The Hours (2002)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Stephen Daldry

Writers (WGA):

Michael Cunningham (novel)
David Hare (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 January 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Three Different Women. Each Living a Lie.

Plot:

The story of how the novel "Mrs. Dalloway" affects three generations of women, all of whom, in one way or another, have had to deal with suicide in their lives.

Plot Keywords:

Novel | Party | Reading | Housewife | AIDS

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 30 wins & 67 nominations

Cast

Nicole Kidman	...	Virginia Woolf
Julianne Moore	...	Laura Brown
Meryl Streep	...	Clarissa Vaughan
Stephen Dillane	...	Leonard Woolf
Miranda Richardson	...	Vanessa Bell
George Loftus	...	Quentin Bell
Charley Ramm	...	Julian Bell
Sophie Wyburd	...	Angelica Bell
Lyndsey Marshal	...	Lottie Hope (as Lyndsay Marshal)
Linda Bassett	...	Nelly Boxall
Christian Coulson	...	Ralph Partridge
Michael Culkin	...	Doctor
John C. Reilly	...	Dan Brown
Jack Rovello	...	Richie Brown
Toni Collette	...	Kitty
Margo Martindale	...	Mrs. Latch
Colin Stinton	...	Hotel Clerk
Ed Harris	...	Richard Brown
Allison Janney	...	Sally Lester
Claire Danes	...	Julia Vaughan
Jeff Daniels	...	Louis Waters
Carmen De Lavallade	...	Clarissa's Neighbor
Eileen Atkins	...	Barbara in Flower Shop
Daniel Brocklebank	...	Rodney in Flower Shop
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Cunningham	...	Man Outside Flower Shop (uncredited)
Kate Super	...	Young Clarissa Vaughan (uncredited)

Directed by
Stephen Daldry

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Cunningham		(novel)
David Hare		(screenplay)

Produced by
Michael Alden	....	associate producer
Robert Fox	....	producer
Mark Huffam	....	executive producer
Ian MacNeil	....	associate producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer
Marieke Spencer	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Philip Glass

Cinematography by
Seamus McGarvey		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter Boyle

Casting by
Patsy Pollock
Daniel Swee

Production Design by
Maria Djurkovic

Art Direction by
Nick Palmer
Mark Raggett		(supervising art director)
Judy Rhee		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Philippa Hart

Costume Design by
Ann Roth

Makeup Department
Jo Allen	....	prosthetics makeup designer
Sarah Astley	....	hair assistant
Sarah Astley	....	makeup assistant
Stuart Conran	....	prosthetic technician
Nuala Conway	....	hair assistant
Nuala Conway	....	makeup assistant
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair stylist: Ms. Moore
Paul Engelen	....	makeup artist: Ms. Kidman
Paul Gooch	....	hair assistant
Paul Gooch	....	makeup assistant
J. Roy Helland	....	hair stylist: Ms. Streep
J. Roy Helland	....	makeup artist: Ms. Streep
Elaine L. Offers	....	makeup artist: Ms. Moore (as Elaine Offers)
Conor O'Sullivan	....	prosthetics makeup designer
Peter Owen	....	wigs
Eva Polywka	....	key makeup artist: USA
Ivana Primorac	....	hair styles supervisor
Ivana Primorac	....	makeup supervisor
Peggy Schierholz	....	key hair stylist: USA (as Peg Schierholz)
Robin Schoonraad	....	prosthetic technician
Jemma Scott-Knox-Gore	....	contact lens technician
Edward St. George	....	hair stylist: Ms. Moore
Kerry Warn	....	hair stylist: Ms. Kidman
Jay Cannistraci	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Chris Fitzgerald	....	sculptor (uncredited)
Duncan Jarman	....	prosthetics assistant (uncredited)

