo	....	adr editor
Nils C. Jensen	....	sound editor (as Nils Jensen)
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
David Kern	....	sound editor
Stephanie D. Krivacek	....	assistant adr editor (as Stephanie Krivacek)
Mary Jo Lang	....	foley mixer
Donald J. Malouf	....	sound editor (as Don Malouf)
Sean McClintock	....	sound: Remote Recording Services Inc.
Mel Metcalfe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald Ortiz	....	assistant sound editor
Terry Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer
David M. Roberts	....	sound: Remote Recording Services Inc. (as Dave Roberts)
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator (as Earl F. Sampson)
Philip J. Slattery	....	apprentice sound editor
Thomas Whiting	....	supervising adr editor
Dean A. Zupancic	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Mann	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bob Riggs	....	special effects coordinator
Ray Brown	....	special effects (uncredited)
Charles A. Carlsen	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Steve Boyum	....	stunt coordinator
Tyler C. Daum	....	stunts (as Tyler Carleton Daum)
Michael Steve Jones	....	stunts
John Killeen	....	stunts
J.R. Knotts	....	stunts (as John R. Knotts)
Mark Knotts	....	stunts
Matt McBride	....	stunts
Gary McLarty	....	stunts
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunts
J.N. Roberts	....	stunts
Jonah Tennant	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
William D. Barber	....	camera operator
Alex Bellen	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
James B. Crawford	....	chief lighting technician (as Jim Crawford)
Michael Gall	....	electrician
Taj Gombart	....	second assistant camera
Glenn R. Hale	....	grip
Steve Itano	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Gene Kearney	....	dolly grip
David R. Kohn	....	electrician (as David Kohn)
Gemma La Mana	....	still photographer
Michael Laws	....	best boy electric
David Luckenbach	....	Steadicam operator
David Luckenbach	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Rob Morey	....	first assistant camera
Bob Munoz	....	key grip (as Robert Muñoz)
Nick Papanickolas	....	dolly grip
Damon B. Sarafian	....	grip (as Damon Sarafian)
Michael T. Travers	....	best boy grip
Kelly Way	....	electrician
Gary Yahn	....	grip
Michael Baird	....	video assistant (uncredited)
Steve Bellen	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Vicki Siamas	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Vicki Siamas	....	second assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Susan Booker	....	casting associate
Yvonne Couture	....	extras casting
Leonard Finger	....	casting: New York
Kelly M. Gabbert	....	extras casting coordinator
Mickie McGowan	....	adr voice casting
Patti Carns Kalles	....	casting: Seattle (uncredited)
Jason James	....	casting: Seattle (uncredited)
Laurie Levine	....	casting: Seattle (uncredited)
Danny Stoltz	....	extras casting coordinator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda Henrikson	....	costume supervisor
Taneia Lednicky	....	costumer
Deedee Montesanto	....	costumer (as Deanne Montesanto)
Mark Peterson	....	costumer (as Mark A. Peterson)
Craig Bilodeau	....	costumer: men (uncredited)
Marienne O'Brien	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Susan Chernus	....	second assistant editor
Carrie Elizabeth Foresman	....	apprentice editor
Robert Grahamjones	....	additional editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Tatiana S. Riegel	....	additional editor
Erin Scully	....	post-production coordinator
Tara Timpone	....	first assistant editor
Bryan H. Carroll	....	first assistant editor (uncredited)
Sandra Kaufman	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Jim Suhy	....	assistant editor: lightworks (uncredited)

