The Chocolate War (film)
| The Chocolate War | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Keith Gordon |
| Produced by | Jonathan D. Krane Uncredited: Saul Zaentz |
| Written by | Keith Gordon |
| Based on |
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Tom Richmond |
| Edited by | Jeff Wishengrad |
| Distributed by | MCEG Sterling (theatrical), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (2007, DVD) |
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Release date
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November 18, 1988 |
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Running time
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104 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $500,000 |
| Box office | $303,624 |
The Chocolate War is a 1988 American drama film written and directed by Keith Gordon. It is based on Robert Cormier's novel of the same name, about a young man who rebels against the ingrained hierarchy of an elite Catholic school. It was Gordon's directorial debut, and stars John Glover, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Wallace Langham and Doug Hutchison. Jonathan D. Krane produced it after seeing Static, a short film Gordon wrote.
The film offers a portrait of the hierarchical structure, both formal and informal, of a Catholic boys' school. New student Jerry Renault (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) must submit to the bizarre rituals of his peers and the expectations of the school's administration by selling chocolates as a fundraiser. A secret student society, The Vigils, assigns Jerry the task of refusing to sell chocolates, drawing the ire of the school's interim headmaster, Brother Leon (John Glover). However, after Jerry's assignment is over, he continues to refuse, resulting in torment, bullying, and alienation from his peers.
While the film generally adheres to the plot of the novel, the ending of the film contains significant changes that diverge from the novel's plot and themes. These changes have commonly been seen as negative, and have been strongly criticized for compromising the messages of the novel and attempting to force a more uplifting "Hollywood ending" to the story.
On a $500,000 budget, The Chocolate War grossed a mere $303,624, and is considered a box office flop.
The film received positive reviews from critics, and currently has a score of 82 on Rotten Tomatoes based on 11 reviews with an average rating of 6.9/10."
The film was released on DVD on April 17, 2007. The special features consist of:
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