Production Management
James Bigwood	....	unit production manager: USA
Jo Burn	....	unit production manager
Michael Dreyer	....	unit production manager
Gary Pickering	....	unit manager
James Rickard	....	unit manager
Cherry Brewer	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kenny Bates	....	second unit director: USA (as Ken Bates)
Stephen Lee Davis	....	first assistant director: USA
Martin Harrison	....	first assistant director
Nick Heckstall-Smith	....	first assistant director
Ben Howard	....	third assistant director
Cary Jones	....	dga trainee
Peggy Robinson	....	second second assistant director: USA (as Peggy Jean Robinson)
Kellie Jo Tackett	....	second assistant director: USA
Jennifer Truelove	....	second assistant director: USA
George Walker	....	second assistant director
Simon Emanuel	....	crowd second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Martin Asbury	....	storyboard artist
Alan Bailey	....	property master
Alan Briant	....	dressing props (as Alan David Briant)
Alan Chesters	....	construction manager
Leigh Chesters	....	on-set carpenter
Jane Clark	....	storyboard artist (as Jane Clarke)
Ben Conable	....	art department coordinator: USA (as Benjamin Conable)
Mike Cuddy	....	props storeperson
Mark Dane	....	lead person: USA
Guido DeCurtis	....	lead person: USA
Judy Ducker	....	production buyer
Terry Ennis	....	props
Danny Evans	....	dressing props
Douglas Fecht	....	set dresser: USA
Dave Fisher	....	chargehand props (as David Fisher)
Richard Fojo	....	assistant art director: USA
Joanna Foley	....	on-set art director
Charles Guanci Jr.	....	property master: USA
Michael Gunner	....	chief painter
James Harris	....	construction foreperson: USA
Ron Higgins	....	chargehand dresser
Jason Hopperton	....	dressing props
John Jackson	....	construction coordinator: USA (as John C. Jackson)
Al Johnson	....	storyboard artist: USA
David Ned Kelly	....	chief carpenter (as David 'Ned' Kelly)
Robert Kopp	....	greensman: USA
Richard E. Kruder	....	set dresser: USA (as Richard Kruder)
Andrew Lassman	....	property master: USA (as Andy Lassman)
Emily Lutyens	....	art department assistant
Alexa Marino	....	art department coordinator: USA
Tony Marks	....	carpenter
Daniel May	....	draftsperson
Michael Metzel	....	construction coordinator: USA
John Nyomarkay	....	assistant art director: USA
Barbara Peterson	....	set decorator: USA
Stelios Polychronakis	....	assistant art director
Judy Rhee	....	art director: USA
Stuart Sewell	....	sculptor
Dave Thompson	....	painter (as David Thompson)
Frank A. Torres	....	set dresser: USA (as Francisco Torres)
Paul Weathered	....	assistant property master: USA
Michael Webb	....	chief stagehand
Ben Wolcott	....	set dresser: USA (as J. Benjamin Wolcott)
Harriet Zucker	....	set decorator: USA (as Harriet S. Zucker)
Julia Barraclough	....	charge scenic: New York (uncredited)
David Packard	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Celia Parker	....	camera scenic artist (uncredited)
Nicholas Scott	....	scenic artist: Florida (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary Alper	....	sound mixer: USA
Ricky Butt	....	foley artist (as Ricki Butts)
John Casali	....	boom operator
Kevin Cerchiai	....	cable person: USA
David Crozier	....	production sound mixer
Adam Daniel	....	sound re-recording mixer
Graham Daniel	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tony Dawe	....	sound mixer
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Fettes	....	sound editor
Matt Grimes	....	sound effects editor
Ken Hahn	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Harris	....	third man sound
Nina Hartstone	....	dialogue editor
Robert Ireland	....	adr editor
Andy Kennedy	....	sound effects editor (as Andrew Kennedy)
Jed Loughran	....	assistant sound editor
Conor Mackey	....	assistant sound editor
Claire Mahoney	....	foley artist (as Clare Mahoney)
Grant Maxwell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mario McNulty	....	sound recordist
Ray Merrin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Julian Pinn	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby Stereo
Robin Quinn	....	assistant sound editor
Michael Redfern	....	foley editor
Jacob Ribicoff	....	associate supervising sound editor
Lyle Scott-Darling	....	re-recording assistant
Warren Shaw	....	supervising sound editor
Richard Street	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marc-Jon Sullivan	....	boom operator: USA
Daniel Ward	....	assistant sound editor
John Warhurst	....	assistant sound editor
Warren Weberg	....	utility sound: New York
Campbell Askew	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)
James Boyle	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Andrew Caller	....	adr assistant (uncredited)
Paul Carr	....	adr recording: UK (uncredited)
Paul Conway	....	adr editor (uncredited)
Paul Conway	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Gerard Loret	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Stuart Morton	....	sound editor (uncredited)
James David Redding III	....	sound technician (uncredited)
Eric Strausser	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Ruth Sullivan	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Derek Trigg	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Akil Wilson	....	apprentice sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Stuart Brisdon	....	special effects supervisor
Mark Haddenham	....	special effects senior technician
Jim Lillis	....	special effects coordinator: USA
Tony Moore	....	special effects diving rigger: USA
Charlie Muspratt	....	special effects rigger: USA
Andrew *Starman* Pearce	....	special effects technician
John Weller	....	special effects supervising rigger: USA
Malcolm Wilson	....	special effects rigger: USA
Steve Knowles	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Richard Briscoe	....	visual effects supervisor: Double Negative
Matthew Plummer	....	visual effects producer: Double Negative
Ciaran Crowley	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Pete Hanson	....	studio manager: Double Negative (uncredited)
Adam Howarth	....	model maker: falling body mechanical armatures (uncredited)
Jody Johnson	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Andrew Lockley	....	digital compositor: Double Negative (uncredited)
John Moffatt	....	digital compositor: Double Negative (uncredited)
Paul Riddle	....	digital compositor: Double Negative (uncredited)
Matthew Shaw	....	video editorial (uncredited)
Tammo van Hoorn	....	clapper loader: visual effects unit (uncredited)
Sheila Wickens	....	digital compositor: Double Negative (uncredited)

