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Clara's Heart
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Synopsis
In this sentimental coming-of-age drama, directed by Richard Mulligan (To Kill a Mockingbird) and written by Mark Medoff (Children of a Lesser God), Whoopi Goldberg plays Clara Mayfield, whom Leona Hart (Kathleen Quinlan) meets up with in Jamaica, where Leona retreats to mourn the death of her baby daughter. Leona comes from a rich Maryland family and she leaves her husband, Bill (Michael Ontkean), and her young son, David (Neil Patrick Harris), back in the States in order to achieve some personal healing. She tells Clara she is in mourning and Clara responds knowingly, "I knew the fact, but not the substance." Hearing this kind of cryptic Charlie Chan-like aphorism, Leona can't resist Clara and hires her as her maid, taking her back with her, like a pet, to Maryland. "Come meet the most wonderful person," she tells her husband, and, to be sure, Clara is out-of-this-world wonderful, and since David's self-absorbed parents are neglecting him for their own private flirtations and obsessions, Clara takes up the slack and becomes, in effect, David's family. Clara dispenses worldly advice and has him spend weekends with her in the inner-city Jamaican community, where David learns how the other half lives. But just as David is letting his guard down and permitting Clara to become his 30-year-old buddy, Clara reveals a chilling past life that includes rape, incest, and suicide. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Cast

Wanda Christine Lydia
Whoopi Goldberg Clara Mayfield
Neil Patrick Harris David Hart
Michael Ontkean Bill Hart
Kathleen Quinlan Leona Hart
Beverly Todd Dora
Hattie Winston Blanche Loudon
Spalding Gray Dr. Peter Epstein
Mark Medoff Dr. Stevens
Maryce Carter Bobs
Angel Harper Rita

Production Crew

Stephen Walker Art Director
Albert J. Salzer Associate Producer
Daniel Franklin Associate Producer
David McGiffert Associate Producer
Joseph Olshan Book Author
Kenneth A. Carlson Casting
Freddie Francis Cinematographer
Dave Grusin Composer (Music Score)
Claire A. Nelson Consultant/advisor
Bambi Breakstone Costume Designer
Robert Mulligan Director
Sid Levin Editor
Marianne Moloney Executive Producer
Bob Marley Featured Music
David McGiffert First Assistant Director
Medusah Makeup
Martin Elfand Producer
Jeffrey Howard Production Designer
Albert J. Salzer Production Manager
Daniel Franklin Production Manager
Mark Medoff Screenwriter
Anne H. Ahrens Set Designer
Elon Wizzart Songwriter
Eric B. Songwriter
Isaiah Jones, Jr. Songwriter
Luther Barnes Songwriter
Michael Daly Songwriter
Michelle Cole Songwriter
Stephen Samuels Songwriter
Toots Hibbert Songwriter
Bill Nelson Sound/Sound Designer
Year: 1988
Runtime: 115
Country: USA
MPAA Rating: PG13
Category: Feature

Genre
Drama

Color type
Technicolor prints

Sound
Dolby

Produced by
MTM Enterprises
Warner Brothers

Release
October 07, 1988 (USA)
by Warner Brothers