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This 80’s flick explores the complex terrain of friendships, aspirations, and the struggle to find one's own identity outside of the classroom. The story takes place at an all-boys preparatory school in the 1950s, where tradition and conformity are the norm. Mr. Keating's unconventional teaching methods ignite a profound transformation in the lives of his students. By instilling a love for poetry, encouraging critical thinking, and inspiring them to seize the day, Keating inspires a revolt against the suffocating conventions of society. As we journey back to Welton Academy's revered halls, we'll discover a tale that still resonates with audiences today, reminding us of the enduring influence of non-traditional instructors, the quest for passion, and the timeless words: "Carpe Diem."
So grab your copy of “Five Centuries of Verse”, stand on your desk to declare “O Captain, My Captain”, and then join us at the old Indian cave off campus as Tim Williams and guest co-hosts Laramy Wells & Nicholas Pepin discuss “Dead Poets Society” from 1989 on this episode of the 80s Flick Flashback Podcast.
Here are some additional behind-the-scenes trivia we were unable to cover in this episode:
To help guide Robin Williams' performance, Peter Weir nicknamed the character "Robin Keating" to incorporate some of Williams' own off-the-cuff dialogue into the script.
During filming, Robin Williams was somber due to his ongoing divorce, resulting in no joking around between takes, as recalled by Norman Lloyd.
The emotional scene where Todd Anderson cries in the snow was done in one take. Originally meant to be indoors, the director moved it outside due to snowfall, which was about to stop. Ethan Hawke delivered a powerful performance, nailing it in one take.
During the premiere, Kurtwood Smith noticed a family where the father was domineering his son, much like his own character in the film. After the movie, Smith saw the family leaving and noticed the father crying.
Sources:
Wikipedia, IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Box Office Mojo
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I am one of the Pop Culture Roulette co-hosts and all-around trivia nerd. I am well versed in comic books (mainly Marvel), baseball and a wide variety of pop culture topics. As I child of the 80s I love the movies and music of the decade it is a joy to be a part of this podcast when I get the call.
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