Stunts
Danny Aiello III	....	stunts
Jay Amor	....	stunts
Dara Amos	....	stunts
Hank Amos	....	stunts
Chick Bernhardt	....	stunts
John Copeman	....	stunts
John Evanko	....	stunts
Tim Gallin	....	stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Jay Krueger	....	stunts (as Jay Kruger)
Bean Peel	....	stunts (as Lucinda Peel)
Andreas Petrides	....	stunt coordinator
Gary Powell	....	stunts
Nick Powell	....	stunt coordinator
Lee Sheward	....	stunt coordinator
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts (as Glenn Wilder)
Richard Bradshaw	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dara Fischetti	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Eli Aronoff	....	second assistant camera: additional camera
Jason Barfield	....	electrician: USA
Peter Batten	....	focus puller (as Pete Batten)
Robert Betts	....	grip
John Bowman	....	video assist operator
Roy Branch	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Julian Bucknall	....	focus puller
Anthony Burgess	....	electrician
Glynis Burke	....	electrician: USA
Tony Burns	....	electrician
Jack Coffen	....	electrician: USA (as John Coffen)
Clive Coote	....	still photographer
Carlos De Carvalho	....	focus puller
James P. Dolan	....	chief lighting technician: USA
John Dolan	....	first company grip: USA (as John P. Dolan)
Steve Drellich	....	camera operator: USA (as Steven Drellich)
Martin Duffy	....	grip
François Duhamel	....	still photographer: USA
Kevin Edland	....	rigging electrician
Stanley Fernandez Jr.	....	second assistant camera: USA
Toby Flesher	....	electrician
John Freeman	....	video assist: USA
Alan Grayley	....	rigging electrician
James J. Green	....	dolly grip: USA (as James L. Green)
Eugene Grobler	....	electrician
Paul Harris	....	electrician
John Higgins	....	chief lighting technician
Robert Hooker	....	grip
Larry Huston	....	Steadicam operator: USA
Larry Huston	....	first assistant camera: USA
Gary Hutchings	....	first company grip
Mark Hutton	....	rigging electrician
John Gregory Kasper	....	first company grip: USA
James Knox	....	assistant chief rigging electrician
Paul Krumper	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, USA
Adam Lee	....	electrician
Marvin Lee	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, USA
Vince Madden	....	rigging electrician
Sean Malone	....	grip: USA
Stephen Mathie	....	electrician
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator: USA
Peter McEntyre	....	assistant chief lighting technician: USA
Mike McGowan	....	Steadicam operator: USA (as Michael P. McGowan)
Terry Meadows	....	grip (as Terence Meadows)
Neil Munro	....	rigging electrician
Michael Oates	....	dolly grip: USA (as Mike Oates)
Jennie Paddon	....	film loader (as Jennifer Paddon)
Ricky Pattenden	....	electrician
Steve Pattenden	....	electrician
Brian Pickett	....	assistant chief rigging electrician
John Robertson	....	chief rigging electrician
Agnes Rodriguez	....	film loader: USA
Barry Ryan	....	electrician: USA (as Barry J. Ryan)
Gary Ryan	....	assistant chief lighting technician: USA
Daniel Salk	....	video assist: USA
Anthony Savini	....	film loader: USA
Steven Search	....	first assistant camera: USA (as Steven D. Search)
Paul Sharp	....	electrician
Gary Shlifer	....	camera operator: USA
Philip Sindall	....	camera operator
Paul Stewart	....	rigging electrician (as Paul William Stewart)
Mike Valentine	....	underwater camera operator: USA
Rory Walsh	....	second company grip: USA
Gavin Walters	....	assistant chief lighting technician: USA
Lee Walters	....	chief lighting technician
Brian L. Williams	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, USA (as Brian Williams)
Sophie Wilson	....	film loader
Anthony Zibelli	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, USA (as Anthony P. Zibelli)
Kurt Beckler	....	grip (uncredited)
Jamie Klein	....	grip: Florida (uncredited)
Dean Morrish	....	underwater first assistant camera (uncredited)
Peter Myslowski	....	camera grip: dailies (uncredited)
Mark Schmidt	....	assistant camera: "b" camera, New York (uncredited)
Martyn Welland	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Shaheen Baig	....	casting associate: U.K.
Heather Baird	....	casting associate: USA
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Barbara Fiorentino	....	casting associate: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Michele Waldfogel	....	extras casting assistant: UK (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lynette Bernay	....	set costumer: USA
Valerie Fusaro	....	set costumer: USA
Sue Gandy	....	assistant costume designer
Jenny Hawkins	....	wardrobe assistant
Iris Horta Lemos	....	wardrobe supervisor: USA (as Iris H. Lemos)
Ellen Mahlke	....	wardrobe supervisor: USA
Michelle Matland	....	assistant costume designer
Suzanne Pettit	....	costumer: USA
Lindsay Pugh	....	costume supervisor
Susan Salzano	....	set costumer: USA (as Sue Salzano)
Mark Sutherland	....	wardrobe master
Crystal Thompson	....	costume shopper
Justine Warhurst	....	wardrobe assistant
Lucy Denny	....	costumes (uncredited)
Tom Hornsby	....	daily wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Stefna Borges	....	negative cutter: USA
Stephen Boucher	....	assistant editor
Julius Gladwell	....	assistant editor: avid
Lori Machens	....	post-production coordinator
