Patch Adams (film)
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| Patch Adams | |
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 Patch Adams DVD cover |
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| Directed by | Tom Shadyac |
| Produced by | Mike Farrell Barry Kemp Marvin Minoff Charles Newirth |
| Written by | Patch Adams (book) Maureen Mylander (book) Steve Oedekerk |
| Starring | Robin Williams Philip Seymour Hoffman Monica Potter |
| Music by | Marc Shaiman |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release date(s) | December 25, 1998 |
| Running time | 115 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $50,000,000 US (est.) |
| IMDb profile | |
Patch Adams is a 1998 comedy-drama film directed by Tom Shadyac and based on the true life story of Hunter "Patch" Adams and the book Gesundheit: Good Health is a Laughing Matter by Adams and Maureen Mylander. The film is generally considered a box-office success, grossing over twice its budget in the United States alone.
The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score by Marc Shaiman.
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[edit] Plot
The film tells the story of Hunter "Patch" Adams (portrayed by Robin Williams), a medical doctor who became famous for his unconventional approach to medicine. After a suicide attempt, Adams seeks psychiatric help and is institutionalized. During this time he is inspired to become a medical doctor, and discovers that he is able to forget his own problems by helping others. Two years later, he enrolls at Virginia Medical University (a fictitious school shot at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus) and he is the oldest first year student. He questions the school's approach to medical care, and clashes with the school's Dean Walcott (played by Bob Gunton) because of his belief in the necessity of personal interaction with patients. Because of this and other incidents, including a prank during a medical conference, he is dismissed from the school, although he is later reinstated.
Adams develops a relationship with a fellow student, Corinne Fisher (played by Monica Potter), and develops his idea for a medical clinic built around his philosophy of doctor-patient interaction. With the help of Arthur Mendelson (Harold Gould), whom Patch met while in the mental home, he purchases 105 acres (425,000 m²) in West Virginia to construct the future Gesundheit Institute. Together with Corinne, Truman Schiff (another medical student, played by Daniel London), and some old friends, he renovates an old cottage. When they get the clinic running, they treat walk-in patients without medical insurance, Patch commonly doing minor comedy sketches such as wearing thick glasses and pretending to be short-sighted. Corinne is fascinated by Patch's talent and their friendship turns into deep love. More encouraged than ever by Patch and his spirit, Corinne wants to help a psychologically disturbed patient named Larry by visiting him at home. Larry turns out to be far more disturbed than anybody had expected, and he murders her, turning the shotgun on himself soon after.
Patch is devastated by Corinne's death, reconsiders his outlook, and questions the goodness of humanity. However, he is able to recover and carry on his work.
Dismissed from the school for a second time because he ran a clinic and practiced medicine without a license, he files a grievance with the state medical board at the advice of Mitch Roman (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and must attend a hearing where it is decided whether he can graduate. Patch is able to convince the jury in a final speech that he did his best to help the people that came to him, stating that treating a disease of the body is a win-or-lose situation, but treating a person's spirit guarantees a win regardless of the outcome, even when it is death. He encourages medical students to cultivate relationships with nurses and learn their interviewing skills early, and argues that death should be treated with dignity and even humor. In the end the jury accepts Patch's medical methods and does not prevent him from graduating. He receives a standing ovation from the packed hearing room.
Even at graduation, Patch cannot help but be a non-conformist. After he was handed his diploma, the man responsible for his expulsion states, "Well, I see you've finally decided to conform". Patch responds "more than you know", and bows to the professors, revealing his nude bottom under his gown. He then turns to the audience and bows to them, much to the dismay of the professors.
[edit] Production notes
The film was shot in three locations: Treasure Island, California (near San Francisco), Asheville (North Carolina) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A diner in Point Richmond, (a district in Richmond, California) served as the University Diner. (This diner was also used in Mel Gibson's movie Forever Young.) Several interior classroom scenes were filmed on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley.
The producers worked very closely with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. For this reason, all but two of the ill children acting in this film actually have cancer.[citation needed]
[edit] Box office performance
The film was released December 25, 1998 in the United States and Canada and grossed $25.2 million in 2,712 theaters its opening weekend, ranking #1 at the box office. After its first weekend, it was the #2 film for 4 weeks.[1]
The film grossed US$202,292,902 worldwide — $135,026,902 in the United States and Canada and $67,266,000 in other territories.[2]
[edit] Poem
Throughout the movie Patch recites Pablo Neruda's Sonnet XVII to Corinne. He finishes the last two stanzas at her gravesite.
[edit] References in film and television
- A poster for the film is on the wall of a young teenager character's room in About a Boy.
- In episode 407 ("Ugly") of the TV series House, House sarcastically says that the reason he became a doctor was due to the film Patch Adams.
[edit] References
- ^ Patch Adams (1998) - Weekend Box Office Results. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
- ^ Patch Adams (1998). Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on 2008-02-09.
[edit] External links
- Official Movie site
- Patch Adams at the Internet Movie Database
- The Real Patch Adams Official Web Site
- COPATCH- Brazilian group that organizes Patch's trips to Brazil
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