Pleasantville
Pleasantville theatrical poster
Directed by	Gary Ross
Produced by	Steven Soderbergh, Gary Ross, Jon Kilik Bob Degus
Written by	Gary Ross
Starring	Tobey Maguire Reese Witherspoon William H. Macy Joan Allen Jeff Daniels Paul Walker Marley Shelton J. T. Walsh Don Knotts Jane Kaczmarek
Music by	Randy Newman Fiona Apple Robert and Johnny Gene Vincent Larry Williams The Dave Brubeck Quartet Etta James Elvis Presley Buddy Holly and the Crickets Miles Davis
Cinematography	John Lindley
Editing by	William Goldenberg
Distributed by	New Line Cinema
Release date(s)	17 September 1998
Running time	124 minutes
Language	English
Budget	~ US$40,000,000
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

Pleasantville is a New Line Cinema film first released in Canada on September 17, 1998 starring Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon, William H. Macy, Joan Allen, and Jeff Daniels. Don Knotts, Paul Walker, Marley Shelton, Jane Kaczmarek and J. T. Walsh are also featured. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 401 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (493 × 737 pixel, file size: 118 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This image is of a poster, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher or the creator of the work depicted. ... Gary Ross (born November 3, 1956 in Los Angeles, California is an American writer, director and actor. ... Steven Andrew Soderbergh (born January 14, 1963 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American film producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, and Oscar-winning director. ... Gary Ross (born November 3, 1956 in Los Angeles, California is an American writer, director and actor. ... Bob Degus is an American film director and producer. ... Gary Ross (born November 3, 1956 in Los Angeles, California is an American writer, director and actor. ... Tobias Vincent Maguire (born June 27, 1975) is an American actor. ... Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon[1] (born March 22, 1976) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. ... Not to be confused with Bill Macy. ... Joan Allen in a scene from The Contender Joan Allen (b. ... Jeff Daniels and Patricia Heaton in a scene from the TNT cable network remake of The Goodbye Girl Jeff Daniels (born February 19, 1955 in Athens, Georgia) is an American actor. ... Paul William Walker IV (born September 12, 1973) is an American actor and former fashion model. ... Marley Eve Shelton (born April 12, 1974) is an American film and television actress. ... James Thomas Patrick Walsh (September 28, 1943 – February 27, 1998) was an American actor known for his roles as quietly sinister white-collar sleazeballs (quote from Leonard Maltin) in numerous feature films and everybodys favorite scumbag from Playboy Magazine. ... Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (a role which earned him five Emmy Awards), and as landlord Ralph Furley on the television sitcom Three’s... Jane Kaczmarek (born December 21, 1955 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an Emmy Award nominated American actress best known for playing the character Lois in Malcolm in the Middle. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Fiona Apple (born September 13, 1977) is a Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter. ... Gene Vincent, real name Vincent Eugene Craddock, (February 11, 1935 - October 12, 1971) was an American rocknroll pioneer musician, best known for his hit Be-Bop-A-Lula. // His parents, Ezekiah Jackson and Mary Louise Craddock, were shop owners in Norfolk, Virginia. ... // [] // ... Dave Brubeck formed The Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951, which consisted of Joe Dodge on drums, Bob Bates on bass, Paul Desmond on saxophone, and of course Brubeck on piano. ... Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938) is an American blues, soul, R&B, and jazz singer and songwriter. ... Elvis redirects here. ... For the Weezer song, see Buddy Holly (song). ... The Crickets The Crickets were the backing band from Texas in the United States, formed by singer/songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950s. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz musician, widely considered to be one of the most influential of the 20th century. ... William Goldenberg is a twice Academy Award-nominated film editor. ... New Line redirects here. ... is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... New Line redirects here. ... is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 1998 in film involved some significant events. ... Tobias Vincent Maguire (born June 27, 1975) is an American actor. ... Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon[1] (born March 22, 1976) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. ... Not to be confused with Bill Macy. ... Joan Allen in a scene from The Contender Joan Allen (b. ... Jeff Daniels and Patricia Heaton in a scene from the TNT cable network remake of The Goodbye Girl Jeff Daniels (born February 19, 1955 in Athens, Georgia) is an American actor. ... Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (a role which earned him five Emmy Awards), and as landlord Ralph Furley on the television sitcom Three’s... Paul William Walker IV (born September 12, 1973) is an American actor and former fashion model. ... Marley Eve Shelton (born April 12, 1974) is an American film and television actress. ... Jane Kaczmarek (born December 21, 1955 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an Emmy Award nominated American actress best known for playing the character Lois in Malcolm in the Middle. ... James Thomas Patrick Walsh (September 28, 1943 – February 27, 1998) was an American actor known for his roles as quietly sinister white-collar sleazeballs (quote from Leonard Maltin) in numerous feature films and everybodys favorite scumbag from Playboy Magazine. ...

