The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writers (WGA):

Thomas Harris (novel)
Ted Tally (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 February 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

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.

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.

Plot Keywords:

FBI | Serial Killer | Psychiatrist | Agent | Psychopath

Awards:

Won 5 Oscars. Another 39 wins & 27 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Nov. 21	8:00 PM	WGNAMER
Sun. Nov. 22	2:00 PM	WGNAMER

Cast

Jodie Foster	...	Clarice Starling
Anthony Hopkins	...	Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Scott Glenn	...	Jack Crawford
Anthony Heald	...	Dr. Frederick Chilton
Ted Levine	...	Jame 'Buffalo Bill' Gumb
Frankie Faison	...	Barney Matthews
Kasi Lemmons	...	Ardelia Mapp
Brooke Smith	...	Catherine Martin
Paul Lazar	...	Pilcher
Dan Butler	...	Roden
Lawrence T. Wrentz	...	Agent Burroughs
Don Brockett	...	Friendly Psychopath in Cell
Frank Seals Jr.	...	Brooding Psychopath in Cell
Stuart Rudin	...	Miggs
Maria Skorobogatov	...	Young Clarice Starling (as Masha Skorobogatov)
Jeffrie Lane	...	Clarice's Father
Leib Lensky	...	Mr. Lang, Storage Manager
George 'Red' Schwartz	...	Mr. Lang's Driver (as Red Schwartz)
Jim Roche	...	TV Evangelist
James B. Howard	...	Boxing Instructor
Bill Miller	...	Mr. Brigham
Chuck Aber	...	Agent Terry
Gene Borkan	...	Oscar
Pat McNamara	...	Sheriff Perkins
Tracey Walter	...	Lamar
Kenneth Utt	...	Dr. Akin
Adelle Lutz	...	TV Anchorwoman
Obba Babatundé	...	TV Anchorman (as Obba Babatunde)
George Michael	...	TV Sportscaster
Diane Baker	...	Sen. Ruth Martin
Roger Corman	...	FBI Director Hayden Burke
Ron Vawter	...	Paul Krendler
Charles Napier	...	Lt. Boyle
Jim Dratfield	...	Sen. Martin's Aide
D. Stanton Miranda	...	Reporter #1 (as Stanton-Miranda)
Rebecca Saxon	...	Reporter #2
Danny Darst	...	Sgt. Tate
Cynthia Ettinger	...	Officer Jacobs
Brent Hinkley	...	Officer Murray
Steve Wyatt	...	Airport Flirt
Alex Coleman	...	Sgt. Jimmy Pembry
David Early	...	Spooked Memphis Cop
Andre B. Blake	...	Tall Memphis Cop (as Andre Blake)
Bill Dalzell	...	Distraught Memphis Cop (as Bill Dalzell III)
Chris Isaak	...	SWAT Commander
Daniel von Bargen	...	SWAT Communicator
Tommy Lafitte	...	SWAT Shooter (as Tommy LaFitte)
Josh Broder	...	EMS Attendant
Buzz Kilman	...	EMS Driver
Harry Northup	...	Mr. Bimmel
Lauren Roselli	...	Stacy Hubka
Lamont Arnold	...	Flower Delivery Man
Lawrence A. Bonney	...	FBI Instructor
Darla	...	Precious
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Hall	...	State Trooper (uncredited)
John W. Iwanonkiw	...	Orderly (uncredited)
Lynette Jenkins	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Chris McGinn	...	Autopsy Victim (uncredited)
Ted Monte	...	FBI Agent (uncredited)
George A. Romero	...	FBI Agent in Memphis (uncredited)
Mike Schaeffer	...	Prison guard (uncredited)

Directed by
Jonathan Demme

Writing credits (WGA)
Thomas Harris		(novel "The Silence of the Lambs")
Ted Tally		(screenplay)

Produced by
Grace Blake	....	associate producer
Ronald M. Bozman	....	producer (as Ron Bozman)
Gary Goetzman	....	executive producer
Edward Saxon	....	producer
Kenneth Utt	....	producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Tak Fujimoto		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Craig McKay

Casting by
Howard Feuer

Production Design by
Kristi Zea

Art Direction by
Tim Galvin

Set Decoration by
Karen O'Hara

Costume Design by
Colleen Atwood

Makeup Department
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair stylist
Carl Fullerton	....	special makeup effects
Neal Martz	....	special makeup effects
Allen Weisinger	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Marshall Persinger	....	post-production supervisor
Kenneth Utt	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ronald M. Bozman	....	first assistant director (as Ron Bozman)
Gina Leonetti	....	second second assistant director
Kyle McCarthy	....	second assistant director
Steve Rose	....	additional first assistant director