Steve Maguire	....	assistant editor (as Stephen Maguire)
Sarah Ogletree	....	post-production coordinator
David Rees	....	color timer: USA
Geraint Huw Reynolds	....	assistant editor
Ruth Coulson	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Jonathan Allen	....	music mixer
Jonathan Allen	....	music recordist
John Bradbury	....	orchestra leader
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Nick Ingman	....	conductor
Tony Lewis	....	music editor
Nico Muhly	....	music score coordinator
Kurt Munkacsi	....	original soundtrack producer
Michael Riesman	....	original soundtrack producer
Owen Bartholomew	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)
Simon Changer	....	score assistant engineer (uncredited)
Paul Kegg	....	musician: cello (uncredited)
Dashiell Rae	....	music editor: temp music (uncredited)
Randy Spendlove	....	executive in charge of music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Phil Allchin	....	transportation captain
Mike Easter	....	transportation co-captain
William K. Gaskins	....	transportation captain: USA
Vince Pecora	....	transportation captain: USA (as Vincent R. Pecora)
Don Abbatiello	....	picture car coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Kweku Abdullah	....	production assistant: USA
Vicki Allen	....	floor runner
Joane Baptiste	....	assistant production coordinator: USA
Debbie Brodie	....	food stylist
Sarah Clark	....	unit publicist
Melanie Claus	....	production coordinator (as Mel Claus)
Patrick Corcoran	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Chris Cussen	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Tina Ellis	....	assistant auditor
Elizabeth Elwell	....	location manager: USA (as Elizabeth A. Elwell)
Sandra Frieze	....	dialogue coach
Jacqui Green	....	tutor
Andy Hennigan	....	production auditor
Joe Holden	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (as J.A.Holden)
Elayne Keratsis	....	production coordinator: USA
Lars Knudsen	....	executive assistant: Mr. Rudin
Ben LeClair	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Sarah Lee	....	location manager
Susie Lewis	....	assistant: Mr. Fox
M.J. Magbanua	....	production coordinator: USA
Sherrill Mann	....	assistant location manager: USA
Angus More Gordon	....	location manager
Victoria Morgan	....	assistant production coordinator
Virginia Murray	....	production coordinator
Clarissa Newman	....	assistant: Mr. Huffam
Charley Parlapanides	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (as Charles Parlapanides)
Joaquin Diego Prange	....	assistant location manager: USA (as Joaquin D. Prange)
Jennifer Radzikowski	....	assistant location manager
John Rickard	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Lori M. Roberts	....	financial representative: Paramount Pictures (as Lori Roberts)
Sherrill Smith	....	assistant location manager
Pat Sones	....	location manager: USA (as Patricia Weber Sones)
Lucas Stein	....	production assistant
Imogen Stringer	....	assistant production coordinator
Jeannie Udall	....	medic (as Jeanie Udall)
Kevin J. Walsh	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (as Kevin Walsh)
Simi Wein	....	assistant production coordinator: USA
Angela Wharton	....	script supervisor (as Angela Noakes-Wharton)
Beverly Wood	....	laboratory consultant: USA
Josue Aguilar	....	on-set production assistant (uncredited)
Victoria Allen	....	floor runner (uncredited)
Freya Archard	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Danielle J. Baker	....	location production assistant: Florida (uncredited)
Joanna Bates	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Nic Benns	....	title designer (uncredited)
Ashlee Burnette	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (uncredited)
Victoria Cervantes	....	set production assistant: Florida (uncredited)
Jan Cosby	....	first assistant accountant (uncredited)
Steve Dale	....	production assistant: Miami (uncredited)
Melissa Marie Davis	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Harold De Jesus	....	artist: main titles (uncredited)
Stan Eutsey	....	production assistant: Miami (uncredited)
David Greenbaum	....	executive assistant: Harvey Weinstein (uncredited)
Joshua C. Hersko	....	assistant: Scott Rudin (uncredited)
Sammy Horton	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Jody Hummer	....	location scout (uncredited)
Nicholas Owen Langholff	....	key set production assistant: second unit, New York (uncredited)
Josh Liveright	....	payroll accountant: USA (uncredited)
Justin Marx	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Becky Maxwell	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
David M. McGuire	....	location assistant: New York (uncredited)
Catherine Middleton	....	accounting assistant (uncredited)
Steve Morphew	....	stand-in: Stephen Dillane (uncredited)
Claire Peberdy	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Christina Rice	....	assistant to actor (uncredited)
Eric Ian Robinson	....	assistant: Harvey Weinstein (uncredited)
Will Rowbotham	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (uncredited)
Christopher T. Sadler	....	production assistant: New York (uncredited)
Emily Sklar	....	assistant: Meryl Streep (uncredited)
Marcel Valcarce	....	artist: main title (uncredited)
Daniel Villagomez	....	credits administrator (uncredited)

