Orphans (1987 film)

Orphans
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alan J. Pakula
Written by	Play/Screenplay: Lyle Kessler
Produced by	Alan J. Pakula Susan Solt
Starring	Albert Finney Matthew Modine Kevin Anderson
Cinematography	Donald McAlpine
Edited by	Evan A. Lottman
Music by	Michael Small
Distributed by	Lorimar Motion Pictures
Release date	September 18, 1987 (1987-09-18)
Running time	115 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$252,430 (USA)

Orphans is a 1987 film directed by Alan J. Pakula. It was written by Lyle Kessler, based on his play of the same name.

Plot

Brothers Treat (Matthew Modine) and Philip (Kevin Anderson) have lived alone since they were kids when a small-time criminal enters their lives. Living without a father, the orphaned brothers subsist off the proceeds of petty theft in a run-down North Philadelphia row house. One night he kidnaps an enigmatic rich man, played by Albert Finney, who becomes the kind of father figure the boys have always longed for.

Principal cast

Actor	Role
Albert Finney	Harold
Matthew Modine	Treat
Kevin Anderson	Phillip
John Kellogg	Barney
Anthony Heald	Man in Park
Novella Nelson	Mattie
Elizabeth Parrish	Rich Woman

Critical reception

Vincent Canby of the New York Times enjoyed the film:

Mr. Pakula's achievement is in making a film that's simultaneously theatrical and cinematic. Orphans honors both worlds.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it two and a half stars out of four and had this to say:

Orphans is a good play about behavior that has been turned into a mediocre movie about nothing much at all.

External links

• Orphans at IMDb
• Orphans at AllMovie