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IMDb > Quintet (1979)
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Overview

User Rating:
4.9/10   1,041 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Robert Altman (story) &
Lionel Chetwynd (story) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Quintet on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 August 1979 (West Germany) more
Genre:
Tagline:
One man against the world.
Plot:
During a future ice age, dying humanity occupies its remaining time by playing a board game called "Quintet." For one small group, this obsession is not enough; they play the game with living pieces ... and only the winner survives. | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
Weekend Shopping Guide 10/16/09: Boosh Is Mighty
 (From . 16 October 2009, 3:56 PM, PDT)

What I Watched, What You Watched: Installment #10
 (From Rope Of Silicon. 27 September 2009, 1:56 AM, PDT)

User Reviews:
Stinks On Ice more (54 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Paul Newman ... Essex
Vittorio Gassman ... Saint Christopher
Fernando Rey ... Grigor
Bibi Andersson ... Ambrosia
Brigitte Fossey ... Vivia, Essex's Wife
Nina Van Pallandt ... Deuca
David Langton ... Goldstar
Thomas Hill ... Francha (as Tom Hill)
Monique Mercure ... Redstone's Mate

Craig Richard Nelson ... Redstone
Maruska Stankova ... Jaspera
Anne Gerety ... Aeon
Michel Maillot ... Obelus
Max Fleck ... Wood Supplier
Françoise Berd ... Charity house woman
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Directed by
Robert Altman 
 
Writing credits
Robert Altman (story) &
Lionel Chetwynd (story) &
Patricia Resnick (story)

Frank Barhydt (screenplay) &
Robert Altman (screenplay) and
Patricia Resnick (screenplay)

Produced by
Robert Altman .... producer
Allan F. Nicholls .... associate producer (as Allan Nicholls)
Tommy Thompson .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Tom Pierson 
 
Cinematography by
Jean Boffety 
 
Film Editing by
Dennis M. Hill 
 
Casting by
Luca Kouimelis 
 
Production Design by
Leon Ericksen 
 
Art Direction by
Wolf Kroeger 
 
Costume Design by
Scott Bushnell 
 
Makeup Department
Monty Westmore .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
Jim Kaufman .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Braive .... second assistant director
Tommy Thompson .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Stephen Altman .... property master
Stéphane Reichel .... assistant to art director
Andre Brochu .... construction supervisor (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Sam Gemette .... sound editor
Robert Gravenor .... sound
David M. Horton .... special sound effects (as David Horton)
Richard Portman .... sound re-recordist
Hal Sanders .... sound editor
 
Special Effects by
Tom Fisher .... special effects
John Thomas .... special effects
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Andy Chmura .... assistant camera
John Daoust .... key grip
Robert Guertin .... assistant camera
Kevin O'Connell .... gaffer
Al Smith .... assistant camera
Paul Van der Linden .... camera operator
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Hay .... wardrober
J. Allen Highfill .... costumer
 
Editorial Department
Jim Carter .... editorial apprentice
Raja Gosnell .... assistant editor (as Raja R. Gosnell)
William Hoy .... assistant editor
Richard Whitfield .... editorial apprentice
 
Music Department
Ted Whitfield .... music editor
 
Transportation Department
Peter Bray .... transportation coordinator
Melanie Johnson .... driver (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Victoria Barney .... project coordinator
Monique Champagne .... script supervisor
Elaine Di Bello Bradish .... assistant to producer
Dick Dubuque .... project accountant
David Fitzgerald .... assistant to producer
Ralph M. Leo .... project auditor
Patrice Ryan .... title designer
Rita Shaffer .... project manager
Ed Horwitz .... personal assistant: Robert Altman (uncredited)
Danièle Rohrbach .... production secretary (uncredited)
 
Crew believed to be complete


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Additional Details

Runtime:
118 min | Argentina:116 min | Portugal:110 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The majority of the movie was filmed in the empty Man and His World Pavillion on St. Helen's Island.(The Island is connected to Montreal by Bridges and the subway.) It was originally built for Expo 67 and remained standing for several more years. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Developing the World of 'Quintet' (2006) (V) more

FAQ

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21 out of 37 people found the following review useful.
Stinks On Ice, 5 March 2002
3/10
Author: Mr Blue-4 from Los Angeles, CA

In a up and down career with all sorts of movies, this is Altman's one try at science fiction, and it clearly shows that it's not his forte.

The film is practically incomprehensible. It seems a disastrous combination of experimental theater pretentiousness and a major studio trying to jump on the post-Star Wars bandwagon (not that this film is at all modelled after that one, but you can imagine that the studio signed on hoping for a much different Paul Newman sci-fi film). The story is nonexistent, the characters remain strangers to us all the way through.

Altman has packs of dogs feeding on dead bodies throughout the movie, obviously straining to make some sort of POINT. But since the movie is so poorly thought out, starting with the lack of plot on up, it really isn't about anything at all.

The production designed is confused, the photography is undone by the blurs on the edges, and the score is terrible. However, "Quintet" does have one redeeming feature. Not only is the movie clearly filmed out in the snow and ice, but the interiors are kept cold as well. You see the actors' breath in every scene. You really FEEL the cold.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Quintet (1979)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Rules of Quintet game? mpoconnor7
One of the very worst... kjcowzlan
The trailer... kjcowzlan
Did Not Understand! fantasmic17-2
Quintet jumper_31
DVD peter_farb2003
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