The Mighty (1998)

Director:

Peter Chelsom

Writers (WGA):

Rodman Philbrick (novel)
Charles Leavitt (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The quest for friendship is the noblest cause of all.

Plot:

This tells the story of a strong friendship between a young boy with Morquio's syndrome and an older boy who is always bullied because of his size...

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | Tutor | Knight | Imagination | Quest

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Harry Dean Stanton	...	Grim
Gena Rowlands	...	Gram
Elden Henson	...	Maxwell Kane
Douglas Bisset	...	Homeless Man
Joseph Perrino	...	Blade (as Joe Perrino)
Dov Tiefenbach	...	Doghouse Boy #1
Michael Colton	...	Doghouse Boy #2
Daniel Lee	...	Doghouse Boy #3
Eve Crawford	...	Mrs. Donelli
Kieran Culkin	...	Kevin Dillon
Sharon Stone	...	Gwen Dillon
John Bourgeois	...	Mr. Sacker
Bruce Tubbe	...	Officer
Rudy Webb	...	Mr. Hampton
Ron Nigrini	...	Man in Diner
Nadia Litz	...	Girl in Diner
Gillian Anderson	...	Loretta Lee
Meat Loaf	...	Iggy
Serena Pruyn	...	Girl in Hall
Telmo Miranda	...	Boy in Hall
Jordan Hughes	...	Denardo
Jenifer Lewis	...	Mrs. Addison
Bryon Bully	...	Fat Boy
Chalaine Porter	...	Girl with Limp
James Gandolfini	...	Kenny Kane
Lisa Marie Chen	...	Girl in Cafeteria
Lisa Mininni	...	Cashier
Ann Chiu	...	Nurse
Carl Marotte	...	Doctor
Nora Sheehan	...	Police Woman
Sophie Bennett	...	Little Girl
William Van Allen	...	Laundry Worker

Directed by
Peter Chelsom

Writing credits (WGA)
Rodman Philbrick		(novel "Freak the Mighty")
Charles Leavitt		(screenplay)

Produced by
Don Carmody	....	co-producer
Jason Clark	....	line producer: additional photography
Simon Fields	....	producer
Julie Goldstein	....	executive producer
Jane Startz	....	producer
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer
Deborah Forte	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Trevor Jones

Cinematography by
John de Borman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Martin Walsh

Casting by
Mary Gail Artz
Barbara Cohen

Production Design by
Caroline Hanania

Art Direction by
Dennis Davenport

Set Decoration by
Carolyn 'Cal' Loucks		(as Cal Loucks)

Costume Design by
Marie-Sylvie Deveau		(as Marie Sylvie Deveau)

Makeup Department
Christine Hart	....	key makeup artist
Christine Hart	....	makeup artist: additional photography
Deborah McNulty	....	wig coordinator (as Deborah Wolski-McNulty)
Jennifer Bower O'Halloran	....	key hair stylist (as Jennifer O'Halloran)
Tricia Sawyer	....	makeup artist: Sharon Stone
Toni-Ann Walker	....	hair stylist: Ms. Stone (as Toni Walker)

Production Management
Joseph Boccia	....	production manager
Brian Campbell	....	production manager: additional photography
Sanford Hampton	....	production manager: Cincinnati (as Sanford E. Hampton)
Isabel Henderson	....	post-production supervisor
Stephen Law	....	post-production supervisor: UK

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bruno Bryniarski	....	second assistant director
Jeff Shiffman	....	second assistant director: Cincinnati
Mary Sylwester	....	third assistant director
David J. Webb	....	first assistant director (as David Webb)

