The Man Without a Face

Director: Mel Gibson Mel Gibson

Overview

Mel Gibson made his feature film directing debut with this drama, loosely based on the book by Isabel Holland, which combines elements from The Elephant Man, Mask, Scent of a Woman, and The Karate Kid in a study of the capacity for human trust and compassion. Gibson plays Justin McLeod, a former teacher who, after having his face and his body terribly disfigured in an automobile accident, has taken to living alone in a big house in an island off the coast of Maine. McLeod works as a free-lance artist who undergoes the humiliation of being shunned by his neighbors and called "hamburger head" behind his back. McLeod keeps to himself and wants nothing to do with his neighbors. But one day an adolescent boy, Chuck Norstadt (Nick Stahl), comes knocking at his door desperate for a tutor. At first suspicious, McLeod gradually warms up to Chuck and they become pals. But their burgeoning friendship is frowned upon by Chuck's family and the local police chief, Stark (Geoffrey Lewis), apparently because of rumors circulating that McLeod had a record concerning child molestation. This piece of gossip threatens Chuck with the loss of his teacher and a new-found friend.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/05/2019
UPC:	0883929675203
Original Release:	1993
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:55:00
Sales rank:	22,079

Special Features

Making-of featurette Remembering The Man Without a Face; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Mel Gibson	Justin McLeod
Nick Stahl	Chuck Norstadt
Margaret Whitton	Catherine
Fay Masterson	Gloria
Gaby Hoffmann	Megan
Geoffrey Lewis	Chief Stark
Richard Masur	Carl
Michael DeLuise	Douglas Hall
Ethan Phillips	Mr. Lansing
Jean De Baer	Mrs. Lansing
Jack De Mave	Mr. Cooper
Viva	Mrs. Cooper
Justin Kanew	Rob Lansing
Sean Kellman	David Taylor-Fife
Chris Lineburg	Scott Pearson
Kelly Wood	Amy Banks
Jessica Taisey	Signy Eaton
David A. McLaughlin	Chuck's Father
George Martin	Sam the Barber
Timothy Sawyer	Gus
Lawrence Wescott Jr.	Bob
Michael Currie	Mr. Cameron
Stanja Lowe	Mrs. Cameron
Zach Grenier	Dr. Talbot
William Meisle	Judge Sinclair
Robert Hitt	Mr. McDowell
Mary Lamar Mahler	Miss Fletcher
Robert DeDiemar Jr.	Chuck (age 17)
Drew Guenett	Ferry Crew Member
Gene Leverone	Holyfield Master 1
Malcolm MacRury	Holyfield Master 2
George D. Fuller	Speaker at Graduation
Harriette C. Henninger	Neighbor
Edmond Genest	6th Husband
John B. Guptill	Chuck's Friend
Michael Forte	Pedestrian
Elizabeth S. Clarke	Ferry Passenger
Marion Dougherty	Actor
Bobby Poirier	Graduate
Gaby Hoffman	Actor
James Horner	Composer

Technical Credits

Isabelle Holland

Malcolm MacRury

Mel Gibson	Director
Isabelle Holland	Screenwriter
Bruce Davey	Producer
Marion Dougherty	Casting
David Ellis	Stunts
Steve McEveety	Executive Producer,Producer,Executive Producer
Brian Ricci	Special Effects
Malcolm MacRury	Screenwriter
Bill Anagnos	Stunts
Michael Evje	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Mel Gibson's directorial debut is as routine as they come, packaging familiar elements from movies about mentors, disfigurement, and unjustified fears of the unknown, then sealing it all up with gorgeous cinematography of coastal Maine. In addition to his first directing project, the film seems to semi-intentionally double as Gibson's attempt to place his talents as an actor at the forefront, blurring his matinee-idol looks through burn scars that obscure half of his face. The Man Without a Face has the utterly conventional feel of a film given a director for his first effort, something with modest ambitions that can't be screwed up by a neophyte. On this level, it has the pleasures to keep the viewer interested, as long as expectations are kept low enough. Child actor Nick Stahl makes an impressive debut in the central role, appearing in almost every scene and proving himself always up to the task. And Gibson really doesn't need to don a bunch of makeup to prove he's more than just a pretty face, as prior works like Hamlet (1990) have demonstrated. The Man Without a Face may not stake a claim toward lingering importance, but viewed as the film that allowed Gibson to get his feet wet before directing Braveheart, it becomes a useful and necessary achievement.