The Whole Wide World

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The Whole Wide World
DVD cover
Directed byDan Ireland
Written byMichael Scott Myers
Based onOne Who Walked Alone
by Novalyne Price Ellis
Produced byCarl Colpaert
Dan Ireland
Vincent D'Onofrio
Kevin Reidy
Starring
CinematographyClaudio Rocha
Edited byLuis Colina
Music byHarry Gregson-Williams
Hans Zimmer
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release dates
  • January 1996 (1996-01) (Sundance)
  • September 8, 1996 (1996-09-08) (Toronto)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.35 million[1]
Box office$375,757[2]

The Whole Wide World is a 1996 American independent biographical film produced and directed by Dan Ireland in his directorial debut. It depicts the relationship between pulp fiction writer Robert E. Howard (Vincent D'Onofrio) and schoolteacher Novalyne Price Ellis (Renée Zellweger).

The film was adapted by Michael Scott Myers from Ellis's memoir One Who Walked Alone.

Premise[edit]

In 1933 Texas school teacher and aspiring writer Novalyne Price is introduced by friends to pulp fiction writer Robert E. Howard. A relationship soon develops between the two but it is doomed by personality conflicts and life events, such as the terminal illness of Howard's mother.

Cast[edit]

Cast notes
  • Olivia d'Abo was intended for the role of Novalyne Price but was pregnant when shooting began.[3]

Soundtrack[edit]

Original music was provided by Harry Gregson-Williams and his mentor Hans Zimmer. This was their first collaboration as mentor and protégé.

Legacy[edit]

When auditioning for the film Jerry Maguire, Zellweger met director Cameron Crowe several times but had trouble convincing him that she could play "a 20-something woman" rather than a girl. This was solved by Zellweger's agent sending Crowe a tape of The Whole Wide World.[4]

Awards and honors[edit]

Nominated
Won
  • American Independent Special Jury Prize at the 1996 Seattle International Film Festival
  • Best Actor for Vincent D'Onofrio (Golden Space Needle Award) at the 1996 Seattle International Film Festival
  • Best Actress for Renée Zellweger at the 1996 Mar del Plata Film Festival
  • Best Actor for Vincent D'Onofrio at the 1998 Lone Star Film & Television Awards
  • Best Screenplay for Michael Scott Myers at the 1998 Lone Star Film & Television Awards
  • Best Cinematography for Claudio Rocha at the 1996 Ft Lauderdale International Film Festival

References[edit]

  1. ^ Van Hise, James (January 1997). "Whole Wide World". Cinefantastique. Fourth Castle Micromedia. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  2. ^ Box Office Mojo
  3. ^ Reelviews, retrieved 11 July 2007
  4. ^ Beale, Lewis (December 10, 1996). "Don't Walk Away, Renee Everybody Is Chasing Zellweger, But Hot New Actress Isn't Sure Why". Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  5. ^ Film Independent Spirit Awards (1997) - IMDb
  6. ^ 12th annual Spirit Awards ceremony - FULL SHOW | 1997 | Film Independent on YouTube

External links[edit]