Art Department
Arline	....	on-set dresser: FX Smith (as Arline Smith)
Paul D. Austerberry	....	art director: additional photography (as Paul Austerberry)
Tory Bellingham	....	property master
Deryck Blake	....	assistant property master
Rob Bonney	....	assistant head carpenter
Tim Brooks	....	art department assistant
Paula D. Collins	....	props assistant: Cincinnati
Anthony Cowley	....	production designer: additional photography (as Tony Cowley)
Steven Elliston	....	head carpenter (as Steve Elliston)
Brad Francis	....	on-set painter
Christopher Geggie	....	property master: additional photography (as Christopher Greggie)
James Halpenny	....	construction coordinator (as Jim Halpenny)
Jack Hering	....	set dresser: Cincinnati
Linda McClelland	....	buyer
I.R. McEune	....	head painter (as Rob McEune)
Tanit Ann Mendes	....	art department coordinator
Tim Murton	....	scenic artist
Ian Nelmes	....	assistant scenic artist
Randy Ross	....	assistant head painter
Michael Shocrylas	....	assistant art director (as Mike Shocrylas)
Andrew M. Stearn	....	assistant art director (as Andrew Stearn)
Gary Thomas	....	storyboard artist
Dan Wladyka	....	leadperson
Jeff Zink	....	set dresser: Cincinnati
David Ritchie	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Bailey	....	foley artist (as Jim Bailey)
Joe Bosco	....	adr recordist (as Joseph L. Bosco)
Bruce Carwardine	....	sound mixer
Paul B. Clay	....	sound supervisor (as Paul Clay)
Patrick Cyccone Jr.	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Patrick Cyccone)
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Frank Fleming	....	dubbing re-recordist
Sam Gemette	....	sound effects editor
Bob Goold	....	dialog editor
James B. Howe	....	foley mixer (as James Howe)
Benjamin Ing	....	consultant: SDDS
Owen Langevin	....	sound mixer: additional photography
Vanessa Lapato	....	dialog editor
Peter Melnychuk	....	boom operator
Christian P. Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Christian Minkler)
Tally Paulos	....	adr editor
Brian Pierret	....	dubbing re-recordist
Dean St. John	....	adr mixer
Jim Thompson	....	boom operator: additional photography (as James L. Thompson)
Paul Tinta	....	sound assistant
Joel Trent	....	boom operator: Cincinnati (as Joel C. Trent)
Casey Troutman	....	foley artist
Chris Winter	....	sound assistant
Rick Sanchez	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Dean St. John	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Michael Kavanagh	....	special effects coordinator
Martin Malivoire	....	special effects coordinator: additional photography
Daniel White	....	assistant special effects coordinator (as Danny White)
Dawn Rivard	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Eric Allard	....	visual effects coordinator: additional photography
Alex Cano	....	optical lineup: Howard Anderson Company
Scott Crafford	....	digital imaging: Digiscope
Tony Deryan	....	digital artist: Digiscope
Richard Eberhardt	....	optical lineup: Howard Anderson Company
Sara Fillmore	....	production manager: C.O.R.E. Digital Effects
Dave Fiske	....	digital coordinator: OCS/Freeze Frame/Pixel Magic
Michael L. Griffin	....	optical supervisor: Howard Anderson Company (as Mike Griffin)
Aaron Linton	....	animator: C.O.R.E. Digital Effects
John Mariella	....	animation director: C.O.R.E. Digital Effects
Steve Mayer	....	optical camera: Howard Anderson Company
Leilani McHugh	....	optical lineup: Howard Anderson Company
Ray McIntyre Jr.	....	digital supervisor: OCS/Freeze Frame/Pixel Magic (as Raymond McIntyre Jr.)
Bernard Joseph Patrick Reilly	....	optical lineup: Howard Anderson Company (as Bernie Reilly)
Naomi A. Sato	....	digital artist: Digiscope (as Naomi Sato)
Suzanne Shortt	....	animator: C.O.R.E. Digital Effects
Lorraine 'Deedle' Silver	....	effects producer: Digiscope
Mary Stuart-Welch	....	executive producer: Digiscope
Ji Hyung Sung	....	animator: C.O.R.E. Digital Effects (as Jihyung Sung)
Claude Theriault	....	animation director: C.O.R.E. Digital Effects
Tracey Vaz	....	animator: C.O.R.E. Digital Effects
Bradley Wilkerson	....	animator: C.O.R.E. Digital Effects
Terry Bradley	....	3D animator: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures (uncredited)
Steven Fagerquist	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)
Greg Groenekamp	....	senior digital compositor: Cineon (uncredited)
Stephen Price	....	visual effects executive producer: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures (uncredited)

Stunts
Dan Belley	....	stunt performer
Ron Bell	....	stunt performer
Matt Birman	....	stunt performer
C.J. Fidler	....	stunt performer
Rick Forsayeth	....	stunt coordinator
Jason Guja	....	stunt performer
Erin Jarvis	....	stunt performer
Jamie Jones	....	stunt performer
Steve Lucescu	....	stunt performer
Dwayne McLean	....	stunt performer
Sue Parker	....	stunt performer
Charlie Picerni	....	stunt coordinator: additional photography (as Charles Picerni Sr.)
Edward A. Queffelec	....	stunt performer (as Ed Queffelec)
Robert Racki	....	stunt performer
Bryan Renfro	....	stunt performer (as Brian Renfro)
Mary Ann Stevens	....	stunt performer (as Mary Ann Boyles)
Peter Szkoda	....	stunt performer
Tye Tyukodi	....	stunt performer (as Anton Tyukodi)

