Mr. Holland's Opus

( 18 )

Overview

A teacher belatedly discovers just how important his job really is in this emotional drama. Glenn Holland Richard Dreyfuss is a man with a deep love of music and a desire to write at least one piece of lasting significance. However, playing piano in cocktail lounges while he works on his own compositions doesn't pay the bills, so in 1965 he reluctantly accepts a job as a high school music teacher. Over the next 30 years, Holland is able to teach a great deal about both music and life to thousands of kids who pass...
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More About This Product

Overview

A teacher belatedly discovers just how important his job really is in this emotional drama. Glenn Holland Richard Dreyfuss is a man with a deep love of music and a desire to write at least one piece of lasting significance. However, playing piano in cocktail lounges while he works on his own compositions doesn't pay the bills, so in 1965 he reluctantly accepts a job as a high school music teacher. Over the next 30 years, Holland is able to teach a great deal about both music and life to thousands of kids who pass through the various classes he leads and school bands he directs; however, he finds it easier to reach his students than his son Cole played, as he grows older, by Nicholas John Renner, Joseph Anderson, and Anthony Natale, who is deaf, which drives a wedge between Glenn and his wife Iris Glenne Headly. Richard Dreyfuss earned an Academy Award nomination as Best Actor for Mr. Holland's Opus; the cast also includes Olympia Dukakis, William H. Macy, and Jay Thomas.
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Special Features

Widescreen [2.35:1]; Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio; French-language track; Production featurette; Chapter search
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Michael Costello
Richard Dreyfuss gives a stirring performance in director Stephen Herek's sentimental tribute to a music teacher's career. Dreyfuss plays an aspiring composer of symphonies whose ambition fades as his life is increasingly taken over by his job has a high school music teacher. Although it ignores the fact that nearly all serious (read classical) composers earn their living as teachers, the film is a rare entry in a once flourishing genre: the tribute to a life of selfless dedication. A specialty of director John Ford, the genre seems to have dried up in recent decades as narcissism has taken center stage in American life. Like most such films it's awash in sentimentality, but here the schmaltz is balanced by Dreyfuss' natural irascibility and comic energy. The intensity of his histrionics and eventual commitment to awakening his students' interest to the world of music make his effectiveness credible, though the scenes manifesting their growth lean toward cliché. With heavy-handed irony, the script also gives the teacher a deaf son, and the subplot concerning his supposed indifference to his family is too undeveloped to have much weight. Yet, Olympia Dukakis as the sympathetic school principal and W.H. Macy as one of Dreyfuss' hissable colleagues join the star in bringing life to a familiar tale.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 8/24/1999
  • UPC: 717951003096
  • Original Release: 1995

    • Rating:

  • Source: Walt Disney Video
  • Region Code: 1
  • Aspect Ratio: Cinemascope (2.35:1)
  • Presentation: Wide Screen / Dolby 5.1 / Stereo
  • Sound: Dolby Digital, stereo
  • Language: English, Français
  • Time: 2:23:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 905

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Richard Dreyfuss Glenn Holland
Glenne Headly Iris Holland
Jay Thomas Bill Meister
Olympia Dukakis Principal Jacobs
William H. Macy Vice Principal Wolters
Alicia Witt Gertrude Lang
Jacob Adams Football Player
Joseph Anderson Cole at 15
Brent Archie Football Player
Kathryn Arnett Ms Swedlin
Pal Bernard Auditioner
Sean Bevington Mr McMartin
Dennis Biasi Adult Stadler
Alexandra Boyd Sarah Olmstead
John Boyer Billy Faraday
Donnie Burns City Official
Kevin Calaba Football Player
Joe Campbell Boy
Jordan Carlton Auditioner
Kaili Carlton Ms Wayne
Kelly M. Casey Deaf School Teacher
David Clegg Superintendent
Eric Michael Cole Boy 2
Freeman O. Corbin Mr Sullivan
Mark Daniels Ralph
Benjamin J. Dixon Mr Mims
Conan Doherty Toby Klein
Alex Dudgeon Auditioner
Tara Eng Auditioner
Moira Feeney Ms Godfrey
Adam Fitzhugh Mr McKenzie
Patrick Fong Study Hall Student
Jay Frank Auditioner
Dieffyd Gilman Frederick Auditioner
Joanna Gleason Adult Gertrude
Ashley Hamrick Miss Reeves
Terrence Howard Louis Russ
Linda Williams Janke Secretary
Jean Louisa Kelly Rowena Morgan
Beth Maitland Deaf School Principal
Chris Math Football Player
Zoe McLellan Girl
Michael Mendelson Chaplain
Aurora J. Miller Auditioner
Joshua Minnick Mr Shapiro
Anthony Natale Cole at 28
Kasey Nelson Girl
Mary Kay O'Mealy Auditioner
Tomiko Peirano Girl
John Henry Redwood Mr Russ
Nicholas John Renner Cole at 6
Spencer Riviera Mr Hosta
Ted Roisum Dr Sorenson
Janine Shouse Miss Schumaker
Stacey Siegel Diner Waitress
Nicholas Sirianni Football Player
Keith Swift Football Player
Daniel J. Vhay Mr Malone
Damon Whitaker Bobby Tidd
Rachel Wooley Auditioner
Technical Credits
Stephen Herek Director
William D. Barber Camera Operator
Jan K. Bergstrom Set Decoration/Design
Sharon Bialy Casting
Robert W. Cort Producer
Patrick Sheane Duncan Executive Producer, Screenwriter
Ted Field Producer
Kirk A. Francis Sound/Sound Designer
Judith James Co-producer
Michael Kamen Score Composer
Scott Kroopf Executive Producer
Dina Lipton Art Director
Alan Manzer Set Decoration/Design
Bruce McDonald Choreography
Bruce McDonald Choreography
David Nichols Production Designer
Michael F. Nolin Producer
Aggie Guerard Rodgers Costumes/Costume Designer
Trudy Ship Editor
William Teitler Co-producer
Jeffrey Wetzel Asst. Director
Oliver Wood Cinematographer
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Scene Index

