Dying Young (released in theaters on June 21, 1991) introduces Hilary O’Neil (Julia Roberts), a vibrant, working-class young woman who is looking for a fresh start after discovering her live-in boyfriend has been unfaithful.
Desperate for a job, she answers a newspaper advertisement for a live-in caretaker position in a wealthy San Francisco enclave.
She is hired to care for Victor Geddes (Campbell Scott), an affluent, deeply intelligent twenty-eight-year-old who is undergoing grueling, agonizing chemotherapy treatments for leukemia.
Victor’s wealthy, overprotective father, Richard Geddes (David Selby), expects a seasoned professional, but Victor is drawn to Hilary’s raw honesty and lack of pity.
As the brutal side effects of the medical treatments take an immense emotional and physical toll, Hilary steps up with fierce, deeply compassionate devotion, creating an unbreakable, intimate bond between the two polar opposites.
The plot shifts into a sweepingly romantic, melancholic chapter when Victor completes his scheduled chemotherapy sessions and convinces a reluctant Hilary to escape with him to a secluded, picturesque coastal cottage in Mendocino.
Free from the oppressive clinical atmosphere of the city, Victor thrives, and the pair falls deeply in love, building a quiet, beautiful life together.
They befriend their artistic neighbors, including Gordon (Vincent D’Onofrio), a charming, gentle local craftsman who quickly develops a quiet fondness for Hilary, and Estelle Whittier (Colleen Dewhurst), a wise, maternal presence in the community.
However, this idyllic paradise shatters when Hilary discovers that Victor has secretly discontinued his life-sustaining medical treatments, choosing to hide his agonizing, returning symptoms behind morphine injections.
The narrative reaches a devastating emotional peak as Hilary refuses to let Victor give up his fight, demanding that they leave their protective haven to face the terrifying uncertainty of medical reality together.
Director Joel Schumacher brings an exceptional, painterly eye to this heavy melodramatic material, bathing the sweltering coastal landscapes in lush, rich textures and elegant production designs that mirror the characters’ internal beauty.
Roberts delivers an incredibly moving, radiant performance that infuses the production with her signature star-power and deep emotional vulnerability, while Scott matches her with a devastating, beautifully fragile performance that never slips into cheap sentimentality.
D’Onofrio provides a wonderful, grounded presence that keeps the coastal community feeling exceptionally real.
Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn also stars as Hilary’s mother.
Julia Roberts in Dying Young (Photo/20th Century Fox)
Reception for Dying Young
Dying Young grossed $9.7 million on its opening weekend, finishing third at the box office.
The film grossed $82.3 million worldwide.
Roger Ebert gave Dying Young two out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
Dying Young‘s legacy rests on its reputation as a beautifully mounted, culturally significant hallmark of early-1990s Hollywood romantic melodrama, arriving at the absolute zenith of its lead actress’s global commercial appeal.
Highly celebrated by music enthusiasts for James Newton Howard’s hauntingly beautiful, saxophone-driven orchestral score – which features unforgettable solos by legendary musician Kenny G – the film stands as a prime example of big-budget, emotionally earnest studio filmmaking that addresses mortality with dignity and grace.
Its gorgeous, high-fashion costume design and sweeping, romanticized Mendocino cinematography continue to influence the aesthetic language of contemporary romantic dramas.
Dying Young remains a warmly remembered and deeply respected tearjerker.
