Six Degrees of Separation ( film ) - wikipedia Six Degrees of Separation ( film ) For other uses, see Six degrees ( disambiguation ). Six Degrees of Separation Theatrical release poster Directed by Fred Schepisi Produced by Arnon Milchan Screenplay by John Guare Based on Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare Starring Stockard Channing Will Smith Donald Sutherland Mary Beth Hurt Bruce Davison Ian McKellen Music by Jerry Goldsmith Cinematography Ian Baker Edited by Peter Honess Production company Regency Enterprises Distributed by Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer Release date December 8, 1993 ( 1993 - 12 - 08 ) Running time 112 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $15 million Box office $6.4 million Six Degrees of Separation is a 1993 American comedy - drama film directed by Fred Schepisi, adapted from the Pulitzer Prize - nominated John Guare play of the same name. The plot of the film was inspired by the real - life story of David Hampton, a con man and robber who managed to convince a number of people in the 1980s that he was the son of actor Sidney Poitier. The writer John Guare was a friend of Inger McCabe Elliott and her husband Osborn Elliott. In October 1983, Hampton came to the Elliott 's New York apartment and they allowed him to spend the night. The next morning, Inger found Hampton in bed with another man and later called the police. The Elliotts told Guare about the story and it inspired him to write the play years later. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Reception 4 Awards 5 References 6 See also 7 External links Plot Fifth Avenue socialite Ouisa Kittredge ( Stockard Channing ) and her art dealer husband Flan ( Donald Sutherland ) are parents of `` two at Harvard and a girl at Groton ''. But the narrow world inhabited by the Kittredges and their public status as people interested in the arts make them easy prey for Paul ( Will Smith ). Paul, a skillful con - artist, mysteriously appears at their door one night, injured and bleeding, claiming to be a close college friend of their Ivy League kids, as well as the son of Sidney Poitier. Ouisa and Flan are much impressed by Paul 's fine taste, keen wit, articulate literary expositions and surprising culinary skill. His appealing facade soon has the Kittredges putting him up, lending him money and taking satisfaction in his praise for their posh lifestyle. Paul 's scheme continues until, after he brings home a hustler, his actual indigence is revealed. The shocked Kittredges kick him out when it is revealed that they are but the most recent victims of the duplicity with which Paul has charmed his way into many upper - crust homes along the Upper East Side. Paul 's schemes become highbrow - legend, anecdotal accounts which are bantered about at their cocktail parties. In the end, Paul has a profound effect on the many individuals who encounter him, linking them in their shared experience. Cast Stockard Channing as Louisa `` Ouisa '' Kittredge Will Smith as Paul Donald Sutherland as Flan Kittredge Ian McKellen as Geoffrey Miller Mary Beth Hurt as Kitty Heather Graham as Elizabeth Bruce Davison as Larkin Richard Masur as Dr. Fine Anthony Michael Hall as Trent Conway Eric Thal as Rick Anthony Rapp as Ben Oz Perkins as Woodrow ( `` Woody '' ) Kittredge ( as Osgood Perkins II ) Catherine Kellner as Talbot ( `` Tess '' ) Kittredge J.J. Abrams as Doug ( as Jeffrey Abrams ) Kitty Carlisle as Mrs. Bannister Reception The film has an approval rating of 88 % at Rotten Tomatoes based on 32 reviews. The site 's consensus reads : `` Though it betrays its theatrical roots, Six Degrees of Separation largely succeeds thanks to astute direction and fine performances -- particularly from an against - type Will Smith. '' It was also actress Stockard Channing 's most successful film since 1978 's Grease. Awards 1994 Academy Award for Best Actress Nomination -- Stockard Channing 1994 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress -- Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nomination -- Stockard Channing References Jump up ^ Plunka, Gene A. ( 2002 ). The Black Comedy of John Guare. University of Delaware Press. p. 188. ISBN 9780874137637. Jump up ^ `` Six Degrees of Separation ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` The Pulitzer Prizes ''. Pulitzer.org. Retrieved 2013 - 09 - 19. Jump up ^ New York Mag The Story of David Hampton accessed 7 - 27 - 2015 Jump up ^ Gerston, Jill ( 6 March 1994 ). `` Stockard Channing Goes West ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2013 - 09 - 19. Jump up ^ Rotten Tomatoes ^ Jump up to : `` THE 66th ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS : Best Actress ''. Los Angeles Times. 1994 - 02 - 10. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. See also Six Degrees of Separation ( play ) External links Six Degrees of Separation on IMDb Six Degrees of Separation at AllMovie Six Degrees of Separation at the TCM Movie Database Six Degrees of Separation at Rotten Tomatoes Six Degrees of Separation at Box Office Mojo Films directed by Fred Schepisi Libido ( 1973 ) The Devil 's Playground ( 1976 ) The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith ( 1978 ) Barbarosa ( 1982 ) Iceman ( 1984 ) Plenty ( 1985 ) Roxanne ( 1987 ) Evil Angels ( 1988 ) The Russia House ( 1990 ) Mr. Baseball ( 1992 ) Six Degrees of Separation ( 1993 ) I.Q. ( 1994 ) Fierce Creatures ( 1997 ) Last Orders ( 2001 ) It Runs in the Family ( 2003 ) The Eye of the Storm ( 2011 ) Words and Pictures ( 2013 ) Andorra ( 2017 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Six_Degrees_of_Separation_(film)&oldid=822030817 '' Categories : 1993 films English - language films 1990s drama films 1990s mystery films 1990s LGBT - related films American films American drama films American comedy films American mystery films American satirical films American LGBT - related films Films scored by Jerry Goldsmith Films about con artists Films based on plays Films directed by Fred Schepisi Films set in New York City Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer films Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Čeština Deutsch Español فارسی Français Italiano עברית Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский 5 more Edit links This page was last edited on 24 January 2018, at 00 : 44. About Wikipedia

Question: what is the movie about six degrees of separation
Answer: Six Degrees of Separation; the real-life story of David Hampton, a con man and robber who managed to convince a number of people in the 1980s that he was the son of actor Sidney Poitier