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Kiss of the Spider Woman
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Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   4,625 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 11% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Hector Babenco
Writers:
Manuel Puig (novel)
Leonard Schrader (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Kiss of the Spider Woman on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
26 July 1985 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Plot:
Luis Molina and Valentin Arregui are cell mates in a South American prison. Luis, a homosexual, is found... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 8 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Belated 'Kiss'
 (From New York Post. 8 July 2008, 1:09 AM, PDT)

Hurt's Oscar Stolen
 (From WENN. 15 February 2006)

User Comments:
A Pleasant Surprise on Many Levels more

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

William Hurt ... Luis Molina

Raul Julia ... Valentin Arregui
Sonia Braga ... Leni Lamaison / Marta / Spider Woman

José Lewgoy ... Warden
Milton Gonçalves ... Secret Policeman
Míriam Pires ... Mother Molina
Nuno Leal Maia ... Gabriel, Molina's friend
Fernando Torres ... Americo
Patricio Bisso ... Greta
Herson Capri ... Werner, Leni's German lover and Chief of Counter-Intelligence in movie fantasy
Denise Dumont ... Michelle, Leni's best friend in movie fantasy (as Denise Dummont)
Antônio Petrin ... Clubfoot, Resistance fighter in movie fantasy
Wilson Grey ... Flunky, Resistance fighter in movie fantasy
Miguel Falabella ... Lieutenant
Walter Breda ... Agent #1
Luis Guilherme ... Agent #2
Walmir Barros ... Agent #3
Ana Maria Braga ... Lidia
Luiz Serra ... Prison Doctor
Benjamin Cattan ... Molina's Friend
Oswaldo Barreto ... Molina's Friend
Sergio Bright ... Molina's Friend
Claudio Curi ... Molina's Friends
Lineu Dias ... Bank Cashier
Joe Kantor ... Judge
Luis Roberto Galizia ... Nurse
Pericles Campos ... Prison Guard
Edmilson Santos ... Prison Guard
Walter Vicca ... Prison Guard
Ken Kaneko ... Prison Guard (as Kenichi Kaneko)
Geogers Schlesinger ... Jewish Smuggler
Carlos Fariello ... Jewish Smuggler
Frederico Botelho ... Jewish Smuggler
Sylvio Band ... Rabbi
Paulo Ludmer ... Rabbi
Elvira Bisso ... Maid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nildo Parente ... Butler / Resistance Leader
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Directed by
Hector Babenco 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Manuel Puig  novel
Leonard Schrader  writer

Produced by
Altamiro Boscoli .... associate producer
Paulo Francini .... associate producer
Gustavo Halbreich .... associate producer
Jane Holzer .... associate producer
Michael Maiello .... associate producer
Francisco Ramalho Jr. .... executive producer
Jaime Sverner .... associate producer
David Weisman .... producer
 
Original Music by
Nando Cordeiro 
John Neschling 
 
Cinematography by
Rodolfo Sánchez 
 
Film Editing by
Mauro Alice 
 
Production Design by
Clovis Bueno 
 
Art Direction by
Clovis Bueno 
 
Costume Design by
Patricio Bisso 
 
Makeup Department
Nilda de Moura .... hair stylist
Nena de Oliveira .... makeup artist
Guilherme Pereira .... makeup artist: Ms. Braga
Marco Simon .... hairdresser: Ms. Braga
 
Production Management
John Paul Lussier .... unit production manager
Liza Monteiro .... production manager: Brazil
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Amilcar Monteiro Claro .... assistant director (as Amilcar Monero)
Flávio R. Tambellini .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Nanci Audi .... props
Felipe Crescenti .... set designer
Solange Magerowski .... assistant art director
Cecília Ribeiro .... assistant art director
Berta Segall .... assistant art director
Mique Stedile .... assistant art director
 
Sound Department
Mark Berger .... supervising re-recording mixer
Paul Coombe .... sound re-recording mixer
Ismael Cordeiro .... production sound mixer
Susan Dudeck .... supervising sound editor
Scott Ganary .... foley mixer
Gary Gegan .... foley mixer
Allan Hartz .... sound editor
Val Kuklowsky .... supervising adr editor
Lorie O'Shatz .... sound editor
Philip Rogers .... sound recordist
Jeff Rosen .... sound editor
José Luiz Sasso .... sound engineer
Peter Waggoner .... sound re-recording mixer
Cathy Welch .... assistant sound editor
Hugo Weng .... sound editor
 
