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Documentary

The Genius and the Boys (2009): Cast

The Genius and the Boys (2009) movie poster

The Genius and the Boys is a 2009 documentary directed by Bosse Lindquist, starring Carleton Gajdusek, Oliver Sacks and Robert Gallo. It runs 1 hour 29 minutes.

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The Genius and the Boys (2009) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 29m (89 min)
Director
Bosse Lindquist
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Genius and the Boys About?

The premise of The Genius and the Boys without spoilers.

Nobel laureate Carleton Gajdusek discovered prions—linked to mad‑cow disease—among a cannibal tribe in New Guinea and adopted 57 South‑Sea children, bringing them to Washington, D.C. At his peak, accusations of sexual abuse of minors arose; he cited local customs as justification, and the documentary examines how a scientist fell into scandal and why peers swiftly dismissed the claims.

The Genius and the Boys Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • carleton gajdusek
  • new guinea
  • adoption
  • nobel laureate
  • international adoption
  • scientist
  • reference to benoit mandelbrot
  • reference to oliver wolf sacks
  • scientific researcher
  • reference to a genius
  • reference to entomology
  • reference to harvard medical school
+38 more
  • mentorship
  • caltech
  • research institution
  • fatal disease
  • isolated community
  • disease outbreak
  • brain disease
  • reference to cannibalism
  • epidemic
  • human autopsy
  • reference to alzheimer's disease
  • reference to the u.s. national institute of health
  • accusation of child abuse
  • micronesia
  • famous scientist
  • prion
  • cannibalism
  • transmission
  • scientific discovery
  • epidemiology
  • foster son
  • reference to parkinson's disease
  • reference to suicide
  • academia
  • child sexual abuse
  • accusation of pedophilia
  • nobel prize winner
  • suspected child abuse
  • scientific community
  • child abuser
  • colonial new guinea
  • sexual practices
  • tribal ritual
  • reference to homosexuality
  • reference to fellatio
  • cultural anthropology
  • papua new guinea
  • recorded phone call
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Cast & crew

The Genius and the Boys Cast & Characters

Carleton Gajdusek leads the cast, with Oliver Sacks and Robert Gallo. Directed by Bosse Lindquist; 9 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Genius and the Boys

· 5 more
From the director

More from Bosse Lindquist

One more film directed by Bosse Lindquist: WikiRebels.

Full filmography

Seen The Genius and the Boys?

FAQ

The Genius and the Boys FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Genius and the Boys, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Genius and the Boys?

The Genius and the Boys runs 1 hour 29 minutes (89 minutes).

When was The Genius and the Boys released?

The Genius and the Boys was released on June 1, 2009.

Who directed The Genius and the Boys?

The Genius and the Boys was directed by Bosse Lindquist.

More films by Bosse Lindquist

Who is in the cast of The Genius and the Boys?

The Genius and the Boys stars Carleton Gajdusek, Oliver Sacks and Robert Gallo, among 9 credited actors.

Does The Genius and the Boys have a post-credit scene?

No. The Genius and the Boys has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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