Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael

"She doesn't want much. Just a whole new life."

1990 1h 35m EN

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 110

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Movie star Roxy Carmichael is abandoning the bright lights of Hollywood, Calif. and returning to her small Ohio hometown -- at least long enough to dedicate a city building. And now the whole town of Clyde is bracing for Carmichael's return, most of all her now-married old flame Denton Webb and troubled teen Dinky Bossetti. An orphan with few friends, Dinky is convinced that Carmichael is her birth mother, and that the actress will reclaim her when she returns.

“She doesn't want much. Just a whole new life.”

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Cast

Winona Ryder
Dinky Bossetti
Jeff Daniels
Denton Webb
Stephen Tobolowsky
Mayor Bill Klepler
Dinah Manoff
Evelyn Whittacher
Laila Robins
Elizabeth Zaks
Thomas Wilson Brown
Gerald Howells
Joan McMurtrey
Barbara Webb
Graham Beckel
Les Bossetti

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jim Abrahams
Writers: Karen Leigh Hopkins
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, 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

Earned back only 31% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jim Abrahams, shot by Paul Elliott. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Thomas Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Winona Ryder and Jeff Daniels and Stephen Tobolowsky carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "She doesn't want much. Just a whole new life.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jim Abrahams directs. Paul Elliott behind the camera. Thomas Newman scores. Bruce Green cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 31% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
236 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
4Directed by Jim Abrahams, shot by Paul Elliott. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Thomas Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Bruce Green shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Winona Ryder and Jeff Daniels and Stephen Tobolowsky carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "She doesn't want much. Just a whole new life.".
9IMDB entry: tt0100911 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 17 themes, including "high school", "small town", "adoption", "satire".
11Released under 13 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Paul Elliott
Original score: Thomas Newman
Editing: Bruce Green
Production design: Dena Roth
Costume design: Betsy Heimann
Makeup / hair: Julie Hewett
Sound: Mel Metcalfe
Stunt coordinator: Ernie F. Orsatti
Runtime: 95 min · 1h 35m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $13,000,000
Box office: $3,989,297
Return: 31% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990)

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Jim Abrahams

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What people are saying

Wuchak2024-03-09
★ 6/10
Teenage Winona Ryder as a misfit coming-of-age in northwest Ohio A celebrity from a small town in the Sandusky Bay region is finally returning home for a visit and members of the town react in different ways. A nonconformist teen (Ryder) has suspicions about the ‘star’ while developing a relationship with the school’s guidance counselor (Laila Robins) and pestering a man who has a history with Roxy (Jeff Daniels). "Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael" (1990) is sometimes listed as a comedy, but it’s not; it’s a coming-of-age drama with satirical bits and occasional amusement. It’s not about the title character but about how that person’s ‘success’ and fame affect the locals who knew her or knew about her, not to mention those who appreciate her simply for putting their town on the map. This happened in real life with Dave Grohl, who returned to his birthplace, Warren, Ohio, in 2009, wherein he was given the key to the city at the celebration and an alley was named after him. The difference is that Grohl was only 3 years-old when his family left Warren whereas Roxy Carmichael was about 18. What I like is that the flick captures the mundane existence of people in small town America, trying to find meaning and fulfillment, and not just teens, but adults too. For instance, did you ever have a solitary place where you went regularly as a kid that only you knew about and valued? That’s in this movie. Some bits are comical and some aren’t, but they’re all relevant to real-life: Trying to fit-in at school, being bullied, finding a surrogate mother or father (a mentor), romance, sex in the workplace, getting caught, shameful social secrets, delusional wishful thinking, and more. The first half is too low-key and uneventful, but the movie finds its footing and delivers a worthwhile viewing experience despite foregone conclusions. I’m speaking as someone who was never smitten with Winona, who happened to be 18 years-old during shooting (in other words, fans of hers might appreciate this more than me). Redhead Frances Fisher was at the height of her physical beauty at 37 while another redhead, Dinah Manoff, is worth a mention as Evelyn. The movie runs 1 hour, 35 minutes, and was shot in the Sandusky Bay area of northwest Ohio, including the town of Clyde. GRADE: B-

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