Mr. Holland’s Opus

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Richard Dreyfuss as Glenn Holland, a composer who becomes a music teacher at John F. Kennedy High School.
• Glenne Headly as Iris Holland, Glenn’s wife.
• Jay Thomas as Bill Meister, the gym teacher and coach of John F. Kennedy High School’s football & wrestling teams who befriends Glenn.
• Olympia Dukakis as Principal Helen Jacobs, the principal of John F. Kennedy High School, who retires in 1972.
• William H. Macy as Vice Principal Gene Wolters, the vice-principal of John F. Kennedy High School who later became principal in 1972.
• Jean Louisa Kelly as Rowena Morgan, a talented singer who seeks to embark on a showbiz career.
• Joanna Gleason as Gertrude Lang, an aspiring clarinet player who eventually becomes the Governor of Oregon.
• Alicia Witt as younger Gertrude Lang
• Damon Whitaker as Bobby Tidd, one of Glenn’s students.
• Forest Whitaker as adult Bobby Tidd (uncredited)
• Terrence Howard as Louis Russ, a football player and wrestler who becomes a bass drum player in the marching band. After graduation, he serves in the Armed Forces, presumably in the Army, presumably in the Infantry, sent to South Vietnam, where he is Killed in Action.
• Alexandra Boyd as Sarah Olmstead, a drama teacher.
• Anthony Natale as Coltrane “Cole” Holland (age 28), Glenn and Iris’s son, who is 90% deaf.
  • Joseph Anderson as Coltrane “Cole” Holland (age 15)
  • Nicholas John Renner as Coltrane “Cole” Holland (age 6)
• Beth Maitland as Deaf School Principal, the principal of a deaf school that Cole is enrolled in.

Storyline:

Glenn Holland is a musician and composer who takes a teaching job to pay the rent while, in his ‘spare time’, he can strive to achieve his true goal – compose one memorable piece of music to leave his mark on the world. As Holland discovers ‘Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans’ and as the years unfold the joy of sharing his contagious passion for music with his students becomes his new definition of success.

About Movie:

Mr. Holland’s Opus is an American drama film directed by Stephen Herek and written by Patrick Sheane Duncan. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss as Glenn Holland, a dedicated high school music teacher who aspires to compose his own music while balancing the challenges of his job, his family life, and raising a profoundly deaf son. The cast also includes Glenne Headly, Olympia Dukakis, William H. Macy, and Jay Thomas.

Production Background

The film highlights Holland’s personal and professional struggles as he navigates the complexities of teaching music and dealing with the realities of life. It portrays the impact of education on both students and teachers, emphasizing the importance of music in personal development.

Reception and Awards

Mr. Holland’s Opus received critical acclaim, particularly for Dreyfuss’s performance, which earned him nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama and the Academy Award for Best Actor. The film was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay in 1995.

Legacy

The film has been praised for its emotional depth and its portrayal of the challenges faced by educators. It remains a beloved classic that resonates with audiences for its themes of perseverance, passion, and the transformative power of music.

Budget & Box Office Collection: