Philadelphia (Widescreen) (DVD)-Tom Hanks (actor)-Image

Bookmark for this productThis link will open in a new window

Philadelphia (Widescreen) (DVD)

Tom Hanks (actor), Tracey Walter (actor) and Jonathan Demme (director)
More About this Product
List Price: $14.95
Tower Price: $10.09
You Save: $4.86 (33%)
Add to BagAdd to Bag Click to go directly to the checkout.
This item qualifies for FREE Shop N' Save Shipping for orders over $25. Check individual shipping price.
Availability: On Sale - Ships in 12 Hours

Product Description
 [ Run a Quick Search on "Philadelphia" starring Tom Hanks to Browse Related Products:  ]
Browse more products related to "Philadelphia"
Browse more products related to "Tom Hanks, Tracey Walter and Jonathan Demme"
Review

Sight and Sound, 03/01/1994, p.45-6, "...A moving experience....PHILADELPHIA is successful because it is intelligent, sensitive and committed..."

Chicago Sun-Times, 01/14/1994, p.35, "...PHILADELPHIA is a good movie...and the Hanks performance is one of the best of the year..."

Entertainment Weekly, 06/17/1994, pp.54-5, "...As a piece of moviemaking PHILADELPHIA often works wonderfully well..."

Premiere, 07/01/1994, p.90, "...Landmark..." - Recommended

Title Note

Theatrical release: January 1994.

Jonathan Demme directed the music video for Bruce Springsteen's "Murder Incorporated" at Tramps in New York City. The songs "Murder Incorporated" and "Streets of Philadelphia" can both be found on Springsteen's GREATEST HITS album.

Director Jonathan Demme decided to make a film about AIDS when his close friend Juan Botas discovered he was HIV+. Botas, after spending months with a group of men with full-blown AIDS, informed Demme that the physical battle with the disease would be a "compelling subject for a documentary." Demme agreed and later decided to make "Philadelphia."

According to Premiere magazine, Demme examined several possible narratives but was most interested in stories like Clarence B. Cain's. Cain, an associate in a Philadelphia office of a Cleveland-based law-firm, lost his job only two weeks after telling his superiors about his health status. Cain took his case to a federal court and won a $157,000 settlement. Sadly, Cain died only two months later. He was just 38 years old.

A lawsuit was also filed against TriStar Pictures by the family of New York attorney Geoffrey Bowers, who claimed that the film was based on the life of that lawyer, who also had AIDS. After five days of testimony, a settlement in the case was reached when the makers of PHILADELPHIA acknowledged that the movie "was inspired in part by" Bowers's life. Bowers died in 1987.

When Demme and Nyswaner pitched the film's concept to Orion production head Marc Platt, he suggested that they insert a character mainstream audiences could identify with. So they decided to make Tom Hanks's lawyer, played by Denzel Washington, a "rabidly homophobic, aggressively heterosexual attorney."

Robert Castle, who played Tom Hanks's father in the film, is Demme's "Cousin Bobby," and was the subject of a Demme documentary of that name.

Entertainment Weekly reported that several scenes shot by Demme ultimately were excised from the film. These include romantic sequences between Andrew (Tom Hanks's character) and his lover--the lack of which has earned the film criticism from gay groups--and a scene in which a homosexual propositions Joe, the homophobic lawyer.

Product Quotation/Excerpt

"I hate this job."--Belinda Conine (Mary Steenburgen)

Release Note

DVD Features:
Region 1 encoding
Chapter selections
Dolby 5.1 Surround and Dolby 2.0 Surround sound
Keepcase

Product Notes

Tom Hanks plays Andrew Beckett, a hotshot Philadelphia lawyer who has been keeping his homosexuality, and his AIDS, hidden from his conservative bosses. When he's suddenly and inexplicably fired, Andrew suspects AIDS is the reason, and is determined to fight in court, even as he is losing his other battle, against the disease. Beckett hires attorney Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) to represent him, but the lawyer must first overcome his own homophobia and fears. Director Jonathan Demme filmed this after winning the Oscar for SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. The amazing cast includes Antonio Banderas, Joanne Woodward, and Jason Robards. Roger Corman and Charles Napier, both in LAMBS, make appearances. Bruce Springsteen's haunting song "Streets of Philadelphia" plays over the memorable opening credits. This sensitive, moody film touches on a vast array of subjects surrounding gay and straight men, family, and death, without ever being maudlin or preachy, which is to its immense credit. An undoubted influence on society's growing acceptance of homosexuality, PHILADELPHIA reminds us how far we've come in that direction, and how far we still need to go.

Customer Reviews for "Philadelphia (Widescreen) (DVD)"

There are no customer reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!

Submit your Review

What's New and Exciting Around Tower
  • Sales & Promotion
  • Tower Great Gift Ideas
    Tower has Great Gifts for everyone on your list!
  • Tower Essentials Sale
    Visit the Essentials Sale for a wide selection and huge savings on your favorite entertainment.
  • DVD Classic Multipacks Sale
    Big Savings on your favorite classic Multi-pack DVD collections - including 20, 50 and 100 film box sets!
  • Lionsgate Movie Specials
    Browse the Boutique and enjoy Savings of up to 50% on selected DVD & Blu-Ray titles from Lionsgate Home Entertainment!
  • Paramount Movie Specials
    Grow your DVD collection with these classic and newly released movies from Paramount Home Entertainment, featuring your favorite Comedy, Action & Adventure and Classic films at great low prices!
  • FOX/MGM Movie Specials
    Take home your most cherished classics from Fox & MGM's iconic film library today when you browse our Classics Super Specials boutique.
  • Special Features
  • The Best CDs of 2007
    Amy Winehouse, hip hop legend Kanye West and popular favorite Paul Potts to lesser known gems Justice, Lupe Fiasco ...
  • The Best DVDs of 2007
    Tower Video presents the very best DVDs released in 2007, from our guru's picks to top selling and long-awaited releases.
  • Andy Palacio World Music Special Tribute Page
    The Tower.com family pay our humble respects to the life and career of one of the world's greatest musicians and social activists, Andy Palacio.
  • Browse Our New Blu-Ray Section
    With over 700 titles & new items added each week, Tower’s new Blu-Ray section offers recent releases, Blu-Ray bestsellers and great deals on your favorite high-def titles!
Explore More Great Tower Sales & Specials