The Whole Wide World

"Based on a true story."

1996 1h 46m EN

👍

6.7

SOLID

★6.7TMDB · 52

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In 1930s Texas, pulp fiction master Robert E. Howard is introduced to Novalyne Price, a teacher with aspirations of becoming an author herself, and they begin a unique relationship filled with conversation and imagination. Although the possibility exists for romance, Howard's obsession with his work and dedication to his sick mother leads Price to look elsewhere for love, leaving Howard feeling betrayed and alone.

“Based on a true story.”

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Cast

Vincent D'Onofrio
Robert E. Howard
Renée Zellweger
Novalyne Price
Ann Wedgeworth
Mrs. Howard
Harve Presnell
Dr. Howard
Benjamin Mouton
Clyde Smith
Helen Cates
Enid
Leslie Buesing
Ethel
Chris Shearer
Truett

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Dan Ireland
Writers: Michael Scott Myers
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $1.3M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

30 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Dan Ireland, shot by Claudio Rocha. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Harry Gregson-Williams. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Luis Colina shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Vincent D'Onofrio and Renée Zellweger and Ann Wedgeworth carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Based on a true story.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0118163 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Dan Ireland directs. Claudio Rocha behind the camera. Harry Gregson-Williams scores. Luis Colina cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $1.3M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
230 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Dan Ireland, shot by Claudio Rocha. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Harry Gregson-Williams. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Luis Colina shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Vincent D'Onofrio and Renée Zellweger and Ann Wedgeworth carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Based on a true story.".
8IMDB entry: tt0118163 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 52 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Claudio Rocha
Original score: Harry Gregson-Williams
Editing: Luis Colina
Production design: John Frick
Costume design: Gail McMullen
Makeup / hair: Tammy Lema
Runtime: 106 min · 1h 46m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $1,300,000
Original language: EN
IMDB: The Whole Wide World (1996)

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Dan Ireland

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2018-09-12
★ 8/10
Dating Conan the Barbarian’s creator in the heart of Texas in 1934-1936 Released in 1996, the movie focuses on budding writer Novalyne Price Ellis (Renée Zellweger) and her experiences with famous pulp writer, Robert E. Howard (Vincent D'Onofrio), creator of Conan the barbarian and other characters, like Kull, Solomon Kane and Red Sonya. The events take place in central Texas (Cross Plains and Brownwood) during the last two years of Howard’s life, 1934-1936, and are based on Novalyne’s memoirs “One Who Walked Alone” and “Day of the Stranger: Further Memories of Robert E. Howard.” Ann Wedgeworth is on hand as Robert’s sickly mother. Howard’s great imagination and expertise with words made him “the greatest pulp fiction writer in the whole wide world,” as he was known. Unfortunately he died way too young at the age of 30 but, thankfully, he was prolific and so we have a lot of material by him to enjoy. It has always been a mystery to me why this talented man died the way he did, but this film gives life to REH’s last two years and helps the viewer understand what happened. This is a true-life drama with elements of romance consisting of the simple way of life of a writer, his parents and friends in the plains of central Texas in the mid-30s. Most of the sequences take place at the quaint Howard abode, the theater in Brownwood, the school where Novalyne taught and, mostly, Robert & Novalyne driving the desolate landscapes or walking and talking, sometimes in conflict. In other words, this is a simple drama. The potency comes with the subject matter, Robert E. Howard. I found the drama gripping as insights emerge in the dialogues and other sequences. The film runs 1 hour, 51 minutes and was shot in the heart of Texas (Austin, Bartlett, Bastrop and Rockne). GRADE: A-