Don's Plum is a 2001 black-and-white independent drama film directed by R. D. Robb, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Kevin Connolly. It was filmed in 1995 and 1996, and written by Robb with Bethany Ashton, Tawd Beckman, David Stutman and Dale Wheatley. The film takes place over the course of one night in which a group of young adults discuss life while eating at a diner.

The film was blocked from release in the U.S. and Canada because DiCaprio and Maguire claimed they had agreed to star in only a short film but not a feature film.

Release issues

DiCaprio and Maguire were opposed to having the film released. They claimed the film was pitched to them as a short film but was later edited into a feature-length film. They settled on allowing the film to be released outside the U.S. and Canada, and had some scenes removed.

Free streaming

In 2014, Dale Wheatley published an open letter to DiCaprio on the website freedonsplum.com, giving his take on the history of the film and the ensuing legal issues. Wheatley also uploaded the film to the website so it could be streamed for free. Wheatley made the following statement to Fox News: "It saddens me deeply that in 2016 we witness the senseless oppression of film and art by one of America's most beloved actors. While the world celebrates — and certainly Americans celebrate — his great achievements in cinema, he chooses to use an iron fist to suppress the work of many other artists including him in a film made 20 years ago."

Reception

It premiered on 10 February 2001 in Berlin.

Time Out New York writer Mike D'Angelo called it "the best film [I saw] in Berlin".

Variety called it an "unpleasant and tedious ensemble".

See also

  • My Dinner with Andre

References

  • archive.org