Side #1 --
0. Chapter Selection
1. Program Start [:25]
2. Opening Credits [:25]
3. Inauspicious Beginning [4:19]
4. Free Time [4:19]
5. Off-Key [:32]
6. A Poor Compass [5:54]
7. Connective Tissue [3:03]
8. Not Just Notes on a Page [7:13]
9. Curriculum in Question [4:55]
10. New Assignment [4:04]
11. Challenged [10:42]
12. Terrible News [2:17]
13. A Mother's Despair [6:03]
14. A Memento [7:37]
15. Domestic Discord [6:47]
16. Free Advice [8:36]
17. Late-Night Rehearsal [7:54]
18. A Proposition [4:02]
19. At the Bus Depot [4:11]
20. Angry Son [6:21]
21. A Personal Dedication [5:57]
22. An Apology for the Arts [5:06]
23. Surprise [4:28]
24. A Symphony [9:11]
25. End Credits [6:22]
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Menu

Side #1 --
   Set Up
      Spoken Languages
         English
         French
      Captions
         English for the Hearing Impaired
         Captions: None
   Bonus Material
      Production Featurette
      Film Recommendations
   Play
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 18 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(15)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

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Sort by: Showing all of 18 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 29, 2013

    This movie is an inspiring story that celebrates the joy of musi

    This movie is an inspiring story that celebrates the joy of music and musical talents! Anyone who loves music or has been in a marching band at school or music class would totally relate to this story. For those of you who haven't been in a band, you will still love the timeless insights of following your dreams and making a difference in the people around you. Wonderful plotline! Wonderful cast! This film is a hidden gem.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    Great family movie!

    My mom made me watch this movie and I fell in love! It is such a great cast, Dreyfuss, Headly and Macy. It will make you smile, cry, laugh and singalong. I would highly recommend this movie to any music enthusiast and any supporters for arts/music for schools. It shows how important and inspiring a teacher is and can be to a child's future, and how music can shape it for the better.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    I love this movie!

    Great storyline!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    I wish Mr. Holland was MY teacher.

    This movie is fantastic. I don't normally watch Richard Dreyfuss movies since I'm not really fond of him, but he did a fabulous job portraying Mr. Holland. I recommend this movie to anyone who has...ever been in school, had a teacher that made a difference, any teacher looking for inspiration, or any student curious to know if their teachers are human beings. I just wish our education system could live up to the standards portrayed in this movie. If all my teachers were half as good as Mr. Holland I doubt I would have hated school so much.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Mr. Holland's Opus

    I have benn trying to find this to buy for my 4 year old brother. Even though I have rented it so many times on VHS my 4 year old brither still wanted the DVD and now I 've finally got it for him!!!!!!!!!! One of my favorite seens in this movie is when Mr. Holland is singing John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy" to his son, Cole. Buy this DVD or VHS for anyone in your family or buy it for yourself!! You'll be glad that you did!!!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Mr. Holland's Opus

    My 4 year old brother and I want to become professional pianists when we get older. We both liked this movie after seeing it for the very first time just him and I which is why I am buying a copy for him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A dream to reach for

    I first saw this movie my sophmore year of high school and have loved it ever since. I have dreams of being a band director and whenever I lose sight of it, I think of this movie and it gives me the push. I would recommend this movie for anyone, especially those interested in music teaching because it really opens your eyes.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Mr. Holland's Opus is wonderful!

    This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. I do wish teacher's today got that involved in the student's success to help them achieve their possibilites.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    I wish i had the money

    This is a stupendous real life story. I love the song of 'Beautiful Boy'. I had rented it about three times. I wish I had the money to buy it now. I will have to wait.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Richard Dreyfuss is brilliant

    I loved this movie. This is a wonderful story and Richard Dreyfuss is perfect as Mr Holland; he is an actor who is able to convey either drama or comedy perfectly.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Best Ever

    This is one of my very favorite movies of all time, it is very powerful and moving. I wish everyone could have someone like Mr. Holland to look up to.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 22, 2003

    The Best Movie of my High School Years

    This was my only year in American Sign Language. Last week in our class we watched Mr. Holland¿s Opus. It was the only time my class has ever seen me cry and laugh in the same class period. Every second was heart taking and fun to watch. Soon I will buy my own copy of this wonderful masterpiece.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 19, 2003

    Movie for all music lovers!!

    This movie is one of the best I have seen. It shows that all kids any age can understand music.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 9, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 14, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 28, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 10, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 19, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 18 Customer Reviews