‹ All people

Film credit

Robert Sean Leonard

Stats

Episodes featuring their films
1
Movies in this archive
1

Mentioned in discussions

Dead Poets Society poster
Dead Poets Society

Who Won the Movie?

Dead Poets Society The Rewatchables

Robin Williams wins the movie; Robert Sean Leonard and Ethan Hawke receive supporting cases, and Walt Whitman wins among the poets.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:38:12Read transcript
  • Robin Williams is the immediate and repeated winner choice.
  • Robert Sean Leonard receives a brief alternative case for Neil.
  • No other actor could execute the classroom scenes in quite the same way as Williams.
  • Walt Whitman wins among the poets because his work supplies the central question and final salute.
  • Robert Sean Leonard edges Ethan Hawke among the students.
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Robin Williams
Speaker not identified
Robin Williams
Speaker not identified
Robin Williams
Dead Poets Society poster
Dead Poets Society

Apex Mountain

Dead Poets Society The Rewatchables

The panel places Robin Williams’s apex around Dead Poets Society and the run from Good Morning, Vietnam through later hits; the film is also an apex for Alexandra Powers, Pitts, Charlie Dalton’s actor, and possibly Robert Sean Leonard, while Ethan Hawke’s comes later.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:59Read transcript
  • Dead Poets Society is argued as Williams’s apex because it follows Good Morning, Vietnam and proves he can carry comedy and drama.
  • The film is said to enable Williams to choose projects and lead into Awakenings, The Fisher King, Hook, Aladdin, and Mrs. Doubtfire.
  • Good Will Hunting is treated as a later career culmination rather than the peak of his market power.
  • The observed Alexandria Powers is explicitly raised as an apex question.
  • Pitts is explicitly given an apex answer.
  • Charlie Dalton’s performer is treated as an apex because his magnetic work suggested a larger acting career that did not follow.
  • Robert Sean Leonard’s Neil may be his apex despite a durable stage and television career.
Dead Poets Society poster
Dead Poets Society

Half-Assed Internet Research

Dead Poets Society The Rewatchables

Research covers the deleted Keating leukemia story, chronological filming, the cast living together, Williams’s regard for the film and Peter Weir, Cameron refusing the final desk stand, Hawke’s tense relationship with Williams, Delaware locations, a failed first production, and several cast connections.

In the discussion (15)
Approx. transcript time · 00:39:03Read transcript
  • The original script reportedly had Keating dying of leukemia, which motivated his carpe diem outlook.
  • Peter Weir removed the leukemia subplot, keeping Keating’s private life largely unexplained.
  • The actors playing the students reportedly all lived together to forge a sense of community and friendship.
  • The movie was shot chronologically so the relationships could develop in order.
  • Robin Williams reportedly called it one of his favorite films and Peter Weir the best director he worked with.
  • Robert Sean Leonard later played a doctor on House, matching Mr. Perry’s demand that Neil become a doctor.
  • The actor who played Cameron vetoed having Cameron stand on the desk because it violated the character, and Weir agreed.
  • Colin Irving, who played Chet Danbury, is identified as novelist John Irving’s son.
  • Ethan Hawke believed Williams disliked him because Hawke resisted the improvisational joking while staying inside Todd’s reserve.
  • Williams’s teasing reportedly generated improvised classroom material while supporting Hawke’s character.
  • Josh Charles reportedly completed the bicycle ride down the hill in one take.
  • The production moved from Georgia to Delaware because fake snow was too difficult or expensive.
  • The studio once wanted the story made as a musical called Sultans of Strut.
  • A first day of shooting collapsed when Williams, whose deal was unfinished, did not appear; the constructed sets were then burned.
  • Josh Charles and James Waterston are reported as later appearing together in The Good Wife.
Dead Poets Society poster
Dead Poets Society

Casting What-Ifs

Dead Poets Society The Rewatchables

Dustin Hoffman, Mel Gibson, and Liam Neeson were earlier John Keating possibilities; River Phoenix wanted Neil, Sam Rockwell auditioned for Charlie, and Lara Flynn Boyle’s role was removed.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:32Read transcript
  • Dustin Hoffman was intended to play Keating and make the film his directing debut.
  • Mel Gibson was attached while the observed Jeff Kanoe was directing, before cost and creative changes moved the project elsewhere.
  • The observed Liam Mason reportedly had the role before Robin Williams and Peter Weir joined.
  • Peter Weir took the film while Gérard Depardieu’s availability delayed Green Card.
  • Her role was reportedly edited out, and she was told not to attend the premiere.
  • River Phoenix wanted to play Neil, but the role went to Robert Sean Leonard.
  • Sam Rockwell reportedly auditioned for Charlie.
Displaying all 4 discussions

Films in the archive

Dead Poets Society

1989

Rewatchables episodes featuring their films

Displaying 1 episode