The Water Engine (film)
The Water Engine is a 1992 American made-for-television drama film directed by Steven Schachter and starring Joe Mantegna, John Mahoney, and William H. Macy. It is based on David Mamet's 1977 play of the same name.[1][2]
| The Water Engine | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | The Water Engine by David Mamet |
| Screenplay by | David Mamet |
| Directed by | Steven Schachter |
| Starring | Joe Mantegna John Mahoney William H. Macy |
| Theme music composer | Alaric Jans |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Michael Brandman |
| Producers | Donald P. Borchers Leanne Moore co-producer) Sarah Bowman (associate producer) |
| Cinematography | Bryan England |
| Editor | Martin Hunter |
| Running time | 110 minutes |
| Production company | Amblin Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | TNT |
| Picture format | Color |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | August 24, 1992 |
Plot
Charles Lang works at a menial job at a factory and lives with his blind sister Rita in an apartment in Chicago during the 1934 World’s Fair. But he is also an amateur inventor, and the play centers around a machine he designs that can create electricity from distilled water. Seeking to patent his idea, he finds a lawyer, Mason Gross, in the phone book and shows him the machine, but Gross’s motivations seem to differ from Lang’s. Gross recruits another lawyer, Lawrence Oberman, and together they menace Lang and eventually his sister. It is heavily implied that the two of them serve the corporate establishment whose profits Lang’s engine threatens.
By the time Lang realizes he is being taken advantage of, the lawyers have him trapped. He attempts to contact a newspaper reporter, but Gross and Oberman hold his sister hostage to prevent him from telling his story. He then meets a barker at the World’s Fair right before it closes for the night who tells him of a chain letter he has just received, which gives him an idea.
The lawyers try to force Lang into giving them his plans, but he says he no longer has them; the audience finds out from a scene in the newspaper reporter’s office that he and Rita have been killed. The play ends with Bernie, a young friend of the family who has previously shown mechanical aptitude, receiving the plans for the Water Engine in the mail.[3]
Cast
- Joe Mantegna as Lawrence Oberman
- John Mahoney as Mason Gross
- Charles Durning as Tour Guide
- Patti LuPone as Rita Lang
- William H. Macy as Charles Lang
- Treat Williams as Dave Murray
- Joanna Miles as Mrs. Varek
- Mike Nussbaum as Mr. Wallace
References
- Scott, Tony (24 August 1992). "Review: 'Tnt Screenworks the Water Engine'". Variety. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
- Goodman, Walter (24 August 1992). "Review/Television; David Mamet's Fable of the Inventor and the Ogre". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
- Mamet, David (1977). The Water Engine. New York: Grove Press, Inc. ISBN 0-394-17062-8.