Synopsis

After the sudden death of his mother, young Albert is sent to live with his emotionally guarded godmother, Harriet. His grief takes a fantastic form when Bogus, a charming imaginary friend and magician, appears in their home. As Harriet struggles to care for Albert, Bogus helps them confront loss, family history, and the emotional barriers keeping them apart.

Factoids & Trivia

• Bogus premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and opened in U.S. theaters on September 6, 1996. It was released with a PG rating and runs approximately 110 minutes.

• Although much of the story is presented as taking place in Newark, New Jersey, filming also used locations in Jersey City, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Toronto. The apartment building used for Harriet's home is in Jersey City's Van Vorst Park neighborhood.

• The film's production design was created by Ken Adam, the celebrated designer associated with several James Bond films. His work gives the fantasy sequences a more theatrical, storybook quality.

• Marc Shaiman composed the score, continuing his work in films that blended family drama with highly melodic, stage-influenced musical writing.

• Bogus had a brief theatrical run and earned approximately $4.36 million in domestic box office receipts, making it one of the more commercially disappointing major studio family films of 1996.