The Road to Wellville (film)
Encyclopedia
The Road to Wellville is a 1994 American comedy-drama
film adaptation
of T. Coraghessan Boyle
's novel of the same name
, which tells the story of the doctor and clean-living advocate John Harvey Kellogg
and his methods as employed at the Battle Creek Sanitarium at the start of the 20th Century. It was written and directed by Alan Parker
.
The Road to Wellville stars Anthony Hopkins
as Dr. Kellogg, Matthew Broderick
as sanitarium
patient William Lightbody, Bridget Fonda
as his spouse Eleanor, John Cusack
as budding health-food entrepreneur Charles Ossining, Dana Carvey
as the doctor's adopted son George and Colm Meaney
as Dr. Lionel Badger.
It was filmed in New Paltz, New York at the Mohonk Mountain House
. Also used were the North Carolina
towns of Winnabow and Wilmington
.
(Anthony Hopkins
) has opened a sanitarium
in Battle Creek, Michigan
, where he puts into practice his unusual methods for maintaining a healthy body including colonic irrigation, electrical stimulus
and sexual abstinence
, as well as vegetarianism
and physical exercise.
The sanitarium attracts a number of well-to-do patients including William and Eleanor Lightbody (Matthew Broderick
and Bridget Fonda
), who are suffering from ill health: William from the effects of overindulgence in liquor, an addiction to opium caused by Eleanor's attempt to use "Sears White Star Liquor Cure" to keep him from drinking, and a digestive problem that has caused him to restrict his diet to dry toast and water; and Eleanor following the premature death of their child. On their way to Battle Creek, they meet the enterprising Charles Ossining (John Cusack
), who is hoping to make his fortune by exploiting the craze for health food cereals. Eleanor explains to Charles she has become a "Battle Freak"--someone who repeatedly visits the Sanitarium--and will be making her fourth stay there. Ossining finds a partner in the devious Goodloe Bender (Michael Lerner
). Having enlisted the services of George Kellogg (Dana Carvey
), the doctor's estranged (and strange) adopted son, they attempt to produce "Kellogg's Perfo Flakes" in an ersatz bakery located in a barn at a hog farm. Bender hired Bartholomew Bookbinder, who he described to Ossining as "one of Kellogg's top men, and now he works for us. He's good, and he's cheap." Ossining later discovers Bookbinder worked on Kellogg's dairy farm, and had never produced breakfast cereal before.
In the sanitarium, Will Lightbody is separated from his wife and begins harboring lustful thoughts toward Nurse Graves and fellow patient Ida Muntz (Lara Flynn Boyle
), who suffers from "greensickness"--a disease which turns the skin a shade of green. Eleanor, meanwhile, befriends Virginia Cranehill (Camryn Manheim
), who has a modern attitude toward sexual pleasure, influenced by the works of Dr. Lionel Badger (Colm Meaney
). Will finally succumbs to Ida's charms. Later he discovers that Ida has died (Greensickness is a form of pernicious anemia, which is treated by increasing the body's intake of iron. Kellogg's dietary treatments were an essentially iron-free diet). Following the death of a patient in the sinusoidal bath, as well as the discovery of yet another death, Will has a breakdown, flees the sanitarium, gets drunk and eats meat. At the restaurant he meets Ossining and agrees to invest $1,000 in his health food business. Will returns drunk to the sanitarium, where he is reprimanded by Dr. Kellogg and abandoned by a distraught Eleanor.
