Leap of Faith (film)
| Leap of Faith | |
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 Leap of Faith original theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | Richard Pearce |
| Produced by | Michael Manheim David V. Picker |
| Written by | Janus Cercone |
| Starring | Steve Martin Debra Winger Lolita Davidovich Liam Neeson Lukas Haas |
| Music by | Cliff Eidelman |
| Cinematography | Matthew F. Leonetti |
| Editing by | John F. Burnett Mark Warner Don Zimmerman |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | December 18, 1992 |
| Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $23,369,283 |
Leap of Faith is a 1992 American dramedy film, directed by Richard Pearce and starring Steve Martin, Debra Winger, Lolita Davidovich, Liam Neeson and Lukas Haas. The film is about Jonas Nightengale, a fraudulent Christian faith healer who uses his revival meetings, in Rustwater, Kansas, to bilk believers out of their money.
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[edit] Plot summary
Jonas Nightengale is a fraudulent faith healer who makes a living travelling around America holding revival meetings and conducting 'miracles' with the help of his friend and manager, Jane, and their entourage. One of their trucks breaks down in Rustwater, a town in desperate need of rain to save their crops. While waiting for spare parts, Jonas decides to hold a revival meeting in the town. The local sheriff, Will Braverman, is skeptical and tries to prevent his town and its people from being conned. However a local disabled boy, Boyd, believes Jonas could make him walk again. Events in Rustwater make Jonas examine his own faith and doubts.
[edit] Selected cast
- Steve Martin — Jonas Nightengale
- Debra Winger — Jane Larson
- Lolita Davidovich — Marva
- Liam Neeson — Sheriff Will Braverman
- Lukas Haas — Boyd
- Albertina Walker - Lucille
- Meat Loaf — Hoover
- Philip Seymour Hoffman — Matt
- M.C. Gainey — Tiny
- La Chanze — Georgette
- Delores Hall — Ornella
- Troy Evans - Officer Lowell Dade
[edit] Production
The movie was filmed in Groom, Texas, though parts of the movie were filmed in Plainview, Texas, where the town water tower still has the fictional town mascot painted on the side. Martin became the film's leading actor after Michael Keaton quit the production.[1]
[edit] Musical adaptation
On April 11, 2006, Taylor Hackford announced that he would be making his directorial debut on Broadway by bringing the film to the stage as a musical. The score was written by Alan Menken with lyrics by Glenn Slater. Hackford chose Leap of Faith even though he had previously been offered the opportunity to bring his film Ray to the stage. "What got me here was Alan Menken's score and how it so beautifully fit the book," Hackford said.[2] According to an article in the January 20, 2010 New York Post, Hackford is no longer the director of this project.[3]
The Center Theatre Group presented the musical at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, with Rob Ashford as director and choreographer.[4] Performances began on September 11, 2010, with an official opening on October 3, 2010, running through October 24, 2010. Raul Esparza played the role of Jonas Nightengale (originated by Steve Martin in the film) and Brooke Shields played the role of Marva (originated by Lolita Davidovich in the film.[5] The musical is expected to open on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on April 3, 2012 in previews. Direction is by Christopher Ashley, choreography by Sergio Trujillo, a revised book by Warren Leight, with a cast featuring Raúl Esparza as Jonas Nightengale, and Jessica Phillips as Marla.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ "Internet Movie Database: Leap of Faith Trivia". Internet Movie Database. 2007. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104695/trivia. Retrieved 2007-04-23.
- ^ Peace Corps Online | 2006.04.12: April 12, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Bolivia: Movies: Hollywood: Musicals: Broadway: UPI: "Taylor Hackford plans to make his Broadway debut in the 2007-8 season as the director of "Leap of Faith," a new musical" peacecorpsonline.org
- ^ Riedel, Michael."A look before 'Leap' "New York Post, January 20, 2010
- ^ Jones, Kenneth."Leap of Faith, Menken's Gospel-Filled Musical Comedy, Will Premiere in L.A." playbill.com, January 28, 2010
- ^ Gans, Andrew."Raúl Esparza and Brooke Shields To Star in Leap of Faith at the Ahmanson" playbill.com, June 21, 2010
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (January 12, 2012). "Leap of Faith's Broadway Launch Will Be April 3; Jessica Phillips, Raul Esparza, Kendra Kassebaum Star". Playbill. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/158551-Leap-of-Faiths-Broadway-Launch-Will-Be-April-3-Jessica-Phillips-Raul-Esparza-Kendra-Kassebaum-Star. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
[edit] External links
- Leap of Faith at the Internet Movie Database
- Leap of Faith at AllRovi
- Review/Film; Steve Martin as a Healer With Faith Only in Lies December 18, 1992
- Leap Of Faith by Roger Ebert
- Faith Healers deal in phony shows and false hopes The Observer
- Randi and Popoff BBC 9 Dec 06
- Listing notes for The Faith Healers, by James Randi, which formed the basis for this film.
- On Entering the Third Decade by Paul Kurtz
- The third eye by Pat Reeder
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