Iron Will
| Iron Will | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Charles Haid |
| Produced by |
Patrick J. Palmer James Ployhar Robert Schwartz George Zepp |
| Written by |
John Michael Hayes Djordje Milicevic Jeff Arch |
| Starring |
Mackenzie Astin Kevin Spacey David Ogden Stiers August Schellenberg George Gerdes Penelope Windust Brian Cox |
| Music by | Joel McNeely |
| Cinematography | William Wages |
| Editing by | Andrew Doerfer |
| Studio | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures |
| Release dates | January 14, 1994 |
| Running time | 108 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $21,006,361[1] |
Iron Will is a 1994 family adventure film directed by Charles Haid. The film stars Mackenzie Astin, Kevin Spacey, David Ogden Stiers, George Gerdes, Brian Cox, Penelope Windust, and August Schellenberg.
Plot
In 1917, Will Stoneman's (Mackenzie Astin) father is killed in a mushing accident leaving Will to care for his family. Needing money for college and to save the family farm in South Dakota, Will decides to travel to Winnipeg, Canada to take part in a dog-sled race from Winnipeg to Saint Paul, Minnesota. With the aid of Ned Dodd (August Schellenberg), the young man prepares both physically and mentally for the harsh weather and terrain throughout the race. During the race, Will becomes popular with the newspaper media as reporter Harry Kingsley (Kevin Spacey) tells about Will's strong courage in what he must do.
Cast and characters
- Mackenzie Astin as Will Stoneman
- Kevin Spacey as Harry Kingsley
- David Ogden Stiers as J.W. Harper
- August Schellenberg as Ned Dodd
- George Gerdes as Borg Guillarson
- Penelope Windust as Maggie Stoneman
- Brian Cox as Angus McTeague
- Rex Linn as Joe McPherson
- John Terry as Jack Stoneman
- Richard Riehle as Burton
Production
Much of the film was shot on location in Minnesota, mostly along the Lake Superior shoreline as well as Iron Range cities such as Floodwood. Although the race takes place between Winnipeg and Saint Paul, neither city actually appears in the film. The Winnipeg starting point for the race was filmed in Duluth, Minnesota near the old Central High School. The Lake Superior Railroad Museum, located in Two Harbors, Minnesota, portrayed the St. Paul train station's finish line. Due to the general lack of mountains in Minnesota (excepting the Sawtooth Mountains), scenes in which Will goes through mountainous terrain were filmed in Montana. Additional footage was shot in Superior, Wisconsin as well as Brookston, Minnesota.
Historical accuracy
Although the story of Will Stoneman is fictional, the character was loosely based on the exploits of Albert Campbell, who won the 1917 race from Winnipeg to Saint Paul, and Fred Hartman, the American hope in the race. According to Campbell, he won the race to fulfill his father’s dying wish made just two weeks before the race.
Box office
- U.S. Opening Weekend: $5,313,406.[2]
References
- ↑ http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ironwill.htm
- ↑ "Weekend Box Office : Ticket Sales Up Despite Mother Natur". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
External links
- Iron Will at the Internet Movie Database
- Iron Will at Rotten Tomatoes
- Iron Will at Box Office Mojo
- Historical Account of the 1980 Winnipeg to Saint Paul Race