Camera and Electrical Department
Scotty Allan	....	gaffer
Allan Angus	....	generator operator
Chris Athy	....	grip: Cincinnati
Thane Berti	....	title photographer
Paul Bolton	....	electrician
Russel Bowie	....	second assistant camera (as Russell Bowie)
Kevin Boyd	....	video assist operator: Cincinnati (as Kevin P. Boyd)
Jim Butler	....	electrician: Cincinnati
Ciaran Copelin	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Tim Davis	....	video assist operator
Gary Deneault	....	rigging gaffer
David M. Dunlap	....	additional director of photography (as David Dunlap)
Gordon Eldridge	....	electrician (as Gord Eldridge)
Roy Elliston	....	rigging grip
Candide Franklyn	....	dolly grip
Richard Fredette	....	camera loader: Cincinnati
Timothy J. Gindele	....	electrician: Cincinnati (as Tim Gendele)
Glen Goodchild	....	grip
Wayne Goodchild	....	key grip: additional photography
Michael Hall	....	first assistant camera
Jim Harrington	....	grip: Cincinnati
Kerry Hayes	....	still photographer
Perry Hoffman	....	camera operator
Matthew Jennings	....	best boy grip: Cincinnati
Michael Kelem	....	aerial camera operator: Cincinnati
Michael Kelem	....	camera operator: second-unit, Cincinnati
Mike Kirilenko	....	key grip
John 'Quincy' Koenig	....	best boy electric: Cincinnati (as Quincy Koenig)
Daniel F. Larkin	....	aerial camera operator: Cincinnati (as Daniel Larkin)
Daniel F. Larkin	....	camera operator: second-unit, Cincinnati (as Daniel Larkin)
Robert McRae	....	gaffer: additional photography (as Bob McRae)
Randall Roman	....	grip: Cincinnati
Ron Sabarsky	....	generator operator: Cincinnati
Ian D. Scott	....	best boy electric (as Ian Scott)
Dean M. Simmon	....	second assistant camera: Cincinnati (as Dean Michael Simmon)
Bob Standish	....	camera trainee
Jerry Tisdale	....	grip: Cincinnati
Samuel Turturici	....	grip (as Sam Turturici)
Brian Woodroof	....	electrician
Tara Yates	....	camera trainee
Ron Yolevsky	....	best boy grip
Chris Alexander	....	focus puller: additional photography (uncredited)
Tim Merkel	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Peter Rosenfeld	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Ross Clydesdale	....	casting: Toronto
Lynda Halligan	....	casting associate
Karen Meisels	....	casting associate
Lynn Myers	....	local casting: Cincinnati (as D. Lynn Meyers)
Jane Rogers	....	extras casting: additional photography
Juli-Ann Kay	....	casting associate: Canada (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jay Du Boisson	....	assistant costume designer (as Jay DuBoisson)
Robin Fields	....	set costumer
Oda Groeschel	....	costumer: Ms. Stone
Michele Harney	....	assistant costume designer: additional photography
Karen Renaut	....	wardrobe mistress
Robert Roberts	....	costumer
Gayle Franklin	....	costume buyer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Jacqueline Carmody	....	associate film editor
Shelley Croft	....	trainee editor: Toronto
Justin C. Green	....	assistant editor (as Justin Green)
David McGroarty	....	assistant editor: Toronto
Bob McMillian	....	color timer
Aaron Nicolaides	....	apprentice editor
Joseph Virzi	....	post-production assistant
Lynne Warr	....	first assistant editor
Andy Yuncan	....	assistant editor: UK

Music Department
Geoff Alexander	....	conductor
Geoff Alexander	....	orchestrator
Pol Brennan	....	musician: uilleann pipes
Paul Clarvis	....	musician: percussion
Clem Clempson	....	musician: electric guitar
Gareth Cousins	....	additional music mixer
Dermot Crehan	....	musician: electric violin
Mark Feltham	....	musician: harmonica
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestral contractor
Jim Harrison	....	supervising music editor
Richard A. Harrison	....	assistant music editor (as Richard Harrison)
Trevor Jones	....	musician: synthesizer
Trevor Jones	....	orchestrator
Julian Kershaw	....	orchestrator
The London Symphony Orchestra	....	music performers
Jill Meyers	....	music clearances
Gwen Mok	....	musician: piano
Craig Ogden	....	musician: acoustic guitar
Paul Rabjohns	....	music editor: temp music
Simon Rhodes	....	music mixer
Simon Rhodes	....	music recordist
Victoria Seale	....	music coordinator: CMMP
Bill Silcock	....	music preparation
Tony Stanton	....	music preparation
Paul Todd	....	musician: ewi
Gavyn Wright	....	additional music leader