Ossining's business is a disaster. Perfo was advertised as a "celerized" food--one containing extracts of celery
, which was believed to have special healing properties. Bookbinder created many batches of Perfo, all inedible. George dumped the unwanted cornflakes into the hog trough. After attempting to eat every batch, and having to throw them all away, Ossining decided to sell the product as a health food for pigs--when he is stopped by George, who explained not even the pigs would eat it. He and his partners resort to stealing Kellogg's cornflakes and repackaging them in their own boxes. Charles goes to the Post Tavern Hotel, the finest and most expensive hotel in Battle Creek, to call on Bender. The desk clerk tells Bender has disappeared in the middle of the night, leaving a substantial hotel bill which was presented to Charles; upon turning around Charles is met by two sheriff's deputies who inform him Dr. Kellogg has filed suit to stop the production and distribution of "Kellogg's Perfo" and is seeking substantial damages. Ossining meets his aunt, a potential investor, at a visiting day at Kellogg's sanitarium, where he is exposed as a fraud and arrested.
Nurse Graves attempts to seduce Will, but he is guilt-stricken and spurns her advances. He goes to find Eleanor, only to find her and Virginia receiving clitoral massages from Dr. Spitzvogel (Norbert Weisser
) at the same time Dr. Badger is masturbating. Will, incensed, thrashes Dr. Spitzvogel with a branch and takes Eleanor away. George pays a final visit to his father but things go wrong. He subsequently burns the sanitarium down. In the chaos, Ossining makes his escape. Kellogg does seem to reconcile with George in the mud bath at the aftermath of the fire.
In a final coda
, the Lightbodys are happily married with four daughters. Will receives a cheque for $1,000 from Ossining, who has become a cola
beverage tycoon. Dr. Kellogg rebuilds the sanitarium and lives well into his seventies, still extolling the virues of a healthy lifestyle, before dying of a heart attack diving off a high board into a lake as members of the press look on.
.
Not all the reviews were negative. Writing in Bright Lights Film Journal, Tanfer Emin-Tunc commented: "It is a sophisticated blend of humor and documented historical material that seeks to question the various forms that race and class have assumed in twentieth-century American society."
The film flopped at the box office, opening at #5 with $2,580,108 in its opening weekend and grossing only $6,562,513 domestically in its entire run.
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
film adaptation
Film adaptation
Film adaptation is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. It is a type of derivative work.A common form of film adaptation is the use of a novel as the basis of a feature film, but film adaptation includes the use of non-fiction , autobiography, comic book, scripture, plays, and even...
of T. Coraghessan Boyle
T. Coraghessan Boyle
Tom Coraghessan Boyle is a U.S. novelist and short story writer. Since the mid 1970s, he has published twelve novels and more than 100 short stories...
's novel of the same name
The Road to Wellville
The Road to Wellville is a 1993 novel by American author T. Coraghessan Boyle. Set in Battle Creek, Michigan during the early days of breakfast cereals, the story includes a historical fictionalization of John Harvey Kellogg, the inventor of corn flakes....
, which tells the story of the doctor and clean-living advocate John Harvey Kellogg
John Harvey Kellogg
John Harvey Kellogg was an American medical doctor in Battle Creek, Michigan, who ran a sanitarium using holistic methods, with a particular focus on nutrition, enemas and exercise. Kellogg was an advocate of vegetarianism and is best known for the invention of the corn flakes breakfast cereal...
and his methods as employed at the Battle Creek Sanitarium at the start of the 20th Century. It was written and directed by Alan Parker
Alan Parker
Sir Alan William Parker, CBE is an English film director, producer, writer and actor. He has been active in both the British cinema and American cinema and was a founding member of the Directors Guild of Great Britain.-Life and career:...
.
The Road to Wellville stars Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, KBE , best known as Anthony Hopkins, is a Welsh actor of film, stage and television...
as Dr. Kellogg, Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
as sanitarium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
patient William Lightbody, Bridget Fonda
Bridget Fonda
Bridget Jane Fonda is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in films such as The Godfather Part III, Single White Female, Point of No Return, It Could Happen to You, and Jackie Brown...
as his spouse Eleanor, John Cusack
John Cusack
John Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
as budding health-food entrepreneur Charles Ossining, Dana Carvey
Dana Carvey
Dana Thomas Carvey is an American actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for playing the role of Garth in the Wayne's World movies.-Early life:...
as the doctor's adopted son George and Colm Meaney
Colm Meaney
Colm J. Meaney is an Irish actor widely known for playing Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is second only to Michael Dorn in most appearances in Star Trek episodes. He has guest-starred on many TV shows from Law & Order to The Simpsons...
as Dr. Lionel Badger.
