The Stone Boy (film)


The Stone Boy is a 1984 American drama film directed by Christopher Cain and starring Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Glenn Close, Wilford Brimley, Linda Hamilton, Dean Cain and Jason Presson. It is based on the 1957 short story "The Stone Boy" by American author Gina Berriault.

Plot

The film explores how the Hillerman family copes with the aftermath when the youngest child, Arnold, accidentally kills his older brother Eugene in a hunting accident.

Cast

Principal photography began in June 28, 1983. Filming took place in and around the area of Cascade, Montana where the Hillerman farm is located. The Hillerman Ranch had been abandoned for years, so the crew had to paint, furnish the house and groom the yard before production began.
Filming was also conducted in the town of Cascade, including at Hillside Cemetery, Cascade's Sportsman's Club, and the local park for a carnival sequence. More than 200 local area residents were hired for stand ins and speaking roles. Next they traveled to Great Falls, Montana to begin filming in the city, at a local truck stop just north of town, the bus station, and a saloon. Reshoots were frequently required because of problems and delays. Production wrapped in late July, early August 1983.

Release

The Stone Boy was released on April 4, 1984 in New York and in select cities. It was pulled from movie theaters after a week. It grossed $261,033 in its run.

Reception

The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 67% with an average of 6.5/10 and 40% for audience approval.

Home video

The Stone Boy was released on video by CBS Fox Video. The DVD was released by Anchor Bay on May 17, 2005, which is now out of print.