Art Department
Francine Byrne	....	art department coordinator
Sean Foyle	....	assistant props
Eileen Garrigan	....	master scenic artist
Frederika Gray	....	key scenic artist
Kalina Ivanov	....	storyboard artist
C.A. Kelly	....	stand-by set dresser
Gary Kosko	....	assistant art director
Loren Levy	....	assistant props
Ed Lohrer III	....	set dresser
Ann Miller	....	property master
Paula Payne	....	stand-by scenic artist
Karl Shefelman	....	storyboard artist
Diana Stoughton	....	assistant set decorator (as Diana L. Stoughton)
Kenneth Turek	....	set dresser (as Ken Turek)
Kimberly Weeks	....	buyer
Edward West	....	set dresser
Natalie Wilson	....	assistant art director
S. Bruce Wineinger	....	construction coordinator
Chris Call	....	painter (uncredited)
Thomas J. Garrigan	....	props (uncredited)
Smith Harper Hutchings	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Brick Mason	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ron Bochar	....	sound effects editor
David Boulton	....	adr recordist
Missy Cohen	....	apprentice sound editor
Randall Coleman	....	assistant adr editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Kay Denmark	....	adr boom operator
William Docker	....	apprentice sound editor (as Bill Docker)
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Fundus	....	sound recordist
Brian Johnson	....	assistant sound editor
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
Stuart Levy	....	apprentice sound editor
Skip Lievsay	....	sound designer
Marissa Littlefield	....	dialogue editor
Dennis Maitland II	....	boom operator
Douglas Murray	....	sound re-recordist (as Douglas L. Murray)
Christopher Newman	....	production sound mixer
Bruce Pross	....	foley editor
Fred Rosenberg	....	dialogue editor
Anne Sawyer	....	assistant sound editor
Shari Schwartz	....	apprentice sound editor
Gail Showalter	....	adr editor
Alan Snelling	....	sound recording engineer
Sean Squires	....	sound re-recordist
Jeffrey Stern	....	dialogue editor
Philip Stockton	....	dialogue editor (as Phil Stockton)
Steven Visscher	....	foley editor
Deborah Wallach	....	adr editor
Robert F. Warren	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby

Special Effects by
Dwight Benjamin-Creel	....	special effects

Stunts
Michael Cassidy	....	stunts (as Mike Cassidy)
Walter Robles	....	stunts (as Walt Robles)
John Robotham	....	stunt coordinator
George P. Wilbur	....	stunts (as George Wilbur)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Aversa	....	grip
Michael Burke	....	electrician (as Mike Burke)
Ken Connors	....	best boy electric (as Kenny Conners)
Ed DeCort	....	electrician
Peter Demme	....	electrician
John Donohue	....	dolly grip
Russell Engels	....	gaffer (as Rusty Engels)
Larry Huston	....	additional assistant camera
Tony C. Jannelli	....	camera operator (as Tony Jannelli)
Roswell Jones	....	electrician
Jay Levy	....	additional assistant camera
Mick Lohrer	....	grip
Bruce MacCallum	....	first assistant camera
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator
Billy Miller	....	key grip (as Bill Miller)
Matt Miller	....	grip
Tom O'Halloran	....	second assistant camera
Brian S. Osmond	....	camera trainee (as Brian Osmond)
James Petri	....	electrician
Calvin Price	....	grip
Ken Regan	....	still photographer
Howard Weiner	....	video engineer
David Knox	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Mark Streapy	....	aerial camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Donna M. Belajac	....	additional casting: Pittsburgh (as Donna Belajac)
Staci A. Blagovich	....	extras casting: Pittsburgh (as Staci Blagovich)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mark Burchard	....	wardrobe supervisor
Kathleen Gerlach	....	assistant costume designer
Hartsell Taylor	....	wardrobe supervisor
Benjamin Wilson	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Trish Breganti	....	post-production assistant
Lisa Bromwell	....	associate editor
Sam Bruskin	....	post-production assistant
Lynn Cassaniti	....	apprentice film editor
Nzingha Clarke	....	apprentice film editor
Priscilla Fleischman	....	post-production assistant
David Kirkman	....	apprentice film editor
Colleen Sharp	....	first assistant editor
Alice Stone	....	second assistant editor
David Orr	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Sharon Boyle	....	music supervisor
Susan Demskey	....	assistant music editor (as Sue Demskey)
Homer Denison	....	orchestrator
Natasha Kinne	....	playback singer
Suzana Peric	....	music editor
Nic Ratner	....	assistant music editor
Peter Fuchs	....	assistant music recording engineer (uncredited)
Quincy Z. Gunderson	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)
Dana Sano	....	music coordinator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
John Leonidas	....	transportation captain
Dennis Radesky	....	transportation co-captain
Denny Caira	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Judy Arthur	....	unit publicist
Jeffrey T. Barabe	....	production assistant (as Jeffrey Barabe)
Monica Bielawski	....	production assistant
Andre B. Blake	....	production assistant (as Andre Blake)
Lisa Bradley	....	assistant production coordinator
Katie Clarke	....	accounting assistant
John Crowder	....	location coordinator: Washington D.C.
Leanore G. Drogin	....	assistant moth wrangler and stylist
Richard Ericson	....	dialect consultant
Robin Fajardo	....	assistant: Mr. Utt
Richard Fishwick	....	craft service
Becky Gibbs	....	production assistant
Paul Giorgi	....	stage manager
Teri Hanson	....	production assistant
Gus Holzer	....	location coordinator: Bimini, Bahamas
Thomas A. Imperato	....	financial representative
Mary A. Kelly	....	continuity
Patricia LaMagna	....	assistant: Ms. Foster (as Pat LaMagna)
Annie Loeffler	....	location manager
Sally Love	....	entomological consultant
Ann F. Markel	....	accounting assistant (as Ann Markel)
Maria Alaina Mason	....	production assistant (as Maria Mason)
Michael McCue	....	location manager (as Mike McCue)
Kevin McLeod	....	special production assistant
Raymond A. Mendez	....	moth wrangler and stylist
Cristie Miele	....	dog trainer (as Christie Miele)
Walt Oggier	....	police consultant (as Walter 'O.J.' Oggier)
Paula Oliver	....	production assistant
Paula Payne	....	special drawings
Lucas Platt	....	assistant: Mr. Demme
Ben Ramsey	....	production assistant
John E. Rawlins	....	entomological consultant (as John E. Rawlins, PhD)
Vicki Dee Rock	....	production auditor
Andrew Sands	....	assistant production coordinator
Steve Shareshian	....	assistant production auditor (as Steven Shareshian)
Alison Sherman	....	assistant production coordinator
Neri Kyle Tannenbaum	....	location manager
Valerie Thomas	....	assistant: Mr. Saxon
Dianne Ulan	....	production assistant
'Buz' Wasler	....	production assistant
Gina White	....	production assistant
Hyle White	....	production assistant
Steffany Hannan	....	body double (uncredited)
Brian Hartman	....	location scout (uncredited)
Alan Jacques	....	projectionist (uncredited)
John Marston	....	location projectionist: Washington D.C. (uncredited)
Catherine M. McDonald	....	set production assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Matthew Myers	....	production intern (uncredited)
Steve Parys	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Orion Pictures Corporation
• Strong Heart/Demme Production