It was filmed in New Paltz, New York at the Mohonk Mountain House
Mohonk Mountain House
The Mohonk Mountain House also known as Lake Mohonk Mountain House, is a historic American resort hotel located on the Shawangunk Ridge in Ulster County, New York. Its prominent location in the town of New Paltz is just beyond the southern border of the Catskill Mountains on the western side of the...
. Also used were the North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
towns of Winnabow and Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
.
Plot
Dr. John Harvey KelloggJohn Harvey Kellogg
John Harvey Kellogg was an American medical doctor in Battle Creek, Michigan, who ran a sanitarium using holistic methods, with a particular focus on nutrition, enemas and exercise. Kellogg was an advocate of vegetarianism and is best known for the invention of the corn flakes breakfast cereal...
(Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, KBE , best known as Anthony Hopkins, is a Welsh actor of film, stage and television...
) has opened a sanitarium
Battle Creek Sanitarium
The Battle Creek Sanitarium, in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States, first opened on September 5, 1866, as the Western Health Reform Institute, based on the health principles advocated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1876, John Harvey Kellogg became the superintendent, and his brother, W....
in Battle Creek, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, where he puts into practice his unusual methods for maintaining a healthy body including colonic irrigation, electrical stimulus
Stimulus (physiology)
In physiology, a stimulus is a detectable change in the internal or external environment. The ability of an organism or organ to respond to external stimuli is called sensitivity....
and sexual abstinence
Sexual abstinence
Sexual abstinence is the practice of refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity for medical, psychological, legal, social, philosophical or religious reasons.Common reasons for practicing sexual abstinence include:*poor health - medical celibacy...
, as well as vegetarianism
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
and physical exercise.
The sanitarium attracts a number of well-to-do patients including William and Eleanor Lightbody (Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
and Bridget Fonda
Bridget Fonda
Bridget Jane Fonda is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in films such as The Godfather Part III, Single White Female, Point of No Return, It Could Happen to You, and Jackie Brown...
), who are suffering from ill health: William from the effects of overindulgence in liquor, an addiction to opium caused by Eleanor's attempt to use "Sears White Star Liquor Cure" to keep him from drinking, and a digestive problem that has caused him to restrict his diet to dry toast and water; and Eleanor following the premature death of their child. On their way to Battle Creek, they meet the enterprising Charles Ossining (John Cusack
John Cusack
John Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
), who is hoping to make his fortune by exploiting the craze for health food cereals. Eleanor explains to Charles she has become a "Battle Freak"--someone who repeatedly visits the Sanitarium--and will be making her fourth stay there. Ossining finds a partner in the devious Goodloe Bender (Michael Lerner
Michael Lerner (actor)
-Life and career:Lerner was born in Brooklyn, New York of Romanian Jewish descent, the son of Blanche and George Lerner, who was a fisherman and antiques dealer. He was raised in Bensonhurst and Red Hook. His brother, Ken Lerner, is also an actor...
). Having enlisted the services of George Kellogg (Dana Carvey
Dana Carvey
Dana Thomas Carvey is an American actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for playing the role of Garth in the Wayne's World movies.-Early life:...
), the doctor's estranged (and strange) adopted son, they attempt to produce "Kellogg's Perfo Flakes" in an ersatz bakery located in a barn at a hog farm. Bender hired Bartholomew Bookbinder, who he described to Ossining as "one of Kellogg's top men, and now he works for us. He's good, and he's cheap." Ossining later discovers Bookbinder worked on Kellogg's dairy farm, and had never produced breakfast cereal before.