The film was written, produced, and directed by Gary Ross, who also performed those duties for the more recent film Seabiscuit (2003), which also starred Maguire and Macy. This was J.T. Walsh's last film, released after his death. The film was released in the United States on October 23, 1998. Gary Ross (born November 3, 1956 in Los Angeles, California is an American writer, director and actor. ... Seabiscuit is a 2003 American drama film based on the best-selling book Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand. ... J.T. Walsh (September 28, 1943–February 27, 1998) was an American actor best known for his roles as quietly sinister white-collar sleazeballs (quote from Leonard Maltin) in numerous feature films. ...

In the film two modern teenagers are transported into the community of Pleasantville, the setting of a black and white 1950s television show. Through their actions, the people of Pleasantville begin to experience strong emotion and consequently, events in town begin to deviate from the accepted norm.

Synopsis

Although David Wagner Tobey Maguire and his sister Jennifer Reese Witherspoon are twins, they lead dramatically different high school social lives. Jennifer is concerned mainly with her appearance, relationships and popularity, while David has few friends and cannot even drum up the courage to talk to a girl on whom he has a crush. He spends most of his spare time on the couch, watching television. Jennifer, on the other hand, is very aggressive (as well as sexually promiscuous) and at the beginning of the film makes a date with Mark Davis, one of the most popular boys in school. Their mother Jane Kaczmarek leaves Jennifer and David alone at home while she heads on vacation with her boyfriend (who is later revealed to be nine years younger than her). The twins begin to fight over the use of the downstairs TV; Jennifer wants to watch an MTV concert with Mark, while David needs the TV in order to watch a marathon of his favorite show, Pleasantville. Tobias Vincent Maguire (born June 27, 1975) is an American actor. ... Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon[1] (born March 22, 1976) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. ... For other uses, see High school (disambiguation). ... Look up crush in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Jane Kaczmarek (born December 21, 1955 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an Emmy Award nominated American actress best known for playing the character Lois in Malcolm in the Middle. ... This article is about the original U.S. music television channel. ...

Pleasantville is a black and white '50s sitcom (a crossover of Leave It To Beaver or Father Knows Best), and David is an expert on every episode. During the fight between David and Jennifer, the remote control breaks and the TV cannot be turned on manually. A mysterious TV repairman (Don Knotts) shows up uninvited, and quizzes David on Pleasantville before giving him a strange-looking remote control. The repairman leaves, and David and Jennifer promptly resume fighting. However, they are somehow transported into the television, ending up in the Parkers' black and white Pleasantville living room. David tries to reason with the repairman (who communicates with him through the Parkers' TV set) but succeeds only in chasing him away. David and Jennifer must now pretend they are, respectively, Bud and Mary Sue Parker, two of the main characters in the show. A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... CrossOver (before version 6. ... For other uses, see Leave It to Beaver (disambiguation). ... Robert Young and Jean Vander Pyl on NBC Radios Father Knows Best Father Knows Best, a popular American TV and radio sitcom of the 1950s and 1960s, portrayed an idealized vision of middle-class American life of the era. ... Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (a role which earned him five Emmy Awards), and as landlord Ralph Furley on the television sitcom Three’s... For other uses, see Remote control (disambiguation). ...

Breakfast in the Parker house is served by stay-at-home mother Betty Parker (Joan Allen), and consists of generous servings of bacon, eggs, waffles, pancakes, ham, honey, sausage, and other fatty foods. Jennifer, a '90s girl, is disgusted at the thought of eating so much. On the way to school, the pair watch as a group of firemen rescue a cat out of a tree, and Jennifer meets Skip (Paul Walker), the captain of the basketball team and her soon-to-be boyfriend. David tells her that they must stay “in character,” she must make small-talk with her three monochrome friends and not disrupt the lives of the Pleasantville citizens, who do not notice any physical differences between the old Bud and Mary Sue and David and Jennifer. In order to keep the plot in line, Mary Sue agrees to go on a date with Skip, although the two have very different ideas of what a date constitutes. A stereotypical housewife A homemaker is a person whose prime occupation is to care for their family and home. ... Joan Allen in a scene from The Contender Joan Allen (b. ... For other uses, see Bacon (disambiguation). ... EGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGSEGGS This page may meet Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... This article is about the food item. ... Two pancakes with maple syrup. ... This article is about the cut of meat. ... For other uses, see Honey (disambiguation). ... This article is about the prepared meat. ... Paul William Walker IV (born September 12, 1973) is an American actor and former fashion model. ... This article is about the sport. ...

The date between Skip and Mary Sue turns out to be the first catalyst for change in the town, Skip having no knowledge of sex until Mary Sue introduces him to it. The plot is further thrown out of sequence when Bud’s boss Mr. Johnson (Jeff Daniels), who runs the soda shop, becomes dissatisfied with his boring, mundane life. Bud initially attempts to convince him to carry on, saying that even if Mr. Johnson does not like his job, he should still do it anyway, but David soon realizes his error and gives Mr. Johnson an art book, encouraging his true passion. Sexual behavior is a form of physical intimacy that may be directed to reproduction (one possible goal of sexual intercourse) and/or to the enjoyment of activity involving sexual gratification. ... For other persons of this name, see Jeff Daniels (disambiguation). ... Zaharakos Confectionery in Columbus, Indiana Soda shop is a business akin to an ice cream parlor and a drugstore soda fountain. ... This article is about the philosophical concept of Art. ...

Meanwhile, Skip tells the other boys about sex, and soon the teenagers begin to experiment, leading to a sort of sexual revolution. Betty is curious (leading to a reversal of the sex talk between her and Mary Sue/Jennifer) and, knowing that her husband George (William H. Macy) would never do any of the things Mary Sue describes, engages in masturbation while bathing. This causes a nearby tree to spontaneously combust. For the Macy Gray song, see Sexual Revolution (song). ... Woman masturbating, 1913 drawing by Gustav Klimt. ...

Bud, realizing the firemen have no other duties other than to fetch cats out of trees, teaches them how to put out fires and is awarded a medal. He also gets attention from a beautiful cheerleader named Margaret (Marley Shelton), who bakes him oatmeal cookies, the same cookies she was supposed to bake for a boy named Whitey (David Tom). Bud’s act of heroism has inadvertently changed the storyline, but he seizes the moment and asks Margaret out for a date. When the TV repairman returns and confronts him, Bud turns off the TV, relinquishing his ability to go home in the process. Marley Eve Shelton (born April 12, 1974) is an American film and television actress. ... An Oatmeal Cookie is a shooter made of equal parts Baileys Irish Cream, Butterscotch and Cinnamon Schnapps, and Jägermeister. ... David Tom (born March 23, 1978 in Hinsdale, Illinois) is an Emmy-winning American actor. ...

Pleasantville is changing, double beds even become available in stores, colored paints available to buy, students flaunt sexual experiences in public and Pleasantville's wives become tired of their household duties and begin to think, causing their husbands to reel in shock at their behavior. The mayor, Big Bob (J.T Walsh) notices these changes and becomes threatened and so, he hires George on the Pleasantville Chamber of Commerce to help the town. At this point, Betty has become "colored" and is afraid that George will hate her. Bud helps her to conceal the color with monochrome make-up. A pillowtop queen-size mattress. ...

People in Pleasantville begin to explore hidden abilities and revel in their new freedoms. Mr. Johnson begins to paint, while Betty finds that housework no longer interests her. The basketball team loses their first game (previously, not only had they never lost, but they had never missed any shots either), while students begin visiting the public library and reading books recommended by Mary Sue and Bud. Ironically, Mary Sue/Jennifer, who has never shown any interest in school, finds she likes reading so much that she rejects Skip in favor of a book by D. H. Lawrence and gains color. David Herbert Richards Lawrence (11 September 1885 – 2 March 1930) was an English writer of the 20th century, whose prolific and diverse output included novels, short stories, poems, plays, essays, travel books, paintings, translations, literary criticism, and personal letters. ...

Slowly, certain objects begin turning multicolor, including flowers and the faces of people who have experienced bursts of passion or change. The only people who remain unchanged are the town fathers, led by Mayor Big Bob who sees the changes as eating away at the moral values of Pleasantville. They resolve to do something about their increasingly distant wives and the rebellious teenagers. A town meeting is called. Betty leaves George and the kids - she is in love with Mr. Johnson and cannot hide her 'coloured' face anymore. Multicolor is a subtractive natural color process for motion pictures. ... The term Elder (or its equivalent in another language) is used in several different countries and organizations to indicate a position of authority. ...

The Nazis as well as racial segregation and rioting of the African-American Civil Rights Movement reach Pleasantville, touched off by a nude painting of Betty on the window of Mr. Johnson’s soda shop. The soda shop is destroyed, piles of books are burned, and anyone who is "colored" is harassed in the streets. Bud earns his color (Mary Sue having already gotten hers by embracing her passion for books) by defending Betty from a gang of thugs led by Whitey. National Socialism redirects here. ... Racial segregation characterised by separation of different races in daily life, such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a rest room, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home. ... Teamsters, armed with pipes, riot in a clash with riot police in the Minneapolis Teamsters Strike of 1934. ... Martin Luther King is perhaps most famous for his I Have a Dream speech given front of the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to a set of noted events and reform movements in the United States... Zaharakos Confectionery in Columbus, Indiana Soda shop is a business akin to an ice cream parlor and a drugstore soda fountain. ... Book burning is the practice of ceremoniously destroying by fire one or more copies of a book or other written material. ... Color is an important part of the visual arts. ...

He transforms from a wimpy loser to a strong leader who advocates resistance to the new "Pleasantville Code of Conduct", a list of rules preventing people from visiting the library and Lovers Lane, playing loud music, or using paint colors other than black, white or gray.

In protest against the mundane Pleasantville outlook, Bud and Mr. Johnson paint a colorful mural depicting Martin Luther King, Jr.s "I Have a Dream" speech and other changes in their society. For this they are thrown in jail. Bud is visited then by George who wonders what changed Betty, after he reveals he hasn't eaten since he doesn't know how to cook. Bud simply replies that "people change". They are subsequently brought to trial in front of the entire town, in a prejudiced split-up with the monochrome citizens on the ground floor and the "colored" residents residing on an above balcony. Demonstrators march in the street while protesting the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on April 16, 2005. ... Salle des illustres, ceiling painting, by Jean André Rixens. ... Martin Luther King redirects here. ... Martin Luther King, Jr. ... Look up speech, speaking, utter, gab in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

George earns his color when, in the courtroom, he cries for the loss of his wife after Bud explains the truth about what he actually misses (Betty herself, not the tasks she performs). Mr. Johnson is repentant and tries to haggle with the mayor, but Bud speaks out, finally arousing enough anger and indignation in Big Bob to turn him colored as well.

With this, the entire town becomes emotional, therefore colored, and the people of Pleasantville are finally introduced to the rest of the world.

Jennifer chooses to stay in this alternate world, planning to go to college as Mary Sue Parker. David returns using the remote control and finds his mother crying in the kitchen, distraught over her boring life. She had thought it would be so different. David says, "It's not supposed to be anything".

The movie ends with a shot of Betty and George, reunited; however, when Betty turns to look at her husband, it is Mr. Johnson who appears in his place.

Cast

• Tobey Maguire as David. David is the protagonist of the film who feels out of place in the 1990s at the beginning of the film and is more at home in the dream world of Pleasantville. After being transported into the world which he idolizes, David begins to realize that the perceived happiness in Pleasantville is not nearly as fulfilling as he hoped it would be. He eventually sees Pleasantville not as the utopia he once imagined but as a dystopia as the freedom of choice and expression is severely limited. His transformation happens as he evolves from dreamy outcast to leader of the changes that take place in Pleasantville.
• Reese Witherspoon as Jennifer. Jennifer, David's twin sister, is in many ways the opposite of her brother. She is initially dismayed upon being transported to Pleasantville with her brother, but her own personality asserts itself, and she sparks the initial changes in the town. As the story continues, she begins to understand the limitations she has placed on herself in her own life. Her reading of a D. H. Lawrence novel signified her effort to change herself, and thus, she effected her own transformation. By the end of the film she decides to stay (for a while) in a place where she has changed and attend college.
• William H. Macy as George Parker. George is the stereotypical 1950s working father with cues directly from shows such as Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best. He is very change averse and when the town begins to change he does not know how to cope. He remains black and white through nearly the entire film until David tells him how much he really loves his wife.
• Joan Allen as Betty Parker. Betty starts as the typical 1950s stay at home mother but evolves in emotions much more quickly than her husband. This causes conflict starting with her change from black and white to color after Jennifer recommends masturbation. She initially tries to cover up this affliction but then decides she should not be ashamed. Her love triangle with Bill Johnson also becomes an issue showing that such taboo events did occur even in 1950s culture.
• Jeff Daniels as Bill Johnson. Bill starts the film completely unable to do anything that is not specifically defined in his repetitive list of tasks. This changes however when David inadvertently teaches him a small level of autonomy. This autonomy progresses and Bill begins acting out his desire to be creative and paint. Bill evolves into the central revolutionary in the film going so far as to paint a naked mural on one of his windows. After the town turns fully Technicolor it is revealed in the last shot that George is replaced by him sitting on the bench next to Betty.
• Don Knotts as the TV Repairman. Don Knotts plays a small but memorable role as the TV repairman granting David his wish of being part of Pleasantville. While shown to hate the change happening to his town, the repairman is shown with a smile on his face after David turns from aloofness to compassion for his mother.
• Jane Kaczmarek as David's Mom. David's Mom plays the foil to Betty by never cooking or cleaning, and shattering an hour of curse-less dialogue with "fuck" at the end of the film. David parallels his treatment of Betty by wiping the make-up off her face and consoling her, showing a complete change since the film's start.
• J.T. Walsh as Big Bob. Big Bob plays the town's mayor with slight Nazi undertones. He is the most reactionary in the town and decides that colors are indecent. Many subtle references to Triumph of the Will are made in the closing court scene with Big Bob playing the lead. Even he turns to color as he expresses fierce anger towards David. Upon seeing his new face he flees the court room in shame leaving the town to its own devices, ultimately freeing it. This was actor J.T. Walsh's final film as he died of a heart attack shortly after filming.

• Danny Strong as Juke Box Boy and Marc Blucas as Basketball Hero are two of the teenagers who become "colored". Both actors would have recurring roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer; six other cast members of Pleasantville had single episode roles.

Tobias Vincent Maguire (born June 27, 1975) is an American actor. ... For other uses, see Utopia (disambiguation). ... This article is about the philosophical concept and literary form. ... Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon[1] (born March 22, 1976) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. ... Not to be confused with Bill Macy. ... For other uses, see Leave It to Beaver (disambiguation). ... Robert Young and Jean Vander Pyl on NBC Radios Father Knows Best Father Knows Best, a popular American TV and radio sitcom of the 1950s and 1960s, portrayed an idealized vision of middle-class American life of the era. ... Joan Allen in a scene from The Contender Joan Allen (b. ... Woman masturbating, 1913 drawing by Gustav Klimt. ... This article is about cultural prohibitions in general, for other uses, see Taboo (disambiguation). ... For other persons of this name, see Jeff Daniels (disambiguation). ... Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (a role which earned him five Emmy Awards), and as landlord Ralph Furley on the television sitcom Three’s... Jane Kaczmarek (born December 21, 1955 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an Emmy Award nominated American actress best known for playing the character Lois in Malcolm in the Middle. ... For other uses, see foil. ... J.T. Walsh (September 28, 1943–February 27, 1998) was an American actor best known for his roles as quietly sinister white-collar sleazeballs (quote from Leonard Maltin) in numerous feature films. ... National Socialism redirects here. ... Triumph of the Will (German: Triumph des Willens) is a propaganda film by the German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl. ... Heart attack redirects here. ... Danny Strong (born June 6, 1974 in Manhattan Beach, California, USA) is an actor in film and television. ... Marc Blucas Marc Blucas Marc Blucas Marcus Paul Blucas (born January 11, 1972 in Butler, Pennsylvania) is an American actor. ... For other uses, see Buffy the Vampire Slayer (disambiguation). ...

Symbolism

Though one of the most notable aspects of Pleasantville is its cinematography - particularly its rich contrast between color and black and white, the symbolism in the film should be noted as well. The most obvious symbolism exists in the "coloreds" versus those who are still black and white. As a reference to the racism in the 1950s and 1960s in United States, there is a sign posted in a shop window at one point declaring "No Coloreds Allowed", which referred to store owners refusing service to Black Americans during the aforementioned era. Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Gay bashing Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial...

The DVD release of the film offers still-shots of the characters faces before the film begins so that viewers may take the opportunity to adjust their television sets to the proper flesh tone. A caption tells the viewer that the flesh tone on most television sets is often set 'too high'. As relevant as it is to the film's subject matter - as the film deals with race-like issues in regards to color and what is and what is not 'pleasant', it's unknown whether or not the director intended this pre-film bit to be thought provoking.

Towards the end of the film, the courtroom scene is a throw back to To Kill a Mockingbird, where Atticus Finch makes his famous closing argument. As in To Kill a Mockingbird, the courtroom is divided by skin color. Sitting in the second floor balcony seats are the "coloreds", where Black Americans sat in To Kill a Mockingbird, and the black and white people (White Americans) are sitting on the floor seats of the courtroom. Bud, like Atticus Finch, also makes an impassioned speech to the judge and jury about the unfairness of the trial at hand; however, Bud is not the lawyer but instead one of the accused. To Kill a Mockingbird is a 1962 Academy Award winning film directed by Robert Mulligan and based on the novel of the same name by Harper Lee. ... Atticus Finch is a character in Harper Lees Pulitzer Prize-winning fictional novel To Kill a Mockingbird. ...

In addition, there is a scene involving Bud and Margaret where she picks an apple for Bud from a nearby tree on Lover's Lane, and he eats it. It strongly parallels the story of Adam and Eve, symbolizing the "Fall of Man," or in this case, the moment where Bud stops trying to live Pleasantville as a television show and really starts being his own version of Bud. The moment is repeated a few scenes later, to further enforce this symbolism, when the TV Repairman berates Bud for that bite.

Gary Ross was quoted about the symbolism of the film, saying, "This movie is about the fact that personal repression gives rise to larger political oppression...That when we're afraid of certain things in ourselves or we're afraid of change, we project those fears on to other things, and a lot of very ugly social situations can develop". [1] Gary Ross (born November 3, 1956 in Los Angeles, California is an American writer, director and actor. ...

Another symbolic aspect to consider is the assumed connection between colors and loss of innocence. For example most of the time a black and white had sex or experienced a moment of pleasure they obtained color, suggesting the idea that humans as people are truly recognized and seen as their imperfections and differences are made more apparent. Lastly this idea is somewhat of a paradox and does hold true for certain characters in the movie. Jennifer has sex profusely but only gains color when she eschews sex in favor of her studies. Bud gains color only after he defends Betty from a band of thugs and experiences true anger and defence.

Reception

The movie stands with an 86% "fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Noted film critic Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars calling it "one of the best and most original films of the year." Roger Joseph Ebert (born June 18, 1942) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic. ...

Awards and nominations

The film won the following accolades:

• Saturn Awards (1998)
  • Best Performance by a Younger Actor/Actress - Tobey Maguire
  • Best Supporting Actress - Joan Allen
• Boston Society of Film Critics Award (1998)
  • Best Supporting Actor - William H. Macy
  • Best Supporting Actress - Joan Allen

The film was nominated for the following achievements: The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy and horror in film, television and home video. ... The Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) is organization of film reviewers from Boston-based publications. ...

