Joe the King movie storyline. Actor Frank Whaley makes his directorial debut with Joe The King, a downbeat drama about a 14-year-old boy coming of age in an abusive and uncaring environment. When he was nine, Joe Henry (Noah Fleiss) lied to his friends about his father’s job because he was ashamed that his father was the school janitor; in turn, he was humiliated in front of his class.
Five years later, things are much worse; his father (Val Kilmer) has become a violent alcoholic who can’t hold a job, while his mother (Karen Young) is harsh and unloving. Joe works illegally as a dishwasher to help support the family, but resorts to petty theft when it’s clear his salary alone won’t pay his father’s debts.
Eventually Joe attempts to steal the restaurant’s cash box to get his father out of the red — with tragic results. Whaley, who claims this story is “loosely autobiographical,” assembled a strong cast for his first turn behind the camera, including Ethan Hawke, John Leguizamo, and Austin Pendleton. Joe The King premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival.
Joe the King is a 1999 drama film, written and directed by Frank Whaley, based largely on his own childhood and the childhood of his brother. It stars Noah Fleiss, Val Kilmer, Karen Young, Ethan Hawke, John Leguizamo, Austin Pendleton, Camryn Manheim, Max Ligosh and James Costa. The film premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award (shared with Guinevere).
Joe the King (1999)
Directed by: Frank Whaley
Starring: Noah Fleiss, Karen Young, Camryn Manheim, Ethan Hawke, Val Kilmer, Austin Pendleton, John Leguizamo, Jenny Robertson, Max Ligosh, Amy Wright
Screenplay by: Frank Whaley
Production Design by: Daniel Ouellette
Cinematography by: Michael Mayers
Film Editing by: Melody London, Miran Miosic
Costume Design by: Richard Owings
Art Direction by: Mylene Santos
Music by: Anthony Grimaldi, Robert Whaley
MPAA Rating: R for language and abusive situations concerning a child.
Distributed by: Trimark Pictures
Release Date: October 15, 1999
Views: 177