In the sanitarium, Will Lightbody is separated from his wife and begins harboring lustful thoughts toward Nurse Graves and fellow patient Ida Muntz (Lara Flynn Boyle
Lara Flynn Boyle
Lara Flynn Boyle is an American film and television actress best known for her performances as Laura Palmer's best friend Donna Hayward in Twin Peaks and Assistant District Attorney Helen Gamble in The Practice...
), who suffers from "greensickness"--a disease which turns the skin a shade of green. Eleanor, meanwhile, befriends Virginia Cranehill (Camryn Manheim
Camryn Manheim
Camryn Manheim is an American actress known primarily for her roles as attorney Ellenor Frutt on ABC's The Practice and Delia Banks on CBS's Ghost Whisperer and as Elvis's mother, Gladys Presley in the 2005 mini-series Elvis....
), who has a modern attitude toward sexual pleasure, influenced by the works of Dr. Lionel Badger (Colm Meaney
Colm Meaney
Colm J. Meaney is an Irish actor widely known for playing Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is second only to Michael Dorn in most appearances in Star Trek episodes. He has guest-starred on many TV shows from Law & Order to The Simpsons...
). Will finally succumbs to Ida's charms. Later he discovers that Ida has died (Greensickness is a form of pernicious anemia, which is treated by increasing the body's intake of iron. Kellogg's dietary treatments were an essentially iron-free diet). Following the death of a patient in the sinusoidal bath, as well as the discovery of yet another death, Will has a breakdown, flees the sanitarium, gets drunk and eats meat. At the restaurant he meets Ossining and agrees to invest $1,000 in his health food business. Will returns drunk to the sanitarium, where he is reprimanded by Dr. Kellogg and abandoned by a distraught Eleanor.
Ossining's business is a disaster. Perfo was advertised as a "celerized" food--one containing extracts of celery
Celery
Apium graveolens is a plant species in the family Apiaceae commonly known as celery or celeriac , depending on whether the petioles or roots are eaten: celery refers to the former and celeriac to the latter. Apium graveolens grows to 1 m tall...
, which was believed to have special healing properties. Bookbinder created many batches of Perfo, all inedible. George dumped the unwanted cornflakes into the hog trough. After attempting to eat every batch, and having to throw them all away, Ossining decided to sell the product as a health food for pigs--when he is stopped by George, who explained not even the pigs would eat it. He and his partners resort to stealing Kellogg's cornflakes and repackaging them in their own boxes. Charles goes to the Post Tavern Hotel, the finest and most expensive hotel in Battle Creek, to call on Bender. The desk clerk tells Bender has disappeared in the middle of the night, leaving a substantial hotel bill which was presented to Charles; upon turning around Charles is met by two sheriff's deputies who inform him Dr. Kellogg has filed suit to stop the production and distribution of "Kellogg's Perfo" and is seeking substantial damages. Ossining meets his aunt, a potential investor, at a visiting day at Kellogg's sanitarium, where he is exposed as a fraud and arrested.
Nurse Graves attempts to seduce Will, but he is guilt-stricken and spurns her advances. He goes to find Eleanor, only to find her and Virginia receiving clitoral massages from Dr. Spitzvogel (Norbert Weisser
Norbert Weisser
Norbert Weisser is a German-born American film and theatre actor, probably most known for his many roles in Albert Pyun-directed films ....
) at the same time Dr. Badger is masturbating. Will, incensed, thrashes Dr. Spitzvogel with a branch and takes Eleanor away. George pays a final visit to his father but things go wrong. He subsequently burns the sanitarium down. In the chaos, Ossining makes his escape. Kellogg does seem to reconcile with George in the mud bath at the aftermath of the fire.
In a final coda
Coda
Coda can denote any concluding event, summation, or section.Coda may also refer to:-Acronyms:* Calgary Olympic Development Association, the former name of the Canadian Winter Sport Institute, a non profit organization...