Music Department
Kristen Autry	....	orchestra contractor: Young Musicians' Foundation Orchestra
Sharon Boyle	....	music supervisor
Christopher Brooks	....	production music supervisor
Christopher Brooks	....	supervising music editor
Andy Brown	....	orchestra contractor: London Metropolitan Orchestra
Erin	....	orchestrator: songs
David Flower	....	music recording engineer (as Dave Flower)
Vic Fraser	....	music preparation
Barklie K. Griggs	....	co-music supervisor
David Heckendorn	....	orchestrator: songs
David Heckendorn	....	production music coordinator
John Houlihan	....	music coordinator
James R. Iafrati	....	marching band consultant
Patricia Isacson	....	orchestra manager: Seattle Symphony Orchestra
Michael Lang	....	piano consultant
Jeff Mann	....	music recording engineer
Guy Massey	....	music recording engineer
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music mixer (as Steve McLaughlin)
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music recordist (as Steve McLaughlin)
Stephen McLaughlin	....	production music engineer (as Steve McLaughlin)
David Sabee	....	orchestra conductor: Seattle Symphony Orchestra
Dawn Soler	....	executive music consultant (as Dawn Solér)
Albert Swanson	....	engineering manager: Seattle Symphony Orchestra
Rick Waritz	....	music recording engineer
Andy Warwick	....	music recording engineer
Michael Kamen	....	conductor (uncredited)
Michael Kamen	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Robert Puff	....	music preparation: Seattle (uncredited)
Michael T. Ryan	....	music editor (uncredited)
Jonathan Sacks	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Sonny Aprile	....	driver: Mr. Dreyfuss
Tyler C. Daum	....	transportation coordinator (as Tyler Carleton Daum)
Mark A. James	....	transportation captain
Matt Rask	....	picture car coordinator (as Matthew A. Rask)

Other crew
Don Baldwin	....	assistant location manager
Audrey Bamber	....	assistant: Mr. Dreyfuss
Linda Bloom-Hedine	....	craft service
Samuel Bokebza	....	assistant production accountant (as Samuel Bokobza)
Sue Bokobza	....	production accountant
Richard J. Brewer	....	assistant: Mr. Cort
Trevor Cable	....	location apprentice
John Carson	....	production assistant (as John S. Carson)
Kelly M. Casey	....	sign language instructor
Jill R. Cohen	....	business/legal affairs executive
Ken Cosci	....	assistant: Mr. Kroopf
Jorge Esqueda	....	catering: The Cast Super
April Fitzsimmons	....	production assistant
Ann Flannery	....	sign language interpreter
Joanna Guzzetta	....	location manager
Adrienne Hamalian-Mangine	....	script supervisor (as Adrienne Hamalian Mangine)
Michael A. Helfant	....	business/legal affairs executive
Steve Jones	....	stand-in: Mr. Dreyfuss
Carl J. Kirchner	....	deaf education consultant: Tripod
Valerie Mickaelian Kucera	....	production coordinator
Andrew Lipschultz	....	unit publicist
Amy London	....	assistant: Mr. Teitler (as Amy Michelle London)
Charles Lyons	....	stock footage researcher
Patty MacDonald	....	assistant: Mr. Cort
Bruce McDonald	....	choreographer
Linda Sasser	....	sign language interpreter
Rick Scheil	....	post-production accountant
Stacey Siegel	....	assistant: Mr Herek
Laura Tateishi	....	assistant production coordinator
Terrylene	....	acting coach for the deaf (as Terrylene Sacchetti)
Craig Walker	....	studio teacher
David H. 'Wino' Weinstein	....	production assistant ) (as David Weinstein (Wino)
Suzanne Welch	....	assistant: Mr. Field
Marianne Wells	....	voice coach: Ms. Kelly
Melissa Wiechmann	....	production secretary
Barbara Zipperman	....	business/legal affairs executive
Jesse Blanco	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lisa Butala	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Sonia Y. Dawson	....	accounting assistant (uncredited)
Jesse E. Johnson	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Tonya Richardson	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Michael Kuhn	....	thanks
Alain Lévy	....	thanks (as Alain Levy)
Darryl Tucker	....	thanks: Grant High School, Portland, Oregon

Production Companies

• Hollywood Pictures
• Interscope Communications
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment
• The Charlie Mopic Company

Distributors

• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1996) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1996) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Pictures (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1999) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• PolyGram Film Distribution (1996) (France) (theatrical)
• ci Vertriebsgemeinschaft (1995) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Líder Films (Argentina)
• REP Distribution (Australia)
• SF Video (1997) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Sogepaq Distribución (Spain)
• VCL Communications (1996) (Germany) (VHS)
• VCL Communications (1996) (Germany) (laserdisc)
• VCL Communications (1999) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pacific Titles & Optical (titles & opticals)

