The Grifters (1990)

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers (WGA):

Jim Thompson (novel)
Donald E. Westlake (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 January 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Seduction. Betrayal. Murder. Who's Conning Who?

Plot:

A small-time conman has torn loyalties between his estranged mother and new girlfriend--both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.

Plot Keywords:

Con | Con Artist | Elevator | Con Trick | Female Criminal

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Anjelica Huston	...	Lilly Dillon
John Cusack	...	Roy Dillon
Annette Bening	...	Myra Langtry
Jan Munroe	...	Guy at Bar
Robert Weems	...	Racetrack Announcer
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Jeweler
Jimmy Noonan	...	Bartender
Richard Holden	...	Cop
Henry Jones	...	Simms
Michael Laskin	...	Irv
Eddie Jones	...	Mintz
Sandy Baron	...	Doctor
Lou Hancock	...	Nurse
Gailard Sartain	...	Joe
Noelle Harling	...	Nurse Carol Flynn

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Norway:15

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company:

Cineplex-Odeon Films

Trivia:

Henry Jones' final feature film appearance.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the train, when Roy is grifting the sailors, you can see that he is only rolling one die at a time. However, you can distinctly hear him drop two dice (out of the frame) to the table at the end of the game.

Quotes:

Arizona Motel Clerk: Some-in' wrong? Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were the other lady.
Myra Langtry: No, I'm me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Jeff Goldblum/Aerosmith (#19.3)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

DO YOU DO YOU LOVE ME

An unacknowleged classic

When I casually flipped to this film (without even knowing what it was) I at first thought it was an exceptionally good film-noir. You might say the film snuck up on me- I was utterly unprepared for what I was about to see. I was drawn in closer and closer to the tangled web the three characters are stuck in, and utterly mesmerised by the performances. I don't think I have ever been so enthralled by a movie. After the intensely disturbing ending- which is not arbitrary, no matter what some of the reviews complained- I found myself unable to sleep. Rarely does a film have such an effect on me. THE GRIFTERS really does have to be seen to be totally understood; word fail one so easily when discussing great art.