American Buffalo (1996)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Michael Corrente

Writers (WGA):

David Mamet (play)
David Mamet (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 September 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

They had a plan. It wasn't worth a nickel.

Plot:

Long-repressed feelings of bitterness and betrayal explode when three inner-city losers plot the robbery of a valuable coin in a seedy second-hand junk shop.

Plot Keywords:

Coin | Robbery | Junk Shop | Loser | Betrayal

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Walt 'Teach' Teacher
Dennis Franz	...	Don 'Donny' Dubrow, Owner Rvterbands Variety
Sean Nelson	...	Bob 'Bobby'

Directed by
Michael Corrente

Writing credits (WGA)
David Mamet		(play)
David Mamet		(screenplay)

Produced by
Sarah Green	....	co-producer
Gregory Mosher	....	producer
John Sloss	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Thomas Newman

Cinematography by
Richard Crudo

Film Editing by
Kate Sanford

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Daniel Talpers

Set Decoration by
Jessica Lanier

Costume Design by
Deborah Newhall

Makeup Department
Brenda McNally	....	hair stylist
Brenda McNally	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Dorothy Aufiero	....	assistant production manager
Tania D. Campbell	....	post-production supervisor
Lisa Cofini	....	post-production supervisor
Michael Jackman	....	post-production supervisor (as Michael A. Jackman)
Marisa Polvino	....	unit production manager
Seth I. Shire	....	post-production supervisor
Shawn Wilson	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bryan C. Alford	....	second second assistant director (as Bryan Alford)
Adam Escott	....	second second assistant director
Richard Greenberg	....	second assistant director
Julian Petrillo	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Judson Bell	....	construction foreman
Ezra Burke	....	set dresser
Sophie Carlhian	....	painter
Laurel Clayson	....	draper
Humberto Cordero	....	draftsperson (as Humberto Corder)
Ray Fisher	....	lead man (as Raymond A. Fisher)
David Gulick	....	property master
Tom Higgins	....	set dresser (as Thomas Higgins)
David Melito	....	art department coordinator (as David A. Melito)
Kris Moran	....	property assistant
David Rotondo	....	carpenter
Mark Sarver	....	carpenter
Philip Schneider	....	charge scenic (as Phil Schneider)
Kevin Sciotto	....	painter
Kurt Smith	....	construction coordinator
Bill Wieters	....	painter
Peter Wilcox	....	carpenter
Paul Williamson	....	carpenter
Arthur A. Wood III	....	on-set dresser (as Arthur Wood)

Sound Department
Timothy R. Boyce Jr.	....	third boom cable (as T.R. Boyce Jr.)
Tim J. Carroll	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Laura Civiello	....	dialogue editor
Jennifer L. Dunnington	....	apprentice sound editor (as Jennifer Dunnington)
Robert Jackson	....	production sound
Ron Judkins	....	production sound (as Ronald Judkins)
Dan Korintus	....	dialogue editor (as Daniel J. Korintus)
George A. Lara	....	foley engineer (as George Lara)
Tony Martinez	....	supervising sound editor
Michael W. Mitchell	....	assistant sound editor
Eliza Paley	....	dialogue editor
Harry Peck Bolles	....	adr editor
Charleen Richards	....	adr engineer (as Charlene Richards)
Warren Shaw	....	dialogue editor
Paul P. Soucek	....	sound effects editor (as Paul Soucek)
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bill Sweeney	....	foley editor (as William Sweeney)
V. Renee Taylor	....	apprentice sound editor (as Renee Taylor)
Brian Vancho	....	foley walker
David Wahnon	....	foley editor
Ryan Webb	....	second boom operator
Tom Winslow	....	second engineer

Special Effects by
Ed Ricci	....	property effects (as Edward Ricci)

