Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2425 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-05-13
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: English
• Dubbed in: Italian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 130 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Robin Williams stars as an English teacher who doesn't fit into the conservative prep school where he teaches but his charisma and love of poetry inspires several boys to revive a secret society with a bohemian bent. The script is well-meaning but a little trite, though director Peter Weir (The Truman Show) adds layers of emotional depth in scenes of conflict between the kids and adults. (A subplot involving one father's terrible pressure on his son--played by Robert Sean Leonard--to drop his interest in the theatre reaches heartbreaking proportions). Williams is given plenty of latitude to work in his brand of improvisational humour, though it is all well-woven into his character's style of instruction. --Tom Keogh

Amazon.co.uk Review
Peter Weir’s entry in the "coming of age" teen movie genre, Dead Poets’ Society is a more than usually emotive tale of one teacher and the students he inspires. Robin Williams plays the radical English teacher in a stuffy New England prep school who tries to make a difference. His unconventional methods and love of poetry make him a hit with the repressed teens under his tutelage, and they in turn form a secret society for the pursuit of freedom, truth, beauty and other bohemian ideals. Much soul-searching ensues, not least from the doe-eyed Neil (Robert Sean Leonard) whose sensitive aspirations to pursue a career in the theatre are scuppered by his prosaic father with tragic consequences.

True, the script is clichéd at times and the battle between adults and teens is hackneyed, but no one can deny the emotional power of the "Captain My Captain" scene, where the class defiantly stand on their desks, or the moment when Williams inspires his class with the motto "Carpe Diem". Indeed it is the relationship between Williams and his pupils that enables Weir to raise the film above what could have been over-sentimental slosh, with Williams’ trademark improvised monologues injecting humanity (even in a relatively serious role) into the central character. The result is an inspirational story that stands up to repeat viewings.

On the DVD: Dead Poets’ Society is anamorphically enhanced for this special edition and the changing seasons of New England are beautifully recreated with rich earthy tones dominating the location scenes. Special attention has been paid to the audio track with the dialogue crisp and clear throughout. Extras are good, including retrospective interviews with cast and crew in the "Scrapbook" feature, an unedited scene that was originally part of a planned montage, the trailer and a couple of featurettes, both dealing with the technical aspects of the shoot. There’s also an audio commentary from director Weir, John Seale and screenwriter Tom Schulman.--Kristen Bowditch

DVD Description
DVD Special Features:

Scrapbook
Raw Takes
Alan Splet Tribute
John Seale's Master Class
Audio Commentary
Theatrical Trailer

Languages in Dolby Digital 5.1: English, Spanish
Languages in Dolby Digital Mono 2.0: English
Subtitles: English, English for the hearing impaired, Spanish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic
Widescreen format 1.78:1

Customer Reviews

a real classic
One of the best films ever made

It is a new school term at the very exclusive Welton Academy, and Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) arrives for his first term. Also new is teacher Mr Keating (Robin Williams) who's teaching method is somewhat unauthordox. The film follows a small group of boys out of Mr Keating class, who restart a now defunct Dead Poets Society. Mr Keating teaches the boys to follow their hearts and think independently of their parents, and unfortunately this leads to a great deal of trouble.

The final scene is still, after all this time, one of the most moving I have seen, without being over sentimental.

This should have been a stepping stone for many of the young actors, but quite a few appear to have fallen by the wayside.

Robert Sean Leonard can now be found in the series House MD; Josh Charles who I last remember seeing in the S.W.A.T [2003]; Gale "Nuwanda" Hansen has been relegated to occasional appearances in such as Murder She Wrote, and as a security guard in Beyond Belief Fact or Fiction; and so on, even Ethan Hawke has been reduced to an "also staring" position. Shame that such talent is so underused.

2009 will be the 20th anniversary.

The "Beautiful Play"
Let's face it. Nobody has time for soppy tragic films these days because there are simply too many of them. The rack at my local Blockbusters is groaning under the weight of a hundred films all vying for our tears and to be quite frank none of them are willing to bloody earn them. So you can imagine the premeditated cynicism that I sat down to watch my hastily rewound copy of Dead Poets Society with. The only tears I was anticipating shedding were those of blood as I was scratching my eyes out in a vain attempt to make the film a little more interesting. However, two hours later and there was not a trace of blood to be seen, in fact I was pleasantly surprised and I believe that this little gem will leave even the toughest of you with a small and heartfelt tear in the corner of your eye.

Dead Poets Society is set in post-depression 1950's America and is the story of six teenage boys at one of the top high schools in the country as they reach the end of their education. As the saying goes "boys will be boys" but they have never really been allowed an outlet for this boyish spirit and expression. The characters we see at the beginning are self-assured and cocky but underneath they are just insecure little boys who need something to hold onto. This however is before the arrival of Professor John Keating, marvellously portrayed by Robin Williams, who takes the boys as their new English teacher. The boys first, and probably most memorable meeting with Keating is in their first lesson with him as their teacher. He enters the room and tells them to turn to a page in their books before promptly telling them to tear it out because it is nonsense. This has a profound impact on the boys whose usual lessons call for conformity and adherence to all rules and this is all turned on its head and blown away by a figure of authority. By this point the group realise that this man means business and they also realise that they might just be interested. He then tells the boys to gather round him before uttering the immortal line "We are all part of a beautiful play, you will have a chance to contribute a part, what will it be?". Dead Poets Society is full of small carefully thought out touches such as this, which make it the beautifully ambient film that it is. This film really does glow with an almost tangible atmosphere created by the combination of true believability and circumstances so terrible you dread to think that they could really happen.

However the film takes on a rather darker tone towards the end. After all the inspiration and reason for life that Professor Keating has given the boys an event takes place that rocks the foundations of all they have come to learn and believe. This is an excellent choice of plot over the altogether overused and boring route that the film could so easily have taken by keeping the plot unchallenging and open to a "wider audience". Or in other words to able to make more money. It is ironic that the very thing that makes this film appealing is the fact that it wasn't designed to be appealing.

Dead Poets Society is an inspiring and thought provoking film from director Peter Weir. The superb acting of the boys played by Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke and Gale Hansen brings this epic script to life and gives the film the emotional credibility that makes it outstanding. Weirs intimate directing style draws you into the story so that you almost develop a bond with the characters and you really care what happens to them. It is both uplifting and devastating. It is this mixture of emotions that the film conjures that makes it so enjoyable. The artistry of the film in its portrayal of the characters progress from insecure boys with no meaning to their lives to independent and loyal men who have a passion for life is, at worst, magical and at best breathtaking, awe inspiring and brilliant all at once. When watching the film one almost feels like one of Keating's students in the classroom, being enlightened and inspired, discovering a new vigour for life, a new reason for getting out of bed in the morning and seizing the day. I recommend this film to anyone, old or young, who feels that they have lost there way on the path of life and needs setting straight again. Carpe Diem - seize the day and go and see this film and I guarantee you will be crying and laughing and making magnificent plans for doing things that you've always wanted to do but never really saw a reason for, and now you will know that reason, simply that you have the day so go out and seize it!

Make your lives extraordinary
I still remember fondly seeing this at the cinema back in 1989. It's as fresh now as it was then and still totally inspiring. Every time I watch this it leaves me feeling inspired and ready to grab life by the horns. "Make your lives extraordinary boys" says Robin Williams. It serves as a constant reminder that one day you'll be gone and quite probably forgotten, so make the most of your life and seize the day. The ending still kills me even now. An often overlooked classic.