Patch Adams

Theatrical Release Date: 1998 12 25 (USA)

UPC: 025192054624

Studio: Universal Studios

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:[Adult Language, Adult Humor]

Summary: The fact-based story of an unconventional physician who attempted to heal patients with laughter, based on his own book and mixing equal doses of scatological humor and pathos. Robin Williams stars as Hunter Adams, a troubled young man who commits himself to a mental institution in the late 1960s. His experiences there convince Adams to become a doctor, and he enrolls in medical school, where he is appalled at the cold, clinical professionalism that alienates patients from their caregivers. Determined to provide emotional and spiritual relief as well as medicine, Adams clowns around for his patients, getting to know them personally. Although his efforts seem to work wonders and the hospital nursing staff is grateful for the levity Adams provides, his methods alienate his uptight roommate Mitch (Philip Seymour Hoffman) as well as the staff and faculty of his school. Adams perseveres, however, even starting his own low-cost rural clinic called the Gesundheit Institute, and wooing a pretty fellow student, Carin (Monica Potter). Tragedy strikes, and Adams' career is put in jeopardy, forcing him to defend his style and philosophy before a board of jurists determined to bar him from practicing medicine. Patch Adams (1998) was produced by former M*A*S*H (1972-83) star Mike Farrell, who met the real-life Adams when the offbeat doctor served as an advisor to the actor's popular TV series. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Category: Comedy Drama

Awards: Best Musical or Comedy Score – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Features: Feature commentary with director Tom Shadyac
Documentary: "The Medicinal Value of Laughter" featuring interviews with Tom Shadyac, Robin Williams, MOnica Potter, Mike Farrell and the real Patch Adams
Outtakes
Theatrical trailer
Production notes
Cast and filmmakers' bios
Film Highlights
Web links

Patch Adams

Format: DVD

Release Date: 06/11/2002

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Cinemascope

Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 116 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
0. Chapter List
1. The Troubled Mind [:22]
2. Look Beyond... [9:18]
3. To Be a Doctor [:02]
4. The Experiment [6:53]
5. Doctor Clown [:13]
6. Walcott's Warning [4:32]
7. The Big Welcome [3:44]
8. Carin's Birthday [2:30]
9. Blue Skies [4:24]
10. A Fun Hospital [10:51]
11. Gesundheit [2:06]
12. Then I Met You... [5:49]
13. The Last Sonnet [1:15]
14. You Don't Fit In [6:08]
15. Patch's Appeal [:03]
16. The Board's Decision [3:18]
17. Doctors [2:43]
18. Epilogue/Titles [1:56]
0. Chapter List
1. Patch Challenges Us
2. The Pitch
3. Fulfilling a Dream
4. Make a Wish
5. Translating a True Story
6. Bedside Manner

Chris Gore

After playing the funny-yet-sympathetic doctor in Awakenings, the funny-yet-sympathetic teacher in Dead Poets Society, and then the funny-yet-sympathetic disc jockey in Good Morning, Vietnam, Robin Williams finally goes back to his roots as the funny-yet-sympathetic doctor in this story of a medical student who reminds us that "laughter is always the best medicine." Comedy director Tom Shadyac's true story of a man named Patch Adams -- who was responsible for introducing the initial concept of endorphins in the brain -- is told with all the Universal Studios panache, trying to appease all filmgoing audiences. Patch's philosophy of "treating the patient, not the disease" creates both allies and foes at the University of Virginia medical hospital. His roommate, Mitch (Boogie Nights' Philip Seymour Hoffman), sees Patch as a goofball, until his own problem with a stubborn patient forces him to utilize Patch's methods. However, the university dean is Patch's harshest critic, eventually dismissing Patch from the hospital. As Patch himself overcomes serious depression, he eventually opens his own clinic where he gains notoriety as the "people doctor." He then writes a book, which is ultimately turned into a Hollywood movie starring Robin Williams. You get the idea. ~ Chris Gore, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Ryan Hurst  Actor 
Steve Oedekerk  Screenwriter 
Mike Farrell  Producer 
Marvin Minoff  Producer 
Charles James Newirth  Producer 
Tom Shadyac  Director 
Tom Shadyac  Executive Producer 
Marc Shaiman  Composer (Music Score) 
Barry Kemp  Producer 
Marsha Garces Williams  Executive Producer 
Robin Williams  Actor 
Daniel London  Actor 
Monica Potter  Actor 
Philip Seymour Hoffman  Actor 
Bob Gunton  Actor 
Josef Sommer  Actor 
Irma P. Hall  Actor 
Frances Lee McCain  Actor 
Harve Presnell  Actor 
Daniella Kuhn  Actor 
Jake Bowen  Actor 
Peter Coyote  Actor 
James Greene  Actor 
Michael Jeter  Actor 
Harold Gould  Actor 
Richard Kiley  Actor 

Country: USA