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This Boy's Life (1993)

15 115 min  -  Biography | Drama  -   9 April 1993 (USA)
7.2
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Ratings: 7.2/10 from 17,406 users   Metascore: 60/100 
Reviews: 73 user | 29 critic | 16 from Metacritic.com

The story about the relationship between a rebellious 50s teenager and his abusive father, based on the memoirs of writer and literature professor Tobias Wolff.

Writers:

Tobias Wolff (book), Robert Getchell (screenplay)
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This Boy's Life -- The story about the relationship between a rebellious 50s teenager and his abusive father, based on the memoirs of writer and literature professor Tobias Wolff. This Boy's Life -- The story about the relationship between a rebellious 50s teenager and his abusive father, based on the memoirs of writer and literature professor Tobias Wolff.
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro ...
Ellen Barkin ...
Leonardo DiCaprio ...
Jonah Blechman ...
Arthur Gayle
Eliza Dushku ...
Pearl
Chris Cooper ...
Roy
Carla Gugino ...
Norma
Zachary Ansley Zachary Ansley ...
Skipper (as Zack Ansley)
Tracey Ellis Tracey Ellis ...
Kathy
Kathy Kinney ...
Marian
Robert Zameroski Robert Zameroski ...
Arch Cook (as Bobby Zameroski)
Tobey Maguire ...
Chuck Bolger
Tristan Tait Tristan Tait ...
Jerry Huff
Travis MacDonald Travis MacDonald ...
Psycho
Richard Liss Richard Liss ...
A&P Manager
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Storyline

In 1957, a son and mother flee the East and an abusive boyfriend to find a new life, and end up in Seattle, where the mother meets a polite garage mechanic. The boy continually gets into trouble by hanging out with the wrong crowd. The mom marries the mechanic, but they soon find out that he's an abusive and unreasoning alcoholic, and they struggle to maintain hope in an impossible situation as the boy grows up with plans to escape the small town by any means possible. Based on a true story by Tobias Wolff. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

A true story based on the award-winning book by Tobias Wolff. See more »

Genres:

Biography | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and sexuality See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

A Vida Deste Rapaz See more »

Box Office

Gross:

$4,104,962 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Dwight's family actually lived in Concrete, in the far north of Washington state. In the film, the nearest school is in the town of Chinook. In reality, the nearest school to Concrete in the 1950s was in the town of Sedro-Woolley. Chinook is in the far south of the state. See more »

Goofs

Continuity: Speedometer on car reads the same when Dwight Hansen drives erratically to scare Tobias and then later on when Tobias takes Dwight's car for a joy ride; also the speedometer says speeds of 70 mph plus yet the odometer never moves. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Tobias 'Toby' Wolff: It was 1957. We were driving from Florida to Utah. After my mother was beaten up by her boyfriend, we got in the Nash and high-tailed it for the uranium fields. We were gonna get rich and change our luck, which hadn't been so hot since our family broke up five years back.
See more »

Connections

References The Searchers (1956) See more »

Soundtracks

"Blue Monday"
Written by David Bartholomew
Performed by Fats Domino See more »