Special Effects by
José Marchesin .... special effects
 
Visual Effects by
Robert Dawson .... optical director
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Wilmar Moreira Carvalho .... electrician
Felipe Daviña .... assistant camera
José Alves do Nascimento .... electrician
João Antônio Duarte .... electrician
Mário Souza Gama .... electrician
Odair Guarani .... assistant camera
Jamelão .... gaffer
Lúcio Kodato .... photographer: second unit
José Carlos Lampa .... electrician
José Manir .... electrician
Jamelao Medeiros .... gaffer
Oswaldo Moreira .... electrician
Adalberto Padouim .... electrician
Lelio Rodrigues .... grip
Antônio Alves Souza .... electrician
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Zeze Braga .... dress maker: Miss Braga's dresses
Therezinka Ferreira .... dress maker
Mauricio Kawamura .... wardrobe
Avy Marciano .... dress maker
 
Editorial Department
Cristina Amaral .... assistant editor
Regina Dias .... assistant editor
Galileu Garcia Jr. .... assistant editor
Helen Hahn .... negative cutter
Sergio Marin .... assistant editor
Dennis McNeill .... color timer
Rebecca Nauert .... assistant editor
Rebecca Nauert .... post-production coordinator
Lee Percy .... additional editor
 
Music Department
Wally Badarou .... composer: additional score
Michael Jary .... composer: song "Je sais qu'un jour"
Zarah Leander .... soloist
 
Other crew
Daniel Bickel .... production coordinator
Mara Borba .... choreographer
Murilo Carvalho .... production assistant
Jorge Carvallo .... assistant: Mr. Hurt
Carla Chertel .... production assistant
Robert Dawson .... title designer: main titles
Marçal de Souza .... production assistant
Alberto Gieco .... script supervisor
Daniel Gomez .... assistant: Mr. Julia
Rui Lima .... production assistant
Tony Payne .... assistant to producers
Carmen Rodrigues .... secretary
Rene Silber .... production assistant
Janete Tsuha .... accountant
David E. Van Houten .... publicity designer
Oscar Veliz .... production assistant
Edgard Zilberberg .... production assistant
Roberto Herrero .... production assistant (uncredited)
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
O Beijo da Mulher Aranha (Brazil)
more
Runtime:
120 min
Country:
Brazil | USA
Language:
English | Portuguese
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
During rehearsals, the two actors had trouble finding the chemistry they needed for their scenes together. To better understand what each needed from the other's role, William Hurt suggested they try an experiment where they would switch roles, with Hurt as Valentin and Julia as Molina. The role-switching rehearsal went so well that Hurt initially suggested to director Hector Babenco that they should switch parts for the film as well. Obviously, the switch did not occur, but Hurt states that it was a very useful experiment in helping them more fully understand their own characters. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Luis Molina: She's... well, she's something a little strange. That's what she noticed, that she's not a woman like all the others. She seems all wrapped up in herself. Lost in a world she carries deep inside her.
more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Why is this movie significant?
What does the title "Kiss of the Spider Woman" mean?
more
13 out of 16 people found the following comment useful:-
A Pleasant Surprise on Many Levels, 28 February 2006
8/10
Author: gspieg from United States

The first time I saw this movie it had just been released. The theater was packed and my wife and I ended up sitting in the front row on a wing. I hated the movie. I couldn't understand what all the hoopla was about and it just didn't sit well. My wife and I discussed the movie after wards and she couldn't believe I didn't like it. She liked it a lot. After discussing it I agreed to see it again and not sit in the front row. I quickly discovered I was wrong about the movie. William Hurt and Raul Julia are outstanding. This movie resonated on many different levels that it's hard to describe. The friendship between the two main characters was absolute regardless of their present unfortunate situation. They are two ordinary people thrown together by fate in an extremely difficult situation and they make the best of it. The conflicts going on around them would destroy lesser men. Their reality is bleak, at best, and they find a way to survive. Powerful performances at every level are the order of the day. Sonja Braga is a delightful distraction as real as any fantasy. I can't wait for this movie to come out on DVD!

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The Scene With The 2 Of them in the jail cell * Spoilers * gdengve
Question regarding second disc dvd pablobondi
AWESOME book, HORRIBLE movie iluvlex
They moved the story to Brazil Lazar_Taxon
'Tell Me A Movie' Zorro-3
(spoiler) what happened to Valentin? metoraf
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