Awakenings

Awakenings

Awakenings is a 1990 American drama film based on Oliver Sacks's 1973 memoir Awakenings. It tells the true story of British neurologist Oliver Sacks, fictionalized as American Malcolm Sayer and portrayed by Robin Williams who, in 1969, discovers beneficial effects of the then-new drug L-Dopa. He administered it to catatonic patients who survived the 1917–28 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica. Leonard Lowe and the rest of the patients were awakened after decades of catatonia and have to deal with a new life in a new time. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards. Directed by...
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quick facts
Release date:December 12, 1990
Directed by:Penny Marshall
Rated:PG-13 (USA)
Runtime:121 Minutes
Producer:Walter F. Parkes, Lawrence Lasker
Editor:Gerald B. Greenberg, Battle Davis
Music by:Randy Newman
Cinematography:Miroslav Ondříček
Screenplay by:Steven Zaillian
Adapted from:Awakenings

Award-winners from Awakenings

Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Character:Dr. Malcolm Sayer
Born:July 21, 1951
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Character:Leonard Lowe
Born:August 17, 1943

Cast of Awakenings

Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow
Dr. Peter Ingham
Born:April 10, 1929
Age:83
John Heard
John Heard
Dr. Kaufman
Born:March 7, 1945
Age:67
Penelope Ann Miller
Penelope Ann Miller
Paula
Born:January 13, 1964
Age:48
Bradley Whitford
Bradley Whitford
Dr. Tyler
Born:October 10, 1959
Age:52
Julie Kavner
Julie Kavner
Eleanor Costello
Born:September 7, 1950
Age:61
Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel
Hospital Orderly
Born:July 18, 1967
Age:44

Honors and Awards

YearAward Won
1990 National Board of Review Award for Best Actor, Robert De Niro
1990 National Board of Review Award for Best Actor, Robin Williams
1990 New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor, Robert De Niro
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YearAward Nomination
1990 Academy Award for Best Picture, Lawrence Lasker
1990 Academy Award for Actor in a Leading Role, Robert De Niro
1990 Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay, Steven Zaillian
1991 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Drama Film, Robin Williams
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Film director of Awakenings

Penny Marshall
Penny Marshall
Born: October 15, 1943
Age: 68

Penny Marshall is an American actress, producer and director. After playing several small roles for television, she was cast as Laverne DeFazio in the sitcom Laverne and Shirley. A ratings success, the show ran from 1976 until 1983, during which Marshall was nominated for a Golden Globe award for...
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TitleReleasedRatedGenre
Women Without Men 2010
Riding in Cars with Boys 2001 PG-13 (USA) Comedy
The Preacher's Wife 1996 PG (USA) Fantasy
Renaissance Man 1994 PG-13 (USA) Comedy
A League of Their Own 1992 PG (USA) Comedy
Awakenings 1990 PG-13 (USA)
Big 1988 PG (USA) Comedy
Jumpin' Jack Flash 1986 R (USA) Thriller
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Music contributors for Awakenings

Randy Newman
Randy Newman

Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film...
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Filming locations for Awakenings

City Island
City Island

City Island is a small island approximately 1.5 mi long by .5 mi wide. At one time attached to the town of Pelham, Westchester County, it is now part of the New York City borough of the Bronx. As of the 2010 census the island had a population of 4,362. Its land area is...
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New York City
New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
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Awakenings
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