Search - Dead Poets Society on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Suitable for Teens Movie Release: 1989 DVD Release: 11/10/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 9 mins Studio: Walt Disney Video Members Wishing: 28 Genres: Drama, Teen Movie, Coming-of-Age, Ensemble Film See Also: Dead Poets Society [Special Edition]

Robin Williams toned down his usually manic comic approach in this successful period drama. In 1959, the Welton Academy is a staid but well-respected prep school where education is a pragmatic and rather dull affair. Several of the students, however, have their thoughts on the learning process (and life itself) changed when a new teacher comes to the school. John Keating (Williams) is an unconventional educator who tears chapters of his textbooks and asks his students to stand on their desks to see the world from a new angle. Keating introduces his students to poetry, and his free-thinking attitude and the liberating philosophies of the authors he introduces to his class have a profound effect on his students, especially Todd (Ethan Hawke), who would like to be a writer; Neil ( Robert Sean Leonard), who dreams of being an actor, despite the objections of his father; Knox (Josh Charles), a hopeless romantic; Steven (Allelon Ruggiero), an intellectual who learns to use his heart as well as his head; Charlie (Gale Hansen), who begins to lose his blasé attitude; unconventional Gerard (James Waterston); and practical Richard (Dylan Kussman). Keating urges his students to seize the day and live their lives boldly; but when this philosophy leads to an unexpected tragedy, headmaster Mr. Nolan (Norman Lloyd) fires Keating, and his students leap to his defense. Dead Poets Society was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Williams; it won one, for Tom Schulman's original screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Robin Williams - John Keating
Robert Sean Leonard - Neil Perry
Ethan Hawke - Todd Anderson
Josh Charles - Knox Overstreet
Gale Hansen - Charlie Dalton

Peter Weir's schoolroom drama comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround, while a French soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are no subtitles on this release. There are no extra features on this disc. Considering the enduring popularity of this film, it is surprising that more attention has not been lavished on its DVD release, but the image and sound are acceptable. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide