Twitter
FAQ
Contact RWF
Back to the Robin Williams Fansite Home
General Information
Poster for The World According to Garp
Directed by
George Roy Hill

Based on a novel by
John Irving

Screenplay by
Steve Tesich

Theatrical Release Date
July 23, 1982

DVD Release Date
April 3, 2001

Production Companies
Warner Bros., Pan Art Productions

Distribution Company
Warner Bros.

Summary

Based on the John Irving novel, this film chronicles the life of T.S. Garp and his mother Jenny. While Garp sees himself as a "serious" writer, Jenny writes a feminist manifesto at an opportune time, and finds herself a magnet for all manner of distressed women.

Trailer
Quotes

Garp
My name is T.S. Garp.
Helen
What does the T.S. stand for?
Garp
Terribly Sexy. I used to be Terribly Shy, but I changed.

Helen
I'm Helen Holm.
Garp
Oh, Holm sweet Holm. Our new wrestling coach here is named Holm. Boy, what a hard-ass! We call him "Holm sweat Holm".
Helen
He's my father. I'm his daughter. We're the Holm team.
Garp
Oh. Take care.          Asshole.

Garp
Well?
Jenny Fields
It's, uh... a bit thin.
Garp
Yeah, it's not the quantity that counts.
Jenny Fields
Thank God for that! This is good enough for me.
Garp
That's not very artistic, though.
Jenny Fields
Well, I'm not an artist. I'm a nurse and it's about time I got back to it.
Garp
I wanna be an artist, and I want to know what you thought of it.
Jenny Fields
I'm not sure I understand it.
Garp
Mom, it's very simple. He can do wonders when he's wearing his magic gloves. If his wife is sad, he touches her with his gloves, she's happy. If his children are crying, he touches them, and they smile. But he can't feel them! He yearns to feel. He can even hold off death with his magic gloves, but he can't feel life. So, he takes off the gloves, and he dies. But, he finally feels life as he's flying into the arms of death.

Garp
We'll take the house.
Helen
Garp!
Garp
Honey, the chances of another plane hitting this house are astronomical. See? It's been pre-disastered. We're going to be safe here.

Garp
Nobody is buying my novel. I'm starting my second and the same nobodies are going to line up not to buy that one too.

Garp
We are civilized people, and civilized people obey rules! You Neolithic dipshit!

Babysitter
What does T.S. stand for?
Garp
Terribly Sad. I used to be Terribly Sexy, bu... but I changed.
Babysitter
Oh, I don't think so.
Garp
Really?

Photo Gallery
Main Cast

Robin Williams
T.S. Garp

Mary Beth Hurt
Helen Holm

Glenn Close
Jenny Fields

John Lithgow
Roberta Muldoon

Tagline

Robin Williams is Garp.
He's got a funny way of looking at life.

Filming Info

Locations
Harley Dodge Memorial, Madison, NJ
Millbrook Private School, Millbrook, NY
Lincoln Park, NJ
New Brunswick, NJ
Roslyn Long Island, NY
Tuckahoe, NY
Denville, NJ
Bryant Park, Manhattan, NY

The house that the plane crashes into was built at one end of the only runway at Lincoln Park Airport, a very small airstrip in Lincoln Park, NJ (about 35 miles NW of New York City). The wrecked house was not removed for several weeks. While no planes have hit houses in the vicinity, one had bounced off the roof of a passing car several years earlier.

International Release Dates

Argentina
August 19, 1982

Brazil
September 6, 1982

Australia
December 23, 1982

Sweden
December 25, 1982

Netherlands
January 20, 1983

Denmark
January 28, 1983

Finland
February 25, 1983

Italy
March 3, 1983

France
April 13, 1983

Japan
October 15, 1983

Hong Kong
January 5, 1984

Philippines
June 13, 1985 (Davao)

West Germany
August 6, 1987

International Titles

Sweden / Finland (Swedish title)
Garp och hans värld

France / Canada (French title)
Le monde selon Garp

Brazil / Portugal
O Mundo Segundo Garp

Argentina
El mundo de acuerdo a Garp

Spain
El mundo según Garp

Norway
Garp og hans verden

West Germany
Garp und wie er die Welt sah

Finland
Garpin maailma

Italy
Il mondo secondo Garp

Romania
Lumea lui Garp

Greece
O allokotos kosmos tou Garp

Poland
Swiat wedlug Garpa

Denmark
Verden ifølge Garp

Media Availability

This title is available on:

DVD
Video
Book

Soundtrack Info

Several tracks can be found on a promotional CD release in 2002 called: "Gorfaine - Schwartz Agency."

Fun facts

Robin was considered for the role that John Lithgow played.

Glenn Close plays Robin's mother, yet she is only four years older than he.

Jeff Daniels was considered for the lead role, but lost out to Robin.

Box Office Details

Gross
$29,712,172 (USA)
N/A (international)
$29,712,172 (total)

Opening Weekend
$2,902,088 (357 theaters)

Widest Release
560 theaters

Awards

Academy Awards
Nom - 1983 - Best Actor in a Supporting Role (John Lithgow)
Nom - 1983 - Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Glenn Close)

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Won - 1982 - LAFCA Award for Best Supporting Actor (John Lithgow)
Won - 1982 - LAFCA Award for Best Supporting Actress (Glenn Close)

National Board of Review, USA
Won - 1982 - Best Actress (Glenn Close)

New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Won - 1982 - Best Supporting Actor (John Lithgow)