Far and Away (1992)

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers (WGA):

Bob Dolman (story) &
Ron Howard (story) ...

Release Date:

22 May 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance | Western

Tagline:

They needed a country that was big enough for both of their dreams.

Plot:

A young man (Cruise) leaves Ireland with his landlord's daughter (Kidman) after some trouble with her father...

Plot Keywords:

Ireland | Oklahoma | Train | Boxing | Historical

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Tom Cruise	...	Joseph Donnelly
Nicole Kidman	...	Shannon Christie
Thomas Gibson	...	Stephen Chase
Robert Prosky	...	Daniel Christie
Barbara Babcock	...	Nora Christie
Cyril Cusack	...	Danty Duff
Eileen Pollock	...	Molly Kay
Colm Meaney	...	Kelly
Douglas Gillison	...	Dermody
Michelle Johnson	...	Grace
Wayne Grace	...	Bourke
Niall Toibin	...	Joe
Barry McGovern	...	McGuire
Gary Lee Davis	...	Gordon
Jared Harris	...	Paddy

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence and sensuality.

Runtime:

140 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | UK:12 (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Chile:TE | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:12 | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios - Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

Imagine Films Entertainment

Trivia:

Although he had over 17 years of experience in the business in 1992, this film marked the first time that dialect coach Tim Monich had to teach his cast to speak in an Irish accent. Technically, Nicole Kidman's accent is incorrect. As a well-to-do landowner's daughter in Ireland at the time, she would have spoken with a largely English accent, but, as this probably would have confused international audiences, she was taught to speak in an educated Dublin accent.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Joseph brings Shannon to her family after she gets shot, she is seen lying on the couch facing left. The next time we see her, she is facing right.

Quotes:

Coniff: I think the prettiest girl in this factory, the one with the prettiest eyes, and the prettiest red hair, is Joseph's sister - if you don't mind me saying so Joseph.
Joseph Donnelly: Well, ya can say what you like lad. But I warn ya, that redhead has a bite that stings.
Flynn: [to Shannon] Get to work!
Shannon Christie: Get your filthy hands off me you ugly animal!
Flynn: That'll cost you a day's wage. Go ahead. Insult me again.
[spits]
Shannon Christie: [weakly] Pig.
[women laugh]
Flynn: There goes tomorrow. Done?
Shannon Christie: [looks over to Joseph, who jestures "No! Work!", returns to work, but spins around] Take Friday as well, you spineless little fraction of a man.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "At the Movies: Summer Special 2008/09" (2008)

Soundtrack:

BOOK OF DAYS

Who will deny Ron Howard his due?

Tom Cruise may have the "worst-looking" Irish accent on the face of the planet, but it is undeniable that he and Nicole Kidman are sizzling on the silver screen together. Their intensity shines as well as their artistic ability to envelop a character and relate their thoughts to a viewer. Besides their very well done performance, the film is absolutely beautiful. Kudos to the set and costume designers that spent long hours on Far and Away. But he real story in this film is Ron Howard. It is simply a asthetic masterpiece. I spent most of my time wishing that he had just set his camera up on the prairie and filmed the grass growing. It was truly beautiful. Incidentally, sometimes one scene just makes a film. Brings it up from a good film into near 'masterpiece' status. This is one of those films. The music (the best soundtrack of the year thanks to Horner) combined with Ron Howard's vision made the "land race" scene of Far and Away and classic within itself. Put this scene up there with the chariot race in Ben Hur and the parting of the Red Sea in The Ten Commmandments, it is just that good. This is, far and away, one of the best films of the year.