Dead Poets Society

Director: Peter Weir Peter Weir

Overview

"Peter Weir's schoolroom drama comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround, while a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are no subtitles on this release. There are no extra features on this disc. Considering the enduring popularity of this film, it is surprising that more attention has not been lavished on its DVD release, but the image and sound are acceptable."

Product Details

Release Date:	11/10/1998
UPC:	0717951000682
Original Release:	1989
Rating:	PG
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	2:09:00
Sales rank:	2,827

Special Features

Dolby Surround; French-language track; Chapter search

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Robin Williams	John Keating
Robert Sean Leonard	Neil Perry
Ethan Hawke	Todd Anderson
Josh Charles	Knox Overstreet
Gale Hansen	Charlie Dalton
Dylan Kussman	Richard Cameron
Allelon Ruggiero	Steven Meeks
James Waterson	Gerard Pitts
Norman Lloyd	Mr. Nolan
Carla Belver	Mrs. Perry
Leon Pownall	McAllister
Kurtwood Smith	Mr. Perry
Maurice Jarre	Composer
James Waterston	Gerard Pitts,Actor
Joe Aufiery	Chemielehrer
Matt Carey	Hopkins
Kevin Cooney	Joe Danburry
Colin Irving	Chet Danburry
Alexandra Powers	Chris Noel
Melora Walters	Gloria
Welker White	Tina
Steve Mathios	Steve
Alan Pottinger	Bubba
Christine D'Ercole	Titania
John Cunningham	Mr. Anderson
Debra Mooney	Mrs. Anderson
Howard Feuer	Actor
Charles Lord	Mr. Dalton,Mr. Dalton
George Martin	Dr. Hager
Kurt Leitner	Lester
Richard Stites	Stick
James J. Christy	Spaz
Robert J. Zigler III	Beans
Pamela Burrell	Directing Teacher
Allison Hedges	Actor/Fairy
John Martin Bradley	Bagpiper
Catherine Soles	Stage Manager
Hoover Sutton	Welton Professor
Simon Mein	Welton Vicar
Ashton W. Richards	Physical Education Teacher
Robert Gleason	Father of Spaz
Bill Rowe	Dormitory Porter
Jane Moore	Mrs. Danburry
Lara Flynn Boyle	Ginny Danburry

Technical Credits

Tom Schulman

Peter Weir	Director
Steven M. Haft	Producer,Producer
Tony Thomas	Producer
Paul Junger Witt	Producer
Tom Schulman	Screenwriter
Allen Hall	Special Effects
C.J. Appel	Sound Effects
Luis Colina	Sound Effects
Gloria D'Alessandro	Sound Effects
Carlos Delarios	Sound Effects
Frank Eulner	Sound Effects
Howard Feuer	Casting

Editorial Reviews

Unconventionality and nonconformity are often desirable qualities, but attaining them occasionally carries some risk, especially when the society around you seems to value them insufficiently. That's the message of this earnest, uncompromising drama, which won the 1989 Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and reminded viewers just how effective veteran funnyman Robin Williams could be when applying his considerable talents to a dramatic role. Under the direction of Peter Weir, Williams abandoned his sometimes annoying, hyperkinetic performance style to play iconoclastic English teacher John Keating, who labors overtime to fan the flames of creativity and freethinking in his New England prep school students, most of whom seem destined for Ivy League colleges and soul-deadening careers. Captivated by Keating's ebullience and enthusiasm, outgoing student Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard) revives the aged school's secret club, the Dead Poets Society, and enlists among its members the deeply withdrawn Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke). The story is predictable up to a point, but it has a shattering climax that even today, more than 15 years after the film's theatrical release, retains the power to shock and dismay audiences. The young actors are uniformly excellent in their sharply drawn characters, and Kurtwood Smith is outstanding as Neil's domineering father, but it's Williams who makes this Society worth joining. The film soars whenever he's on camera, and even the most jaded home viewer will be moved by the influence his character wields over the impressionable students.