Other Companies

• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recorded at (London Metropolitan Orchestra sessions)
• All Mixed Up Productions Inc.  film footage and audio courtesy of
• Buena Vista Sound  re-recording
• Buena Vista Sound  sound re-recorded at
• CBS News Archives  film footage and audio courtesy of
• Central Extras Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Fireman's Fund Insurance Co.  insurance service provider
• Grant High School, Portland, Oregan  the producers wish to thank
• International Film Guarantors  completion guarantee provider
• Karen G. Fairbank ,Esq.  legal services
• Lighthouse Studio Rentals  grip and electrical equipment
• London Metropolitan Orchestra, The  performance: american symphony
• London Records  score album
• NASA Johnson Space Center  film footage and audio courtesy of
• NBC News Archives  film footage and audio courtesy of
• National Archives  film footage and audio courtesy of
• Near North Insurance Brokerage  insurance service provider
• Nina Saxon Film Design  titles
• Paramount Pictures  scene "Saturday Night Fever" courtesy of
• Polydor Records  soundtrack published by
• Portland Public Schools  the producers wish to thank
• Remote Recording Services  recording services (uncredited)
• St. Thomas Center, Seattle  music recorded at (Seattle Symphony Orchestra sessions)
• TRM Negative Cutting  negative cutting (as TRM Negative Cutting Services)
• The Cast Supper  catering
• The Christie School Marylurst, Oregon  the producers wish to thank
• The Seattle Symphony Orchestra  orchestra
• The Seattle Symphony Orchestra  thanks to
• Tripod  deaf education consultant
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation  scene "Rocky Horror Picture Show" courtesy of
• Upfront Footwear  footwear: fort vancouver marching band
• Worldwide Television News  film footage and audio courtesy of
• Young Musicians Foundation Orchestra, The  performance: high school orchestral music

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language.

Runtime:

143 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | American Sign Language

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Philippines:G | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Germany:6 (w) | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | Singapore:PG | USA:PG (certificate no. 33797)

Filming Locations:

Christie School - Highway 43, Marylhurst, Oregon, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

The song young Gertrude Lang learns on the clarinet is "Stranger on the Shore" by Acker Bilk.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the 1964-1965 school year, Mr. Holland helps his class appreciate Bach by showing the connection between a Bach composition and "A Lover's Concerto" by the Toys. The record came out in fall 1965, during the next school year.

Quotes:

Glenn Holland: [leaving his office hears that Gertrude is still practicing next door] Give it up miss Lang!
Gertrude Lang: [stops playing and begins to cry]
Glenn Holland: I meant for today...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: The Best of Molly Shannon (2001) (V)

Good story for the unsung heroes of life – touching without being sickly sentimental

Glenn Holland is a young composer. In the fifties he stops touring with his band to teach music in a school which he hopes will free him from touring to allow him to work on his main love of composing his own music. Despite initially hating his job, Holland soon learns to enjoy it and how best to communicate the love of music to his pupils. We trace his life over 30-40years as he has a son with his wife and goes through great emotional times while putting his personal dreams to one side.

Although this had `sentimental life lesson film' written all over it, I still wanted to give it a go and strangely still enjoyed it. The film is very much a bit of praise for all those who are unsung heroes in there lives and it had the potential to be really sickly sentimental. Happily a good script manages to avoid this for the majority of the time.

The weakness of the film is the fact it that it does try to cover a lifetime and occasionally there isn't enough plot to do that well. I know it would have been difficult but I do feel that the film could have been either a little tighter or filled to overflowing with plot to make it feel shorter. As it is it is still enjoyable but it does feel a little wandering at times – but I guess that's like life in a way. When the climax comes though it is hard not to be a little moved by the lesson that the film is teaching us.

However, the reason for the success of the film is also the reason for it's Oscar nomination – Richard Dreyfuss on good form. He kept me watching even when the material was stretched. He is totally believable in the role – for a microcosm of his performance watch his face when the announcement is made about the surprise they have prepared for him – his emotion got me right away! He deserved his nomination for this as he is captivating over the whole film. He even ages very convincingly and make up should be congratulated. However while makeup were concentrating on Dreyfuss they totally forgot about Headly who doesn't age a bit until the final time period (apart from looking a bit tired). She is badly miscast and she doesn't fit the role at all. Thomas, Macy, Dukakis and Anderson (as the teenage Cole) all do well in support – but this is Dreyfuss' movie.

Overall I enjoyed this. I usually struggle with things like this because they pile the sentiment on thick like a daytime TVM. Happily this script avoids that are the majority of the flaws are compensated for by a strong performance from Dreyfuss.