History Film / MrHollandsOpus

* PresentDayPast: In the 1980 segment, Cole has a [[Music/{{Nirvana}} Kurt Cobain]] haircut, giving us a very clear reminder that the movie was filmed in 1994 and released in 1995.

The film opens in 1965 with Glenn Holland (RichardDreyfuss) as a professional musical performer who wants to turn his efforts to composing a piece of orchestral music, something he intends as his {{magnum opus}}. Needing a job that pays enough to support himself and his wife Iris (GlenneHeadly), yet leaves enough free time to compose music, Holland accepts a position as a high school music teacher. He soon discovers the position leaves him firmly at the bottom of the hierarchy of teachers. And as his apathy for the job starts to become apparent, Principal Jacobs (OlympiaDukakis) starts demanding more actual effort from him.

By 1995, Holland has spend most of his last three decades devoted to his students, at the cost of his personal life. His musical work is still incomplete and by now unlikely to ever see release. Even if completed, he is too old to re-establish his career. Then his life turns for the worst. New principal Gene Wolters (Creator/WilliamHMacy), who never cared for Holland anyway, decides to make necessary budget cuts. Among the first things to go are the music classes, leaving 60-year-old Holland unemployed. Holland fears he has wasted his life, and resigns himself to the fate of being forgotten by all those students he helped over the years.

The film earned Dreyfus an Oscar nomination for the Best Actor and a Golden Globe award. It was also a considerable box office hit, earning $106,269,971 in the international market. With almost 83 million from the United States market, it was the 12th most successful film of its year. MichaelKamen who wrote some of the original music of the film went on to found "The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation" devoted to "enabling more students to participate and experience a quality music education".

'''''Mr. Holland's Opus''''' is a 1995 drama film, directed by Stephen Herek. It was partly intended as a remake of a previous film, "Follow Me, Boys!" (1966) but ended up very different. Among the most significant changes was the historical era covered. The original film was set in the 1930s and 1940s, this one covers a period of thirty years (1965-1995).

-->-- '''Governor Gertrude Lang''' (Joanna Gleason)

-->'''Governor Gertrude Lang''' (Joanna Gleason)

* BookDumb: Louis didn't seem to be stupid but is simply not good with grades, its repeated by everyone that he tries hard and is an excellent athlete. As band is based largely on effort that's why Meiser requested Mr. Holland take him in and improve his grades so he can go out for football and wrestling.
* BookEnds: The beginning of the film has Mr. Holland conducting his opus that was in his head. The ending has him conducting it for real.

** AllIsWellThatEndsWell -- by the end of the movie she is Governor of the state, complete with an ''entourage''.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Principal Jacobs gives Holland a verbal beating when she notices how much he doesn't care about his work. Later Coach Meister gives one to him when Holland says he cannot teach Lou Russ, a willing eager student.

* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Given ''to'' Holland by the adult Gertrude Lang, the first student he managed to inspire and had become ''the state governor.''

** Presumably ended up the same way as 99% of people with similar aspirations who head for the Cruel City looking for Fame and Fortune --- an empty shell of a hman being working a dead-end job; bitter, lonely and unfulfilled

By 1995, Holland has spend most of his last three decades devoted to his students, at the cost of his personal life. His musical work is still incomplete and by now unlikely to ever see release. Even if completed, he is too old to re-establish his career. Then his life turns for the worst. New principal Gene Wolters (WilliamHMacy), who never cared for Holland anyway, decides to make necessary budget cuts. Among the first things to go are the music classes, leaving 60-year-old Holland unemployed. Holland fears he has wasted his life, and resigns himself to the fate of being forgotten by all those students he helped over the years.

By 1995, has spend most of his last three decades devoted to his students, at the cost of his personal life. His musical work is still incomplete and by now unlikely to ever see release. Even if completed, he is too old to re-establish his career. Then his life turns for the worst. New principal Gene Wolters (WilliamHMacy), who never cared for Holland anyway, decides to make necessary budget cuts. Among the first things to go are the music classes, leaving 60-year-old Holland unemployed. Holland fears he has wasted his life, and resigns himself to the fate of being forgotten by all those students he helped over the years.

* OddCouple: Mr. Hollands' closest friend ends up being the gym teacher Bill Meister.

* ToTheTuneOf: It is pointed out that "A Lover's Concerto" by The Toys uses the sweet strains of JohannSebastianBach's "Minuet in G" stretched to four-quarter time.

The film then follows his life over the course of the following decades. His domestic problems include his only son Cole being effectively deaf and unable to understand his father's work. Iris forms a strong bond with the boy and learns sign language to better communicate. Glenn, however, can't bring himself to do it and ends up somewhat estranged from his own family. Meanwhile, his school life includes more than teaching music. He inspires troubled students to make something of themselves, change their lives for the better.

* BrilliantButLazy: Stadler, one of Mr. Holland's students he helps. [[spoiler:He eventually turns around after attending Lou Russ' funeral with Mr. Holland.]]

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Coach Meister gives one to Mr. Holland when Holland says he cannot teach Lou Russ, a willing eager student.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Rowena, Mr. Holland's extremely talented student singer, decides to more or less run away to New York to try and make it in Broadway. Though they share a touching farewell at the bus stop, she is never heard from again.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse[=/=]PutOnABus: Rowena, Mr. Holland's extremely talented student singer, decides to more or less run away to New York to try and make it in Broadway. Though they share a touching farewell at the bus stop, she is never heard from again.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: After Rowena decides to more or less run away to New York to try and make it in Broadway, she is never heard from again.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse?: After Rowena decides to more or less run away to New York to try and make it in Broadway, she is never heard from again.