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.
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.
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?
Robin Williams
T.S. Garp
Mary Beth Hurt
Helen Holm
Glenn Close
Jenny Fields
John Lithgow
Roberta Muldoon
Robin Williams is Garp.
He's got a funny way of looking at life.
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.
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
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
This title is available on:
DVD
Video
Book
Several tracks can be found on a promotional CD release in 2002 called: "Gorfaine - Schwartz Agency."
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.
Gross
$29,712,172 (USA)
N/A (international)
$29,712,172 (total)
Opening Weekend
$2,902,088 (357 theaters)
Widest Release
560 theaters
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)
