Cocoon (film)

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Cocoon
Cocoonposter.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Ron Howard
Produced by David Brown
Richard Zanuck
Screenplay by Tom Benedek
Based on Cocoon 
by David Saperstein
Starring Don Ameche
Wilford Brimley
Hume Cronyn
Brian Dennehy
Jack Gilford
Steve Guttenberg
Maureen Stapleton
Jessica Tandy
Gwen Verdon
Herta Ware
Tahnee Welch
Music by James Horner
Cinematography Donald Peterman[1]
Editing by Daniel P. Hanley
Mike Hill
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s)
  • June 21, 1985 (1985-06-21)
Running time 117 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $17.5 million[2]
Box office $85,313,124[3]

Cocoon is a 1985 science fiction film directed by Ron Howard about a group of elderly people rejuvenated by aliens.[4][5] The movie stars Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Brian Dennehy, Jack Gilford, Steve Guttenberg, Maureen Stapleton, Jessica Tandy, Gwen Verdon, Herta Ware, Tahnee Welch, and Linda Harrison. The film is loosely based on the novel by David Saperstein.

The movie was filmed in and around St. Petersburg, Florida: locations included the St Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, Sunny Shores Rest Home, The Coliseum, and Snell Arcade buildings. The film earned two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor (Don Ameche) and for Best Visual Effects.

It spawned one sequel, Cocoon: The Return, in which almost all of the original cast reprised their roles.[6]

Contents

Plot [edit]

About 10,000 years ago a group of peaceful alien lifeforms from the planet Antarea formed an outpost on the planet Earth, on an island known to mankind as the mythical civilization of Atlantis; according to legend, Atlantis sank as the result of an earthquake. Twenty members of the group remained behind in cocoons, to ensure that the rest had sufficient lifeforce to return to their home planet. Eventually a group of four Antareans returns to pick them up. After disguising themselves as humans they rent a house with a swimming pool, which they charge with lifeforce, to give the cocooned Antareans enough energy to survive the trip home. They then charter a boat from a local captain named Jack (Steve Guttenberg), who unknowingly takes them to the location of Atlantis to retrieve the cocoons.

Ben (Wilford Brimley), Arthur (Don Ameche) and Joe (Hume Cronyn), three local residents from a retirement home, go to swim in the pool secretly and take in some of the life force, which causes them to feel younger, stronger, and happier again. They are caught, but are eventually given permission to use the pool by the Antarean leader, Walter (Brian Dennehy). Bernie (Jack Gilford), one of the other elderly people from the home well known for his extreme pessimism and who also knows of the nature of the aliens, obstinately refuses to use the healing power that he and his dying spouse need, believing it to be unnatural to extend or interfere with human life in this manner. One night during dinner at the retirement home, he carelessly reveals the secret of the pool's rejuvenating power during a loud confrontation with his "pool" friends. Angry, Joe tries to attack Bernie, but two orderlies intervene; although weakened by cancer before his dip in the pool, Joe is easily able to fight them off. His display of strength and youth encourages the other elderly residents to rush off, break into the Antareans' property, and barge into the pool. Infuriated, Walter ejects the retirement-home residents, but as too many have been in the pool simultaneously its life force has been drained.

Bernie's wife dies that night and he takes her to the pool, tenderly splashing water over her face in an attempt to revive her, but Walter explains that the power of the pool is gone and that there is nothing he can do to bring Bernie's wife back to life. Walter then explains to the others that none of the cocoons can now survive the trip back to Antarea, but will be able to survive on Earth. With the help of Ben, Arthur and Joe, the Antareans return the cocoons to the ruins of Atlantis, planning to attempt a second rescue in another 10,000 years time. Unable to take the cocoons with them to their home planet, the Antareans offer the space aboard their ship to the old people. Bernie chooses to live out his natural life on Earth, but most of the others accept the invitation to travel to a world where they will never be ill, never age, and never die.

Cast [edit]

Casting for the film and its sequel were overseen by casting director Beverly McDermott.[7]

Soundtrack [edit]

Cocoon
Film score by James Horner
Released 1985
September 1997
Recorded 1985
Genre Soundtrack
Length 44:23
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Filmtracks 4/5 stars[8]

The score for Cocoon was composed and conducted by James Horner. The soundtrack was released twice, through Polydor Records in 1985 and a reprint through P.E.G. in 1997 and features eleven tracks of score and a vocal track performed by Michael Sembello. Despite the reprint, it is still considered a rarity among soundtrack collectors.[9]

  1. "Through the Window" (2:54)
  2. "The Lovemaking" (4:21)
  3. "The Chase" (4:27)
  4. "Rose's Death" (2:10)
  5. "The Boys are Out" (2:35)
  6. "Returning to Sea" (4:13)
  7. "Gravity" (4:52) - written and performed by Michael Sembello
  8. "Discovered in the Poolhouse" (2:45)
  9. "First Tears" (1:49)
  10. "Sad Goodbyes" (2:22)
  11. "The Ascension" (5:55)
  12. "Theme from Cocoon" (6:03)

James Horner would return in 1988 to compose the score for Cocoon: The Return.

Howard directed the music video for "Gravity," and also has a cameo appearance as himself, investigating Michael Sembello's "disappearance." "Gravity" was Howard's first, and to date, only music video.[citation needed]

Reception [edit]

The film received mostly positive critical reception.[10][11][12] It holds a 79% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[13]

Awards [edit]

Academy Awards

Saturn Awards

American Film Institute Lists

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Perry Moore, 'Narnia' series executive producer, dies at 39; Don Peterman, Oscar-nominated cinematographer, dies at 79; Nancy Carr, network TV publicist, dies at 50". Los Angeles Times. 2011-02-22. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  2. ^ "Cocoon' Is 50th Film For Gentleman Star". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  3. ^ "Cocoon (1985)". Box Office Mojo. 1985-09-29. Retrieved 2011-10-19. 
  4. ^ "Hot Howard Actor-turned-director Makes Another Splash With `Cocoon`". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  5. ^ Friendly, David T. (1985-06-12). "Back In Splash Of Things With Cocoon". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  6. ^ Broeske, Pat H. (1988-11-27). "Cocoon & Its Sequels". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  7. ^ Jicha, Tom (2012-01-20). "Beverly McDermott, top casting director and Hollywood resident, dies". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-01-22. 
  8. ^ "Filmtracks". Filmtracks. 1997-09-10. Retrieved 2011-10-19. 
  9. ^ Cocoon soundtrack review at Filmtracks.com
  10. ^ "Cocoon' A Good-time, Summertime Movie Movie Review". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  11. ^ Maslin, Janet (1985-06-21). "Screen: 'cocoon' opens". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  12. ^ "Cocoon". Variety. 1984-12-31. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  13. ^ "Cocoon". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2011-11-21. 
  14. ^ Heise, Kenan (1993-12-08). "Oscar-winning Actor Don Ameche, 85". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  15. ^ Flint, Peter B. (1993-12-08). "Don Ameche Is Dead at 85; Oscar Winner for 'Cocoon'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  16. ^ AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers Nominees
  17. ^ AFI's 10 Top 10 Ballot

External links [edit]

Films directed by Ron Howard
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
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