Thanks
Michael Cunningham	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures
• Miramax Films
• Scott Rudin Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (international)
• RCV Film Distribution (2003) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Italia (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• TFM Distribution (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Village Films (2003) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Highlight Film (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• West (2003) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (2003) (Spain) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2003) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (200?) (Greece) (VHS)
• Gativideo (200?) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (200?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Imagem Filmes (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Double Negative (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• AVC Catering  caterer
• Abbey Road Studios  music recorded and mixed at
• Casting Collective  extras casting
• Cecil B. DeMeals  craft service: USA (as Cecil B. Demeals)
• Cine Image Film Opticals  opticals (as Cineimage)
• Cutting Edge  negative cutting
• David Deane Associates  health and safety consulting
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color timing
• Digital Cinema  additional sound services provided by
• Ellen Jacoby Casting  casting
• Estate of Duncan Grant, The  courtesy of: images by Duncan Grant
• Estate of Vanessa Bell, The  courtesy of: images by Duncan Grant
• Estate of Virginia Woolf, The  permission: the quotations
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Gewandhausorchester Leipzig  orchestra: Strauss
• Global Music Service  music preparation (as Global Music Services)
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  vintage clothing rentals
• Joe Dunton & Company  video assist equipment
• Lee Lighting  lighting
• McDonald and Rutter  publicity: UK (as McDonald & Rutter)
• Momoco/Maguffin  main titles design (as Momoco @ Maguffin)
• Nonesuch Records  soundtrack released by
• PMK/HBH  publicity: USA (as PMK/HBH Public Relations)
• Panavision UK  camera equipment provided by
• Premier Caterers Ltd.  caterer: USA (as Premier Caterer)
• Salon  editorial equipment supplied by (as Salon)
• Shepperton Studios  sound re-recording (as Shepperton Film Studios)
• Sound Design Company, The  sound editing equipment
• Sound One Corporation  additional sound services provided by (as Sound One Corp.)
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting New York
• T.V. Dinners  caterer: USA

