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04/12/1990 Drama 2h 0m
77
User score

There is no such thing as a simple miracle.

Overview

Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a shy research physician, uses an experimental drug to "awaken" the catatonic victims of a rare disease. Leonard is the first patient to receive the controversial treatment. His awakening, filled with awe and enthusiasm, proves a rebirth for Sayer too, as the exuberant patient reveals life's simple but unutterably sweet pleasures to the introverted doctor.

  1. Penny Marshall

    Director

Top billed cast

  1. Robert De Niro

    Leonard Lowe

  2. Robin Williams

    Malcolm Sayer

  3. John Heard

    Dr. Kaufman

  4. Julie Kavner

    Eleanor Costello

  5. Penelope Ann Miller

    Paula

  6. Ruth Nelson

    Mrs. Lowe

  7. Max von Sydow

    Peter Ingham

  8. Anne Meara

    Miriam

  9. Dexter Gordon

    Rolando

  10. View more

Full Cast & Crew

Reviews

A review by Wuchak
Written by Wuchak on 2020-01-01
***A ‘hospital film’ with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, based on a true story***

A shy doctor (Robin Williams) gets a job at a Bronx hospital in 1969 where he attends to several patients in a catatonic state after the encephalitis epidemic of 1917–28. He experiments with a new drug that offers the hope of reviving them. Robert De Niro plays his key patient, Julie Kavner his nurse and John Heard his supervisor. Penelope Ann Miller is also on hand as a potential romantic interest.

"Awakenings” (1990) is based on Oliver Sacks' 1973 memoir of the same name, which chronicled the ...read the rest
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Status
Released

Original Language
English

Budget
$31,000,000.00

Revenue
$52,096,475.00

Keywords