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The Silence of the Lambs
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The Silence of the Lambs (1991) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 7)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) -- A young FBI cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 12% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Thomas Harris (novel)
Ted Tally (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Silence of the Lambs on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 February 1991 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Brilliant. Cunning. Psychotic. In his mind lies the clue to a ruthless killer. - Clarice Starling, FBI. Brilliant. Vulnerable. Alone. She must trust him to stop the killer. more
Plot:
A young FBI cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won 5 Oscars. Another 39 wins & 27 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(168 articles)
Black Friday Movie Deals: Amazon.com
 (From Cinematical. 26 November 2009, 9:03 PM, PST)

6 Actors That Should Probably Not Watch Their Own Movies
 (From FilmSchoolRejects. 23 November 2009, 7:16 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Absolutely Brilliant. more (667 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
118 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Denmark:15 | Italy:VM14 | USA:R (certificate #30301) | Iceland:16 | Australia:MA (tv rating) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 (director's cut) (video rating) | Finland:K-16 (cut video version) | New Zealand:R16 | Poland:15 | UK:15 (re-rating) (2009) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (video rating) (special edition) | Australia:M (re-rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:15 (original rating) | Ireland:18 (re-rating) | Israel:18 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 (cut) | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Singapore:PG (video rating) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | Singapore:R(A) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Clarice Starling was chosen by the American Film Institution as the sixth greatest film hero (out of fifty), the highest ranked female on the list; Hannibal Lecter was chosen as the #1 greatest film villain (also out of fifty). more
Goofs:
Factual errors: When Clarice opens the music box, it plays and winds down. As it winds down, the musical pitch lowers. Actually, the pitch should stay the same - the music should just slow down. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
FBI instructor: Starling! Starling! Crawford wants to see you in his office.
Clarice Starling: Thank you, sir.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Hip Priest more

FAQ

How does the movie end?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
What does 'quid pro quo' mean?
more
184 out of 211 people found the following comment useful.
Absolutely Brilliant., 19 February 1999
Author: Scudder-3 from Livonia, MI USA

Sweeping all five major Academy Awards ("Oscars" for Best Movie, Director, Actor, Actress, Screenplay) is quite an accomplishment. Doing it nearly a year after a film was released is a miracle considering the notoriously short attention span of Oscar voters. It is a powerful example of how great a movie can be when superb writers, directors, actors, and others work at the top of their craft.

`Silence of the Lambs' is the story of a young FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) who is summoned to help find one serial killer called `Buffalo Bill.' by interviewing another. Foster's performance is absolutely brilliant. While Anthony Hopkins receives most of the (well-deserved) praise for his chilling portrayal of incarcerated serial killer `Hannibal ‘the Cannibal' Lector', it is Foster's performance that holds the movie together. The fear she shows just behind her eyes makes Clarice's outward courage all the more interesting and vulnerable. This is the perfect way to play the part because it explains Lector's interest in Clarice. Her only bargaining chip in getting Lector's help is to let him `feed' on her innermost secrets and fears in exchange for his brilliant insights into the psychotic mind. The title of the movie comes from these exchanges and is very poignant.

Director Jonathan Demme is masterful. There is one scene late in the movie that I will not spoil. It is one of the most simply brilliant scenes ever staged in a movie. I don't know if all the credit goes to Demme or the writers, but there is a moment in the film where the suspense builds beautifully to a what seems to be a common movie scene. However, through skillful timing of the direction, the audiences assumptions are used against them and when the truth is revealed (hint: it involves a doorbell) it is shocking and induced a collective gasp from the audience I saw it with at the theatre. It set the stage for an edge-of-your seat climax.

Do not miss this movie.

The movie is incredibly suspenseful and an absolute must see.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Buffalo Bill's dance scene... AutumnRed
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Is Hannibal Lecter based On a Real Person mistakoolaidman
The Joker vs. Hannibal halfadonut
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