, the Lightbodys are happily married with four daughters. Will receives a cheque for $1,000 from Ossining, who has become a cola
Cola
Cola is a carbonated beverage that was typically flavored by the kola nut as well as vanilla and other flavorings, however, some colas are now flavored artificially. It became popular worldwide after druggist John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in 1886...
beverage tycoon. Dr. Kellogg rebuilds the sanitarium and lives well into his seventies, still extolling the virues of a healthy lifestyle, before dying of a heart attack diving off a high board into a lake as members of the press look on.
Cast
- Anthony HopkinsAnthony HopkinsSir Philip Anthony Hopkins, KBE , best known as Anthony Hopkins, is a Welsh actor of film, stage and television...
as Dr. John Harvey KelloggJohn Harvey KelloggJohn Harvey Kellogg was an American medical doctor in Battle Creek, Michigan, who ran a sanitarium using holistic methods, with a particular focus on nutrition, enemas and exercise. Kellogg was an advocate of vegetarianism and is best known for the invention of the corn flakes breakfast cereal... - Matthew BroderickMatthew BroderickMatthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
as William Lightbody - Bridget FondaBridget FondaBridget Jane Fonda is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in films such as The Godfather Part III, Single White Female, Point of No Return, It Could Happen to You, and Jackie Brown...
as Eleanor Lightbody - John CusackJohn CusackJohn Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
as Charles Ossining - Dana CarveyDana CarveyDana Thomas Carvey is an American actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for playing the role of Garth in the Wayne's World movies.-Early life:...
as George Kellogg - Michael LernerMichael Lerner (actor)-Life and career:Lerner was born in Brooklyn, New York of Romanian Jewish descent, the son of Blanche and George Lerner, who was a fisherman and antiques dealer. He was raised in Bensonhurst and Red Hook. His brother, Ken Lerner, is also an actor...
as Goodloe Bender - Colm MeaneyColm MeaneyColm J. Meaney is an Irish actor widely known for playing Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is second only to Michael Dorn in most appearances in Star Trek episodes. He has guest-starred on many TV shows from Law & Order to The Simpsons...
as Dr. Lionel Badger - John Neville as Endymion Hart-Jones
- Lara Flynn BoyleLara Flynn BoyleLara Flynn Boyle is an American film and television actress best known for her performances as Laura Palmer's best friend Donna Hayward in Twin Peaks and Assistant District Attorney Helen Gamble in The Practice...
as Ida Muntz - Traci LindTraci LindTraci Lind is an American film actress who is known for playing Alex Young in Fright Night II and Missy McCloud in My Boyfriend's Back. She also starred in The Road to Wellville and The End of Violence. She was billed in Fright Night II as Traci Lin...
as Nurse Graves - Camryn ManheimCamryn ManheimCamryn Manheim is an American actress known primarily for her roles as attorney Ellenor Frutt on ABC's The Practice and Delia Banks on CBS's Ghost Whisperer and as Elvis's mother, Gladys Presley in the 2005 mini-series Elvis....
as Virginia Cranehill - Roy BrocksmithRoy Brocksmith-Biography:Brocksmith was born in Quincy, Illinois, the son of Vera Marguerite and Otis E. Brocksmith, who was a mechanic. He graduated from Quincy University in 1970. He then moved to New York City where he began a career on Broadway...
as Poultney Dab - Norbert WeisserNorbert WeisserNorbert Weisser is a German-born American film and theatre actor, probably most known for his many roles in Albert Pyun-directed films ....
as Dr. Spitzvogel
Critical reception
The film was poorly received at the time of its release, with a good deal of criticism of the scatological nature of the film. Hopkins' portrayal of Kellogg was also singled out for criticism. The film has a 44% rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.
Not all the reviews were negative. Writing in Bright Lights Film Journal, Tanfer Emin-Tunc commented: "It is a sophisticated blend of humor and documented historical material that seeks to question the various forms that race and class have assumed in twentieth-century American society."
The film flopped at the box office, opening at #5 with $2,580,108 in its opening weekend and grossing only $6,562,513 domestically in its entire run.