THE ROAD TO WELLVILLE
US, 1994, 118 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Hopkins, Matthew Broderick, Bridget Fonda, John Cusack, Dana Carvey, Michael Lerner, Colm Meaney, John Neville, Lara Flynn Boyle, Traci Lind, Camryn Mannheim.
Directed by Alan Parker.
While everybody knows Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, not everybody knows about the originator, John Harvey Kellogg. He lived at the beginning of the 20 th century, was a health fanatic, set up a sanatorium in Battle Creek and imposed strict regime with colonic irrigation, electric shock techniques, sexual abstinence, vegetarianism, exercise.
This is all to the fore in this biography of Kellogg written and directed by British director, Alan Parker. It is also something of a comic treatment of Kellogg’s life and work, something of a parody on American health fanaticism as well as financial enterprise.
Anthony Hopkins is a strong screen presence as Kellogg. Comedian Dana Carvey appears as his estranged son.
However, the central characters are a married couple, William and Elenor Lightbody who undergo treatment, (Matthew Broderick and Bridget Fonda). Separated in the treatment, William becomes infatuated with a nurse as well as one of the patients – and when she dies during a procedure, he has something of a breakdown, escapes, drinks, eats meat, and is brought back to the sanatorium. In the meantime, Eleanor becomes involved with a woman who has “advanced� ideas about sexual therapy.
Also in the meantime, an entrepreneur, Ossining (John Cusack) teams up with Kellogg’s son and emulates the Flakes but they are unsuccessful, and then deciding to repackage Kellogg’s Flakes as their own. Eventually, this does not work – and Ossining becomes enterprising about Cola.
Some audiences disapproved of the film and its light touch as well as some explicit aspects of sexual therapy. Others took this in their stride and appreciated the lighter touch and comic tone.
1. A true story? Biography? History of the health movement? The comic treatment? Elements of parody? Critique of health fanaticism?
2. The work of the director, writing the screenplay? His perspective? British background?
3. The early 1900s, costumes and decor, the Battle Creek Sanatorium, grounds, interiors, laboratories, workplaces? The countryside, travels, industry, Flakes and Cola? The musical score?
4. The title? The aims of John Harvey Kellogg?
5. The portrait of Kellogg, Anthony Hopkins and his screen presence? Age, background, alienation from his son? Setting up the sanatorium? The regime? Exercise? Colonic irrigation, electric shock, sexual abstinence, vegetarianism, exercise? His presiding over the regime? His manner, with staff, with patients? The attempted reconciliation with his son? His achievement, Corn Flakes.
6. The role of Ossining, the Lightbodies? Ossining and his intentions, health fads, making his fortune, his collaboration with his partner? The encounter with George Kellogg? The production of Perfo Flakes? Disaster? Stealing the Corn Flakes and repackaging them? The visit of his aunt, the encounter, her investment, her exposure?
7. The focus on William and Eleanor Lightbody? The background, affluence? Travelling, the encounter with Ossining? The regimes? The attention to detail, exercise, diet…?
8. William, sexual abstinence, lustful thoughts, Nurse Graves, the encounter with Ida? Her death in a health process? The effect on William with the many deaths, his breakdown, the escape, drinking, eating meat? The encounter with Ossining and his investment? Return to the sanatorium? The attempted seduction by Nurse Graves?
9. Eleanor, her own health path, the encounter with Virginia, Virginia and her sexual attitudes, “modern�? The role of Dr Badger, his associate? The sexual behaviour, explicit? Dr Badger and sex? William discovering this, his anger, the physical attack?
10. George, visiting his father, his father’s reaction, burning down the sanatorium?
11. The reconciliation with Ossining? Ossining and his moving into production of Cola?
12. The postscript, the Lightbodies, reconciled, four daughters? And the death of John Harvey Kellog in the diving accident?