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Orion Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Hoyts Distribution (1991) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1991) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1991) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Alamode Film (2001) (Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1991) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbus Film (1991) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1995) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1991) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1991) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• GAGA
• Humax Pictures
• Image Entertainment (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• LK-TEL (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2001) (UK) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (France) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (The Hannibal Lecter Collection)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1991) (Germany) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (????) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)

Other Companies

• C-5  sound effects and foleys produced at (as c-5, inc.)
• C5  post-production sound services
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• General Camera Corporation  location services
• J.G. Films  negative matching
• M & Co.  main titles design
• MCA Records  soundtrack published by
• R/Greenberg Associates  titles and opticals
• Sound One Corporation  sound mixed at
• The Erickson Agency  extras casting: virginia

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

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:

Bellaire, Ohio, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The filmmakers had completely prepared to go to Montana to shoot a flashback sequence depicting Clarice's runaway attempt. But after filming the dialogue between Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, director Jonathan Demme realized it would be pointless to cut away from their performances and announced, "I guess we aren't going to Montana."

Goofs:

Factual errors: Crawford tells Clarice that Miggs died by swallowing his tongue. Despite tales of people suffocating this way, swallowing one's tongue is impossible.

Quotes:

[first lines]
FBI instructor: Starling! Starling! Crawford wants to see you in his office.
Clarice Starling: Thank you, sir.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man: I, Duckman (#1.1)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Lanmò Nan Zile A

In a Class by Itself

Brilliant Best Picture of 1991 that never gets old. "The Silence of the Lambs" deals with a young FBI cadet (Oscar-winner Jodie Foster) who is sent to interview a captured madman (Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins in one of the greatest performances ever on the screen) to find out about a serial killer (Ted Levine) who is stripping the skin from his female victims after they die. The FBI has had no luck with the case and agent Scott Glenn tries to throw a curve-ball to Hopkins by sending Foster. Hopkins is a former doctor of Levine and holds the clues to capturing the unknown criminal. Needless to say the film takes many twists and turns, creating a suspenseful thriller that has no equal. At the heart of "The Silence of the Lambs" are the confrontations between Hopkins and Foster. They play a complicated chess match of words which results in some of the greatest footage ever captured for the cinema. Hopkins dominates in spite of the fact he has approximately 17 minutes of time in the film. This is a film that will wrap itself around you and you will likely never be able to shake some of the key elements you have seen in this amazing masterpiece. 5 stars out of 5.