Historical imagery and music
Part of his relationship with history is built through visual effects that integrate Forrest into real images. The songs help situate the different eras.
References:wikipedia.org
Film record
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump (1994), directed by Robert Zemeckis, is a drama comedy based on the novel by Winston Groom. It follows a man from Alabama whose life intersects with various moments of 20th-century American history.
- Production countries
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Genres
- drama film · comedy film · romantic comedy film · coming-of-age film · flashback film · historical drama · tragicomedy · American football film
The starting point
Spoiler-free synopsis
The story follows Forrest Gump, a man from Alabama with a mild intellectual disability, over several decades. As his life unfolds, he crosses paths with decisive episodes of American history.
Before you press play
What to know before watching
Novel adaptation
Based on Winston Groom's eponymous book, but it substantially modifies both the protagonist's personality and the circumstances of his story.
References:wikipedia.org
Understanding the reception
What people think
A synthesis of the referenced review and comment excerpts. It represents the consulted sources, not a consensus of all critics or viewers.
What critics highlight
Appreciated aspects
Performance and tonal balance
Roger Ebert's review highlights Tom Hanks' performance for maintaining a delicate balance between humor and sadness, and appreciates that the story combines laughter with more serene moments.
References:rogerebert.com
Could this be for you?
Content and tone
The narrative combines comedy and drama and takes place over decades of American history; it is advisable to keep in mind that tonal shift and its broad historical framework.
References:wikipedia.org
Sources for this guide
Prepared with AI assistance and automated evidence and spoiler checks. This is not a first-hand viewing review or a numerical rating. Internal quotations are not reproduced; references provide the original context.
- wikipedia.orgDocumentary excerpt
- rogerebert.comSearch excerpt
Credits
Music
Alan Silvestri — Music composition
Direction
Robert Zemeckis — Directing
Cinematography
Don Burgess — Cinematography
Art department
Rick Carter — Production design
Costume
Joanna Johnston — Costume design
Writing
Eric Roth — Screenwriting
Cast
Tom Hanks — Acting (Forrest Gump)
Gary Sinise — Acting (Lieutenant Dan Taylor)
Sally Field — Acting (Mrs. Gump)
Robin Wright — Acting (Jenny Curran)
Mykelti Williamson — Acting (Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue)
Haley Joel Osment — Acting (Forrest Gump Jr.)
Hanna Hall — Acting (young Jenny Curran)
Mary Ellen Trainor — Acting
Sam Anderson — Acting (Principal Hancock)
Kurt Russell — Acting (Elvis voice)
Peter Dobson — Acting (Elvis)
Rebecca Williams — Acting
Michael Conner Humphreys — Acting (young Forrest Gump)
Harold G. Herthum — Acting
George Kelly — Acting
Bob Penny — Acting
John Randall — Acting
Margo Moorer — Acting
Ione M. Telech — Acting
Christine Seabrook — Acting
John Worsham — Acting
Siobhan Fallon Hogan — Acting (Dorothy Harris)
Alexander Zemeckis — Acting
Logan Livingston Gomez — Acting
Ben Waddel — Acting
Elizabeth Hanks — Acting
Tyler Long — Acting
Christopher Jones — Acting
Grady Bowman — Acting
Kevin Mangan — Acting
Fay Genens — Acting
Frank Geyer — Acting
Rob Landry — Acting
Jason McGuire — Acting
Pete Auster — Acting
Sonny Shroyer — Acting (Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant)
Brett Rice — Acting
Ed Davis — Acting
Daniel C. Striepeke — Acting
Bruce Lucvia — Acting
David Brisbin — Acting
Kirk Ward — Acting
Angela Lomas — Acting
Timothy Record — Acting
Deborah McTeer — Acting
Mark Matheisen — Acting
Al Harrington — Acting
Jed Gillin — Acting (John F. Kennedy)
Bob Harks — Acting
Don Fischer — Acting
Kenneth Bevington — Acting
Michael Flannery — Acting
Gary Robinson — Acting
Marlena Smalls — Acting
Kitty K. Green — Acting
Afemo Omilami — Acting
Matt Wallace — Acting
Danté McCarthy — Acting
Paulie DiCocco — Acting
Mike Jolly — Acting
Michael Kemmerling — Acting
John Voldstad — Acting
Jeffrey Winner — Acting
Russ Wilson — Acting
Daniel J. Gillooly — Acting
Calvin Gadsden — Acting
Aaron Izbicki — Acting
Michael Burgess — Acting
Steven Griffith — Acting
Bill Roberson — Acting
Michael McFall — Acting
Eric Underwood — Acting
Steve DeRelian — Acting
Byron Minns — Acting
Stephen Bridgewater — Acting
Bonnie Ann Burgess — Acting
Scott Oliver — Acting
John William Galt — Acting (Lyndon B. Johnson)
Hilary Chaplain — Acting
Isabel Rose — Acting
Jay Ross — Acting
Richard D'Alessandro — Acting (Abbie Hoffman)
Dick Stilwell — Acting
Kevin Davis — Acting
Michael Jace — Acting (the Black Panthers)
Geoffrey Blake — Acting (Wesley)
Tim Perry — Acting
Vanessa Roth — Acting
Emily Carey — Acting
Paul Raczkowski — Acting
Valentine — Acting
Dick Cavett — Acting (himself)
Joe Stefanelli — Acting (John Lennon)
Tiffany Salerno — Acting
Marla Sucharetza — Acting
Aloysius Gigl — Acting
Jack Bowden — Acting
Joe Alaskey — Acting (Richard Nixon)
Lazarus Jackson — Acting
W. Benson Terry — Acting
Matt Rebenkoff — Acting
Peter Bannon — Acting
Joe Washington — Acting
Nora Dunfee — Acting
Natalie Hendrix — Acting
Hallie D'Amore — Acting
Chiffonye Cobb — Acting
Juan Singleton — Acting
Bobby Richardson — Acting
Michael Mattison — Acting
Lenny Herb — Acting
Charles Boswell — Acting
Timothy McNeil — Acting
Lonnie Hamilton — Acting
Teresa Denton — Acting
Jacqueline Lovell — Acting
Gerald Ford — Acting
John Lennon — Acting
Grand L. Bush — Acting (the Black Panthers)
Editing
Arthur Schmidt — Editing
Production
Wendy Finerman — Production
Charles Newirth — Production
Steve Tisch — Production
Steve Starkey — Production
Versions and cuts
No versions have been documented yet.
Releases by territory
United States · Original release
Related reading
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