Transportation Department
John Cocks	....	driver
John Coles	....	driver
Dave Cotton	....	driver
Marvin Hacker	....	transportation captain: Cincinnati
Ron Hilts	....	head driver
Bill Jackson	....	driver
Neil Montgomerie	....	transportation coordinator: additional photography
Joe Muscat	....	driver
Brian O'Hara	....	driver
Don Retzer	....	transportation coordinator: Cincinnati
Gerry Savoy	....	driver: additional photography
Gerry Savoy	....	transportation captain: additional photography
Andrew Star	....	head driver: additional photography
Nick Sweetman	....	transportation coordinator
Grant Volkers	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Liz Amsden	....	production associate
Amanda Ansarge	....	assistant: Ms. Startz (as Amanda Ansorge)
Wendell Atkins	....	model helicopter operator: Cincinnati
David Banigan	....	location manager: additional photography
Donna L. Bascom	....	production counsel: Law Offices of Donna L. Bascom
Glennis Bastien	....	production co-coordinator: additional photography
Debra Beers	....	location manager
Varina Bleil	....	assistant: Mr. Chelsom
Debby A. Blome	....	craft service: Cincinnati
Laurel Bresnahan	....	tutor
Michelle Bridgman	....	production assistant: additional photography
Carmella Caridi	....	production counsel: Law Offices of Donna L. Bascom
Timothy Clarkin	....	assistant accountant (as Tim Clarkin)
Deirdre Costa	....	location manager: Cincinnati
Gareth Cousins	....	synthesizer programmer
Cassandra Cronenberg	....	key set production assistant
Susanna David	....	script supervisor
Deborah Devgan	....	assistant: Ms. Startz
Meighan Dobson	....	assistant: Mr. Goldstein
Denise Doyle	....	assistant: Harvey Weinstein
Traci M. Dunn	....	production coordinator: Cincinnati
Prudence Emery	....	unit publicist
Gina Frosini	....	key set production assistant: Cincinnati (as Gina K. Frosini)
Iris Hampton	....	assistant production coordinator: Cincinnati
Paul Hiscock	....	production office assistant
Eli Holzman	....	assistant: Harvey Weinstein
Kipper	....	synthesizer programmer
Beverley Kolbe	....	assistant location manager
Brady Kuhlman	....	assistant: Ms. Stone
Gillian MacKenzie	....	assistant: Ms. Startz
Andrew Madewell	....	set production assistant: Cincinnati (as Andrew J. Madewell)
Kristin Marshall	....	security: Ms. Stone
Nora Martini	....	office production assistant: Cincinnati
Blanche McDermaid	....	script supervisor: additional photography
Charles Mcdonald	....	title designer: Howard Anderson Company (as Charles McDonald)
Craig McGlauchlin	....	stand-in
Heather McIntosh	....	production accountant: additional photography
Brad Milburn	....	production assistant: additional photography
Michael Neithardt	....	assistant: Bob Weinstein
Gordan Nikolitch	....	leader
David Paris	....	helicopter pilot (as David William Paris)
David S. Pensak	....	office production assistant: Cincinnati
Irene Phelps	....	production accountant
Tammy Quinn	....	production coordinator
Thomas Shane Reed	....	set production assistant: Cincinnati (as Thomas 'Shane' Reed)
Robin M. Reelis	....	key set production assistant
Dave Reilly	....	security: Ms. Stone
Barbara Schneeweiss	....	assistant: Harvey Weinstein
Rick Schwartz	....	assistant: Harvey Weinstein
Emilie Sennebogen	....	assistant: Mr. Fields
Elizabeth Senyi	....	assistant production coordinator
Elizabeth Speckman	....	post-production accountant: Prep Shoot Post
Louis Spiegler	....	assistant: Bob Weinstein
Simone Stock	....	assistant: Mr. Fields
Beverly Sutton	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Michelle Sy	....	assistant: Mr. Goldstein
Ron Tailleur	....	location assistant
Sarah Thornton	....	production accountant: additional photography
Karen Usher	....	set production assistant: Cincinnati
Mark Vise	....	set production assistant: Cincinnati
Corey Wood	....	stand-in
Wendy Gaboury	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Rosie Heeter	....	stand-in: Ms. Stone (uncredited)
Randy Kennedy	....	assistant location manager: re-shoots (uncredited)
Byron A. Martin	....	location manager (uncredited)
Judy Sharinger	....	completion supervisor (uncredited)

