Ironweed (film)
| Ironweed | |
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Theatrical release poster by John Alvin
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| Directed by | Héctor Babenco |
| Produced by | Keith Barish Marcia Nasatir |
| Screenplay by | William Kennedy |
| Based on |
Ironweed by William Kennedy |
| Starring | |
| Music by | John Morris |
| Cinematography | Lauro Escorel |
| Edited by | Anne Goursaud |
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Production
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| Distributed by | TriStar Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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143 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $27 million |
| Box office | $7,393,346 |
Ironweed is a 1987 American drama film directed by Héctor Babenco. It is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by William Kennedy, who also wrote the screenplay. It stars Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep, with Carroll Baker, Michael O'Keefe, Diane Venora, Fred Gwynne, Nathan Lane and Tom Waits in supporting roles.
The story concerns the relationship of a homeless couple: Francis, an alcoholic, and Helen, a terminally ill woman during the Great Depression. Major portions of the film were shot on location in Albany, New York, including Jay Street at Lark Street, Albany Rural Cemetery and the Miss Albany Diner on North Broadway.
The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Nicholson) and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Streep).
Francis Phelan (Jack Nicholson) is a washed-up baseball player who deserted his family back in the 1910s when he accidentally dropped his son and killed him. It is assumed in the film that he was drunk at the time until he later claims he was just tired and doesn't understand why no one will believe in his story. Since then, Phelan has been a bum, punishing himself. Wandering into his hometown of Albany on Halloween in 1938, Phelan seeks out his lover and drinking companion, Helen Archer (Meryl Streep). The two meet up in a mission managed by Reverend Chester (James Gammon), and later in Oscar Reo's (Fred Gwynne) gin mill.
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