The Substance of Fire

Daniel J. Sullivan
1996-09-11


6.3
102 min

Isaac Geldhart is a Holocaust survivor who, overcome by grief at the recent death of his wife, seems determined to run his publishing firm into the ground by printing books that have no hope of financial success. His son Aaron, who also works at the company, grows frustrated with Isaac's emotional decline and attempts to take over the firm. The resulting crisis involves Isaac's other two children, his daughter Sarah and his dying son Martin.

Cast

Name Character Team
Tony Goldwyn Aaron Geldhart Unowned
Timothy Hutton Martin Geldhart Unowned
Ron Rifkin Isaac Geldhart Unowned
Sarah Jessica Parker Sarah Geldhart Unowned
Lee Grant Cora Cahn Unowned
Elizabeth Franz Miss Barzakian Unowned
Benjamin Ungar Young Issac Unowned
Roger Rees Max Unowned
Viola Davis Nurse The Free Refills
Adolph Green Mr. Musselblatt Unowned
Debra Monk Martha Hackett Unowned
Tom McDermott Old Printer Unowned
George Morfogen Otto the Printer Unowned
Andrew Pang Mr. Otani Jr Unowned
Edmund Ikeda Mr. Otani Sr Unowned
Gil Bellows Val Chenard Unowned
Eric Bogosian Gene Byck Goutbreak
Ronny Graham Louis Foukold Unowned
John Sullivan Stewart Unowned
Sophia Salguero Rachel Unowned
John Patrick Walker Peter Unowned
David S. Howard Dr. Bernard Kramer Unowned
Gregory Burke Young Martin Geldhart Unowned
William Cain Mr. Cox Unowned
Alec Mapa New Receptionist Unowned
Edgar Martinez Miquel Unowned
John Christopher Jones Book Binder Unowned
Dick Latessa Mr. McCormack Sr Unowned
Patrick Page Mr. McCormack Jr Unowned
Kate Forbes Rizzoli Book Buyer Unowned
Gloria Irizarry Esme Unowned
Barbara Eda-Young Reena Geldhart Unowned
Matt McGrath Young Book Clerk Unowned
José Ramón Rosario Dennis the Tailor Unowned
William Meisle Customer with Shoes Unowned
Gina Torres Maitre d' Unowned
Marc Schneier Rabbi Unowned
Lynn Clayton Beautiful Woman Unowned
Mary Fortune Art Student Unowned