Thanks
Eileen Cowel	....	thanks
Maria Gillen	....	thanks
Doug Meharg	....	thanks
Drew G. Miller	....	thanks
Casey Silver	....	thanks
Paul Webster	....	thanks
Vertia Wright	....	thanks: Mount Vernon Middle School Assistant Principal

Production Companies

• Chaos Productions (co-executive production)
• Miramax Films (as Miramax Films Corp.)
• Scholastic Productions (as Scholastic Productions Simon Fields)

Distributors

• Buena Vista International (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1998) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Rialto Film AG (1998) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Al!ve AG (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (Czech Republic)
• Capelight Pictures (2005) (Germany) (DVD) (rights)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (Portugal)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• Scanbox Entertainment (Finland)
• mediacs AG (2002) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures (digital visual effects and animation)
• Digiscope (digital visual effects)
• Howard Anderson Company, The (titles and opticals)
• OCS/Freeze Frame/Pixel Magic (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Ruben-Winkler Entertainment Insurance  production insurance provided by (as AON/Ruben-Winker)
• ATC Loudspeaker Technology  studio monitoring
• Abbey Road Studios  music recorded and mixed at (as Abbey Road Studios, London)
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recorded and mixed at (as Air Lyndhurst)
• Better Telephone & Technology, Cincinnati  thanks
• By David's  catering
• CMMP Studios  synthesizers recorded at
• Children's Action Network  thanks
• Cinespace Studios Management  studio services provided by
• City of Toronto, Ontario  thanks
• FX Smith  prosthetics
• Film Finance  completion guaranty provided by (as Film Finances Inc.)
• Four Media Sound  sound re-recorded at
• Great Northern/Reiff & Associates  production insurance provided by
• Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Film Commission  thanks (as Greater Cincinnati Film Commission)
• Kentucky Film Commission  thanks
• Law Offices of Donna L. Bascom  production counsel
• Loop Troop  adr group voice casting
• Morrow Junior Books  permission given for use of "Leonardo da Vinci" ©1996 by Diane Stanley
• Mount Vernon Middle School  thanks
• Multimedia Sound Inc.  sound editorial services (as Multimedia Sound)
• NBA Properties Inc.  permission given for use of Chicago Bulls logo and poster
• Ontario Film Development Corporation  thanks
• Pangaea Records  soundtrack released by
• Prep Shoot Post  post-production accounting
• Segue Music  music editing
• Starcraft  craft service
• The Chafer Caterer  catering: Cincinnati
• Toronto Film and Television Office, The  thanks
• William F. White International  camera and location equipment supplied by

Also Known As:

Freak the Mighty (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for elements of violence and peril.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Portugal:M/6 | South Korea:All | Philippines:G | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:Livre | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Spain:T | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #35748)

Filming Locations:

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Company:

Chaos Productions

Trivia:

Trailer features two scenes not used in the final film: Max playing with one of Kevin's toys and Kevin gets a computer on Christmas.

Goofs:

Continuity: While Max is waiting for his LD reading teacher, Kevin comes into the room, announces that he is Max's student tutor and sits down. The counter immediately behind Kevin is bare. Kevin tells Max to start reading from his book, Max says that he doesn't have a book, and then we see that a backpack is on the counter immediately behind Kevin from which he gets a book on King Arthur.

Quotes:

Gwen: You see, my son, Kevin, has been called names and made fun of his whole life. When you've been made fun of as much, you find another place to live, and he's found that place up here, in his mind. Kevin lives in a world of books, and words, and things I don't even understand. I do know this: Kevin would trade it all for a chance to be normal, to have a friend, and to do what other kids do. Max Kane has given that chance.
[voice cracks]
Gwen: Well, I'm not going to let that get taken away from my boy.

Movie Connections:

References The Terminator (1984)

Soundtrack:

Folkloric

A mighty good film

Talent must run in the Culkin family because Kieran shines in "The Mighty."

As I sat through "The Mighty," I kept thought to myself how it resembled another inspirational film; "Simon Birch." This was a clear indication that I would enjoy "The Mighty."

Elden Henson who played Max Kane was a good choice to play the friend of Culkin's character, Kevin Dillon. I say this because it is based upon how much each have in common including the fact that they seemed to click well together.

I can't forget to mention the superb supporting cast that included Sharon Stone, Gena Rowlands and Harry Dean Stanton. Stone pulled off a performance that could have been done in her sleep. Rowlands and Stanton provided support at just the right times to make this film worthwhile.

"The Mighty" immediately brought a smile to my face because it told the story of two people who were isolated until one day they were brought together, which made a perfect fit.