• Academy Awards (1998)
  • Best Art Direction/Set Decoration - Jeannine Claudia Oppewall and Jay Hart
  • Best Costume Design - Judianna Makovsky
  • Best Music, Original Dramatic Score - Randy Newman

Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Music

Main article: Pleasantville (soundtrack)

The soundtrack features many staples from the 1950s such as "Be-Bop-A-Lula" by Gene Vincent and the 1961 classic "At Last" by Etta James. The main score for the film was composed by Randy Newman; he received an Oscar nomination in the original music category. The soundtrack does however feature some contemporary artists and includes two songs by Fiona Apple, who uses a similar scene in her "Across the Universe" video. Pleasantville is the soundtrack to the New Line Cinema film, Pleasantville released alongside the movies release in 1998. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Gene Vincent, real name Vincent Eugene Craddock, (February 11, 1935 - October 12, 1971) was an American rocknroll pioneer musician, best known for his hit Be-Bop-A-Lula. // His parents, Ezekiah Jackson and Mary Louise Craddock, were shop owners in Norfolk, Virginia. ... For other uses, see At Last (disambiguation). ... Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938) is an American blues, soul, R&B, and jazz singer and songwriter. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... The Academy Award for Original Music Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer. ... Fiona Apple (born September 13, 1977) is a Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter. ... A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song. ...

Soundtrack

Released: October 13 1998
Genre: Pop
Label: Sony Music

Track listing

1. "Across the Universe" - Fiona Apple – 5:07
2. "Dream Girl" - Robert and Johnny – 1:57
3. "Be-Bop-A-Lula" - Gene Vincent – 2:36
4. "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" - Larry Williams – 2:11
5. "Sixty Minute Man" - Billy Ward & the Dominoes – 2:28
6. "Take Five" - The Dave Brubeck Quartet – 5:25
7. "At Last" - Etta James – 3:00
8. "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" - Elvis Presley – 1:47
9. "Rave On" - Buddy Holly and the Crickets – 1:49
10. "Please Send Me Someone to Love" - Fiona Apple – 4:01
11. "So What" - Miles Davis – 9:04
12. "Suite from Pleasantville" - Randy Newman – 8:11

This article is about the song by The Beatles. ... Fiona Apple (born September 13, 1977) is a Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Gene Vincent, real name Vincent Eugene Craddock, (February 11, 1935 - October 12, 1971) was an American rocknroll pioneer musician, best known for his hit Be-Bop-A-Lula. // His parents, Ezekiah Jackson and Mary Louise Craddock, were shop owners in Norfolk, Virginia. ... Lawdy Miss Clawdy Lloyd Price Lawdy Miss Clawdy is a song by Lloyd Price. ... // [] // ... Sixty Minute Man was the title of a highly successful and influential rhythm and blues record released in 1951 by the Dominoes, now regarded as one of the most important of the recordings which helped generate and shape rock and roll. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This article is about Dave Brubeck Quartet jazz piece. ... Dave Brubeck formed The Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951, which consisted of Joe Dodge on drums, Bob Bates on bass, Paul Desmond on saxophone, and of course Brubeck on piano. ... For other uses, see At Last (disambiguation). ... Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938) is an American blues, soul, R&B, and jazz singer and songwriter. ... Teddy Bear is a popular song. ... Elvis redirects here. ... Rave On may refer to: Rave On, a 1958 song by Buddy Holly, which was the last song he ever played before his fatal plane crash. ... For the Weezer song, see Buddy Holly (song). ... The Crickets The Crickets were the backing band from Texas in the United States, formed by singer/songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950s. ... Please Send Me Someone to Love is a song written and recorded by Percy Mayfield in 1950 on Art Rupes Specialty Records label. ... Fiona Apple (born September 13, 1977) is a Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter. ... Opening measures of Miles Daviss composition So What of 1959. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz musician, widely considered to be one of the most influential of the 20th century. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Pleasantville

• Pleasantville at the Internet Movie Database
• McCarthyism and the Movies
• Pleasantville review by Roger Ebert
• Pleasantville at the BFI
• Pleasantville at Rotten Tomatoes^sm
• DVD Beaver review