Klute (1971)

Director:

Alan J. Pakula

Writers:

Andy Lewis (written by) and
David P. Lewis (written by)

Release Date:

25 June 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

One man is missing. Two girls lie dead. ...and someone breathing on the other end of the phone. [USA Theatrical]

Plot:

A small-town detective searching for a missing man has only one lead: a connection with a New York prostitute.

Plot Keywords:

Call Girl | Stalking | Detective | Prostitute | Letter

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Jane Fonda	...	Bree Daniels
Donald Sutherland	...	John Klute
Charles Cioffi	...	Peter Cable
Roy Scheider	...	Frank Ligourin
Dorothy Tristan	...	Arlyn Page
Rita Gam	...	Trina
Nathan George	...	Det. Lt. Trask
Vivian Nathan	...	Psychiatrist
Morris Strassberg	...	Mr. Goldfarb
Barry Snider	...	Berger
Betty Murray	...	Holly Gruneman
Jane White	...	Janie Dale
Shirley Stoler	...	Momma Reese
Robert Milli	...	Tom Gruneman
Anthony Holland	...	Actor's Agent
Fred Burrell	...	Man in Hotel
Richard B. Shull	...	Sugarman (as Richard Shull)
Marc Malvin	...	Asst. Prod. in Adv. Agency
Rosalind Cash	...	Pat
Jean Stapleton	...	Goldfarb's Secretary
Jan Fielding	...	Psychiatrist's Secretary
Antonia Rey	...	Mrs. Vasek
Robert Ronan	...	Director in Little Theatre
Richard Russell Ramos	...	Asst. Dir. in Little Theatre (as Richard Ramos)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jerome Collamore	...	Custodian (uncredited)
Candy Darling	...	Discotheque Patron (uncredited)
Kevin Dobson	...	Man at Bar (uncredited)
Veronica Hamel	...	Model (uncredited)
Richard Jordan	...	Man kissing Jane Fonda in night club (uncredited)
Margaret Linn	...	Evie (uncredited)
Tony Major	...	Bill Azure (uncredited)
Harry Reems	...	Discotheque Patron (uncredited)
Joe Silver	...	Dr. Spangler (uncredited)
Sylvester Stallone	...	Discotheque Patron (uncredited)
Ellen Stretton	...	Woman at Bar (uncredited)
Lee Wallace	...	Nate Goldfarb (uncredited)
Mary Louise Wilson	...	Ad Agency Secretary (uncredited)

Directed by
Alan J. Pakula

Writing credits
Andy Lewis		(written by) and
David P. Lewis		(written by) (as Dave Lewis)

Produced by
C. Kenneth Deland	....	executive associate producer
David Lange	....	co-producer
Alan J. Pakula	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Small

Cinematography by
Gordon Willis

Film Editing by
Carl Lerner

Casting by
Alixe Gordin

Art Direction by
George Jenkins

Set Decoration by
John Mortensen

Costume Design by
Ann Roth

Makeup Department
Irving Buchman	....	makeup artist
Bob Grimaldi	....	hair stylist
Paul McGregor	....	hair stylist: Miss Fonda (as Paul Macgregor)

Production Management
Ed Fay	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William C. Gerrity	....	assistant director (as William Gerrity)

Sound Department
Christopher Newman	....	sound (as Chris Newman)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Chapman	....	camera operator
Sherman Kunkel	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Gary Muller	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby	....	special still photographer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Irene Bowers	....	assistant film editor
Angelo Corrao	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Michael Small	....	conductor
Jack Sheldon	....	musician: trumpet (uncredited)

Other crew
Barbra Bjorkman	....	script supervisor
Arthur Eckstein	....	title designer
Mary Hughes	....	production assistant
Mary Cross	....	double (uncredited)
Ralph S. Singleton	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Gus Productions
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Master (2008) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Warner Bros. Finland (1971) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1971) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1983) (1995) (1999) (Finland) (TV)
• TV3 (1988) (Finland) (TV)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 (original rating) | Australia:M | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | France:Unrated | USA:X (original rating) | Argentina:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1971) | Sweden:11 | UK:18 (video: 1988) | USA:R | Canada:18A

Filming Locations:

Filmways Studios - 246 East 127th Street, East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Gus Productions

Trivia:

Bree's apartment was built on a sound stage at a New York film studio where Jane Fonda could spend the night. The director even had a working toilet installed in the bathroom of the set. Jane contributed to decorating the apartment by deciding Bree would be a romance reader and have a cat. Jane remembered an actress from Lee Strasberg's private class that occasionally serviced John F. Kennedy, so she decided Bree had done this as well. A signed photo of Kennedy appears on the fridge in Bree's apartment.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Bree has drinks with one of her clients in his hotel, there is much clinking of ice on soundtrack but no ice in drinks.

Quotes:

John Klute: Miss Daniels, can I ask you some questions now?
Bree Daniel: [notices Klute's surveillance gear] You bastard! Is this a shakedown, hon'? 'Cause you picked a loser, I don't have it.
John Klute: I'm looking for Tom Gr...
Bree Daniel: [interrupts him] Jesus, do you think I'd still be living in this kip if I was still in the line fulltime? I'd be back on Park Avenue.
John Klute: Can I ask you some questions?
Bree Daniel: Or you'll have me thrown back in the brig, you mean.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Telling the Truth About Lies: The Making of 'All the President's Men' (2006) (V)

Jane Fonda is brilliant!

I agree with the commentator(s) who say the title of this film should be 'Bree' instead of 'Klute.' No offense to Donald Sutherland who is undoubtedly effective in his role, but it is Jane Fonda's wonderfully nuanced performance that really carries this film. What an incredible range this actress has and what an impressive résumé she has put together throughout her career! I can't wait to see her in Monster In Law. Jane Fonda definitely deserved the Oscar she got for this role. Her portrayal of Bree Daniels, a tragic heroine wracked by inner contradictions is one of cinema's most haunting characters not only in the context of the story but as the embodiment of the immediate post sexual revolution as well. Highly recommended!