The Green Mile (1999)
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A death row correctional officer during the Great Depression witnesses supernatural events following the arrival of an enigmatic convict.
The story
In 1935, corrections officer Paul Edgecomb oversees "The Green Mile", the death row section of Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Alongside his fellow officers, he manages several prisoners, including the violent William "Wild Bill" Wharton and John Coffey, a hulking yet gentle man convicted of a brutal crime. While the guards are tasked with maintaining order and preparing for executions, Paul begins to grow suspicious of John's guilt. The atmosphere of the prison is heavy with the weight of impending death, but the arrival of John brings an unexpected element of mystery and supernatural occurrences that challenge the officers' perceptions of reality and justice.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1935, Paul Edgecomb and his fellow guards manage the death row section of Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Among the prisoners is John Coffey, a man who possesses miraculous healing abilities. After John heals a mouse and a terminally ill woman, the guards realize his power. When a man named Percy tries to sabotage an execution, the truth about the crimes John was accused of is revealed: a different man, William Wharton, was the true culprit. Despite knowing John's innocence, Paul cannot stop the execution. John chooses to die rather than endure the pain of his powers. In 1999, an elderly Paul recounts the story to his friend, noting that he lived to see the miracle of a mouse's life being extended.
- First release year
- 1999
- Runtime (minutes)
- 189
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Frank Darabont
- Writers
- Frank Darabont · written
- Cast and characters
- Tom Hanks · Paul Edgecomb; Michael Clarke Duncan · John Coffey; David Morse · not specified; Bonnie Hunt · not specified; James Cromwell · not specified; Michael Jeter · not specified; Graham Greene · not specified; Doug Hutchison · not specified; Sam Rockwell · not specified; Barry Pepper · not specified; Jeffrey DeMunn · not specified; Patricia Clarkson · not specified
- Genres
- fantasy; drama
- Themes
- supernatural; justice; humanity
- Tone and mood
- emotional; somber
- Setting
- Cold Mountain Penitentiary, 1935
- Premise and plot tags
- prison; capital punishment; supernatural
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1996 novel by Stephen King
- Content notes
- horror
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics who praised the direction, writing, and performances, though its length was noted as a point of criticism. It was a commercial success.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 78% · review count: 134; Metacritic · score: 61 · scale: 100 · review count: 36; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Picture · nomination; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · nomination; Academy Award · Best Sound · nomination; Academy Award · Best Adapted Screenplay · nomination
- Production trivia
- The title refers to the green floor in the hallway where inmates walk before execution.; The film was shot in multiple locations including Tennessee and North Carolina.; The electric chair was a bespoke design inspired by real prisons.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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