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Creator

  • 1985
  • R
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
Mariel Hemingway and Peter O'Toole in Creator (1985)
An eccentric scientist teaches a student in his own manner while he looks for a way to clone his deceased wife.
Play trailer1:49
1 Video
46 Photos
Quirky ComedyRomantic ComedyComedyRomanceSci-Fi

An eccentric scientist teaches a student in his own manner while he looks for a way to clone his deceased wife.An eccentric scientist teaches a student in his own manner while he looks for a way to clone his deceased wife.An eccentric scientist teaches a student in his own manner while he looks for a way to clone his deceased wife.

  • Director
    • Ivan Passer
  • Writer
    • Jeremy Leven
  • Stars
    • Peter O'Toole
    • Mariel Hemingway
    • Vincent Spano
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    3.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ivan Passer
    • Writer
      • Jeremy Leven
    • Stars
      • Peter O'Toole
      • Mariel Hemingway
      • Vincent Spano
    • 51User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

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    Trailer 1:49
    Trailer

    Photos46

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    Top Cast31

    Edit
    Peter O'Toole
    Peter O'Toole
    • Dr. Harry Wolper
    Mariel Hemingway
    Mariel Hemingway
    • Meli
    Vincent Spano
    Vincent Spano
    • Boris Lafkin
    Virginia Madsen
    Virginia Madsen
    • Barbara Spencer
    David Ogden Stiers
    David Ogden Stiers
    • Dr. Sid Kullenbeck
    John Dehner
    John Dehner
    • Paul
    Karen Kopins
    Karen Kopins
    • Lucy Wolper
    Kenneth Tigar
    Kenneth Tigar
    • Pavlo
    Elsa Raven
    Elsa Raven
    • Mrs. Mallory
    Lee Kessler
    • Mrs. Pruitt
    Rance Howard
    Rance Howard
    • Mr. Spencer
    Ellen Geer
    Ellen Geer
    • Mrs. Spencer
    Ian Wolfe
    Ian Wolfe
    • Prof. Brauer
    Mike Jolly
    • Boom-Boom
    Burton Collins
    Burton Collins
    • Lyman
    Judith Hansen
    • Karen
    Doug Cox
    Doug Cox
    • Arthur
    Anthony Peck
    • Norman
    • Director
      • Ivan Passer
    • Writer
      • Jeremy Leven
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews51

    6.13.6K
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    Featured reviews

    10kafcook

    One of My Favorites!

    This movie is truly one of my favorites of all times. It is sweet and it is hopeful and it makes you think. Actually, the issues addressed in it are quite timely. Would you clone a dead loved one if you could? These are issues that we ourselves will have to be facing and making decisions on in the not so distant future.

    Virginia Madsen is nice as the love interest. Vincent Spano wonderfully plays Igor to Peter O'Toole's Frankenstein, while maintaining a mind of his own. Mariel Hemingway is delightfully nutty and light as Meli, the coed nymphomaniac. Interesting surprise from her during a touch football game too. And those of you who are M*A*S*H fans will love David Ogden Stiers as the foil for Peter O'Toole's "mad scientist" hijinx.

    This movie is refreshing and dramatic and subtle. I love it, I will always love it! And it still moves me after almost 2 decades!

    BTW-Those of you who appreciate soundtracks will love this one! The "String Trio Rock" by Mark Cargill is interspersed throughout. It will stay with you even after the movie is over!
    10rbornet

    Wonderful movie which captures and emanates love

    This is a movie which manages to capture the feeling of love. It is a movie that shows decent and loving people being extremely human with each other. There is a kindness that permeates throughout the movie which makes it a pleasure to watch.

    The movie creates a warm feeling inside like very few other movies can. Cousine, Cousine (French version) is another movie that also reaffirms the joy of being human, even though the characters and story may not be totally believable.

    The main characters in the Creator are people you want to be friends with. The movie uses humor and some great and thoughtful lines to remind the viewer that life really is about love.

    Even the music by Giovanni adds to the feeling of warmth that is constant in this movie.

    As other people have said I can tell you from experience that this is the type of movie you show a potential mate and see how they react.