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, some disturbing images and brief language.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Denmark:11 (DVD rating) | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) | Philippines:PG-13 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Bern) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39136)

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Hotel - 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Allison Janney was originally chosen for the role of Barbara in the flower shop but she insisted on taking the role of Sally Lester, Clarissa Vaughan's (Meryl Streep) lover.

Goofs:

Continuity: The bag of flour in the background when Laura Brown is talking to Kitty at the coffee table.

Quotes:

Richard Brown: Would you be angry if I died?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Totally Gay! (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Metamorphosis 2

The Tragedy of Baking a Cake

If you have read any of the other reviews on this page, you have probably figured out "The Hours" is not the easy, mainstream film it was made out to be by the ads and the reviews. Starring three of today's most popular leading actresses, winner of some Golden Globe awards, based on a Pulitzer Prize winning novel, and the recipient of numerous rave reviews; it would seem to be a film that would appeal to a lot of people.

"The Hours" is not a regular Hollywood type of drama film. It has more in common with Ingmar Bergman films than with "Terms of Endearment." I think the thing that most people are having problems with is that the film does not explain what takes place or the significance of the context of what takes place. Things happen and it is up to the viewer to decide what it means. This is a controversial film and people will not only argue about whether or not the film is worthwhile, but they can also debate what exactly takes place during the film. How a person interprets this film says more about the person than the film.

The film follows a single day in the lives of three women in different time periods. During this day, each of them makes a decision that will affect the rest of their life.

I felt the film improved upon the book by bringing more clarity into the decisions of each character. Also, some of the most memorable lines and scenes in the film did not exist in the book.

While I would normally be the last person in the world to say anything positive about Phillip Glass, his score is evocative of the relentlessness of time. This is accentuated by the ticking of the clock throughout the film. The ethereal music also helps tie the three storylines together, to make it seem as if they are happening simultaneously.

I think a lot of people were taken off-guard by this film because they were expecting a more standard type of drama. Also, the PG-13 rating implies a lighter subject matter than is actually in the film. Just as a warning: There is crying, suicide, and women kissing women. Even though the violence and language is mild and there are no sex or nudity in the film, it should have probably been given an R rating because of the extreme emotion displayed in the film. Emotionally unstable people should probably not see this film.

As I said earlier, people will interpret this film differently since things are not spelled out for them. For the record, I did not think all three women were suffering from clinical depression as suggested by some people. Virginia's malaise would seem to fit the description of schizophrenia rather than clinical depression. Clarissa was suffering from regret over a decision she made thirty years previous and the feeling that she will never experience that happiness again. That does not necessarily mean she is clinically depressed. Laura is the depressed one and she makes a decision to handle that depression the way she thinks is best for her. Also, I do not feel Virginia was either incestuous or a lesbian. I think she was expressing her desperation through her disease and it came out in a socially unacceptable manner.

There is no doubt in my mind that "The Hours" is a great film. I only recommend it to people who are up to the challenge of thinking about the film long after they have left the theater and deciding about what it means. It is not a film for everybody but I felt it was worth the effort.