The World According to Garp (1982)
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A man navigates a life of literary success and family turmoil while grappling with his mother's radical feminist legacy.
The story
T.S. Garp is the out-of-wedlock son of Jenny Fields, a feminist who became pregnant after a traumatic encounter with a brain-damaged soldier during World War II. Garp grows up with a passion for wrestling and fiction writing, eventually marrying Helen Holm, the daughter of his school's wrestling coach. As Garp establishes himself as a successful novelist, his mother becomes a feminist icon following the publication of her book on human sexuality. The story follows Garp's life as he balances his career, his devotion to his children, and his complex relationship with his mother's public persona and private actions.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
T.S. Garp is born to Jenny Fields, who conceived him after a wartime encounter with a soldier named Garp. Garp grows up to be a writer and wrestling enthusiast. He marries Helen Holm, and they have two sons, Duncan and Walt. Jenny becomes a feminist icon after her book 'Sexual Suspect' becomes a sensation. Garp eventually writes a successful book about the tragic life of Ellen James, a girl who was raped and had her tongue cut out. This book draws criticism from 'Ellen Jamesians,' a group of women who voluntarily cut out their tongues in solidarity. After a tragic car accident kills Garp's son Walt and leaves Duncan injured, Garp and Helen reconcile. Jenny is later killed by an anti-feminist fanatic. Garp infiltrates a memorial for her, where he meets the real Ellen James. The film ends with Garp being shot by a jealous Jamesian while acting as a wrestling coach, imagining he is finally flying.
- First release year
- 1982
- Runtime (minutes)
- 136
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- George Roy Hill
- Writers
- Steve Tesich · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Robin Williams · T.S. Garp; Mary Beth Hurt · Helen Holm; Glenn Close · Jenny Fields; John Lithgow · Roberta Muldoon; James "J.B." McCall · young T.S. Garp; Thomas Peter Daikos · baby T.S. Garp; Hume Cronyn · Mr. Fields; Jessica Tandy · Mrs. Fields
- Genres
- comedy; drama
- Themes
- mother-son relationships; feminism; adultery; rape; literary life
- Tone and mood
- absurdist humor; satire; melodrama
- Premise and plot tags
- romantic comedy-drama; LGBTQ-related; trans women-related
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1978 novel by John Irving
- Content notes
- rape
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, with a weighted average of 63 on Metacritic and a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews were mixed, with some praising the acting and visualization while others found it 'cruel' or lacking a 'feeling of truth'.
- Awards and nominations
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role · Academy Awards · 55th · nominated; Best Actress in a Supporting Role · Academy Awards · 55th · nominated
- Production trivia
- The film was based on a novel by John Irving.; Glenn Close made her film debut in this movie.; The character of Roberta Muldoon was a point of contention between the director and the author.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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