    One of my very favorite movies.
    7denmn

    o'toole shines in a forgotten film

    peter o'toole is never an ordinary man in film. i just don't think he can be...and that's not a criticism. there's always something too luminous, too twinkling, too smart and witty. he's at his best in roles like this that let him play someone a little smarter, brighter, more attractive than anyone else. as a nonconformist "mad scientist" so obsessed with recreating his long-dead wife in his backyard lab, o'toole practically dances through the film, his generosity of spirit and warmth making the other characters come alive and his similar generosity of talent allowing room for younger actors to catch that spirit and run with it, if only for a little while. okay, so vincent spano has never been good in anything but a john sayles film, and the wife plot seems to peter out, and mariel hemingway, while delightfully trampy from time to time, seems to be trying too hard...but just watch the scenes where o'toole, chewing on his oversized cigar, playfully undermines his stuffy colleague (a funny, menacing david ogden stiers) or the scenes when tragedy strikes his young apprentice (spano) and he reaches out with the most effective looking comfort i've seen. when the boy emerges from a hospital door and looks to him and o'toole just opens his arms as wide as a church door. creator's not a great movie by any means...but you've probably not seen it and an unseen o'toole performance, especially one this warm and winning, is like a gift.
    g-ashley

    An Overlooked Film That Deserves A Spot In Your Collection

    Have you ever seen a movie that made a quiet yet profound impact on your view of life? Have you ever seen a powerful performance from one of the world's best actors go so completely unnoticed in the process? Have you ever looked back on a film nearly 20 years later and think, "I hope I can find this on DVD?" Creator is one such movie.

    Peter O'Toole's performance is one of his better efforts (Come to think of it, even a BAD effort by O'Toole would be head and shoulders above some of today's stars). As Harry, you quickly learn (and, more importantly, FEEL) his pain and loss of his beloved wife Lucy, years after her loss. But he has what he feels is a perfect plan to clone her and recreate the love of his life. Mariel Hemingway's character (Meli) is the LAST person you would expect a scholar such as Harry would choose to be the host to carry the new Lucy to term. Hemingway's performance was a hoot.

    The story takes some twists and turns that include a side story that nearly supersedes the principal one. But the beauty, ultimately, is how the two complement each other.

    Getting through this movie is an emotional roller-coaster, the kind where when the ride is over you go, "WHEW!" But then again, you don't want it to end. The gift of this film is that when the lights came up at the end, it sent me back to reality with a different perspective that truly IS a gift.

    Did the movie "change my life?" Perhaps not, but it gave me a message that enabled me to change it myself.

    I think one of the reasons the movie came off so well (in addition, of course, to a brilliant performance by the cast) was that the script was written by the "creator" of the novel... so it stayed as true to the story as any adaptation can.

    Kudos to O'Toole, and the entire cast. But Kudos too, to writer Jeremy Leven, "Creator's" creator and director Ivan Passer who brought the story to the screen so lovingly... and entertainingly. Yes, this is one I want on my DVD shelf! If you've not seen it, do yourself a favor: Rent it and watch it with someone special.

    To paraphrase Leven, "Movies Can Be Wonderful..." and "Creator" shows you how.
    8lueschow

    A sad and romantic comedy

    This is a wonderful movie that focuses on character development. The characters are quirky and entertaining. The science in this movie is relatively weak but this movie isn't about science. This is about love, loss, and coming to terms with the curves life throws you.

    Peter O'tool is Brilliant... I repeat Brilliant in this movie Muriel Hemmingway (Melly) is wonderfully portrayed and the rest of the actors/actresses played at the top of their game on this movie.

    Grab your girlfriend/boyfriend turn down the lights pop some popcorn and enjoy the show.

    Warning: There is some foul language and nudity in this movie so I don't recommend watching it with your 10 year old.

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    Related interests

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    Quirky Comedy
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    Romantic Comedy
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    Comedy
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    Romance
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    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      While filming a scene where Harry (Peter O'Toole) rides his bicycle on a downtown street, an extra stepped out from a building too early and caused him to have a minor crash.
    • Quotes

      Boris: You know, Harry, I'm still trying to find the big picture but I keep missing it because I am so in love with Barbara that nothing else matters.

      Dr Harry Wolper: What makes you think you are missing it?

    • Alternate versions
      Outtake added to broadcast version: A flashback scene of young Harry Wolper cavorting with wife Lucy in an amusement park and on a beach.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Godzilla 1985/Creator/Wetherby/Key Exchange (1985)
    • Soundtracks
      I'm a Woman
      Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Creator?Powered by Alexa
    • Chapter Headings, an unofficial version:

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Big Picture
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Cruz, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Kings Road Entertainment
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,349,607
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,019,728
      • Sep 22, 1985
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,349,607
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 47m(107 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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