Stunts
Jalil Jay Lynch	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Burke	....	gaffer
Tony Campenni	....	dolly grip
Mark J. Casey	....	electrician (as Mark Casey)
John Corso	....	Steadicam operator
Scott D. Davis	....	best boy electric
Brian Hamill	....	still photographer
Marc Hirschfeld	....	Steadicam assistant
Jendra Jarnagin	....	electric intern (as Jendra Robinson)
David Katz	....	video operator
David Larue	....	grip (as David La Rue)
John Mazzoni	....	key grip
Tim Metivier	....	second assistant camera
Nick Mongelli	....	best boy grip
Tom O'Halloran	....	first assistant camera
Brian A. Pitts	....	electrician
Daniel L. Turrett	....	camera operator (as Daniel Turrett)
Carlos Bermudez	....	electrician (uncredited)
Mike DeCristofaro	....	electrician (uncredited)
Michael DiIeso	....	grip (uncredited)
Tim Driscoll	....	grip (uncredited)
Tab Fivecoat	....	grip (uncredited)
Kevin Flynn	....	grip (uncredited)
Eric Komar	....	grip (uncredited)
Jack McPhee	....	electrician (uncredited)
William Trautvetter	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Frans Wetterings III	....	electrician (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Luisa Dantas	....	post-production assistant
Greg Dean	....	post-production assistant
John Dicker	....	apprentice editor
Yael Haffner	....	post-production assistant
Gary Levy	....	associate editor
Penny Lewis	....	apprentice editor
Tom Salvatore	....	color timer
Michael J. Harker	....	post-production consultant (uncredited)

Music Department
Bill Bernstein	....	music editor
Bill Bernstein	....	musician
Julian Bratolyubov	....	music preparation
George Budd	....	musician
David Carbonara	....	music editor
Jon Clarke	....	musician
Rick Cox	....	musician
George Doering	....	musician
Michael Fisher	....	musician
Steve Kujala	....	musician
Harvey W. Mason	....	musician (as Harvey Mason)
Leslie Morris	....	music contractor
Thomas Newman	....	musician
Thomas Newman	....	orchestrator
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer (as Dennis Sands)
Chas Smith	....	musician

Transportation Department
Joe Boyajian	....	driver
Francis Connolly Jr.	....	transportation captain
Robert Parker	....	driver (as Bob Parker)

Other crew
Sinem Akcoral	....	intern
Sarah Auerswald	....	script supervisor
Stephen Beatrice	....	intern
William Bragger	....	film runner
Tania D. Campbell	....	post-production accountant
Glenn Ciano	....	key production assistant
Lisa Cofini	....	post-production accountant
David Collins	....	location consultant (as David D. Collins)
Sean Connor	....	stand-in: Mr. Nelson
Sandra Corrente	....	office maintenance
Ken Costello	....	intern
J.C. Joseph Cotter	....	craft service
Barry Couto	....	stand-in: Mr. Hoffman
Arnie Cox	....	stand-in: Mr. Franz
Alicia Dattner	....	intern
Christine V. Desrochers	....	intern (as Christine Desrochers)
Kerry Doyle	....	intern
Terence Doyle	....	security officer
Denise Drago	....	assistant accountant
Linda Eastman	....	office maintenance
Susan England	....	manager: rehearsal space
Jeff Gage	....	production associate
Eric Gearity	....	intern
Jason Gelles	....	intern
Dan Grabowski	....	intern
Dick Greenwood	....	security officer
Michael E. Hernandez	....	chef (as Michael Hernandez)
Robert Hofmann	....	security officer
Tim Hotchner	....	intern
Michael Jackman	....	post-production accountant (as Michael A. Jackman)
Michael Jones	....	intern
Kevin Kazarian	....	craft service
Sean Lahey	....	intern
Robert Langhorst	....	assistant to chef
David Lanzman	....	intern
Leroy Leach	....	location manager
Barbara Lucey	....	production accountant
Jeremy Martin	....	intern
Kevin McCarthy	....	film runner
Colin McKenna	....	intern
Lisa McMahon	....	office production assistant
Adriana Minacappilla	....	intern
Christine M. Norton	....	assistant: Mr. Hoffman (as Christine Norton)
Malve O'Meara	....	intern (as Maeve O'Meara)
Margaret Palmer	....	intern
Jodi Peikoff	....	legal services: Sloss Law Office (as Jodi Peikoff Esq.)
Armando Pérez	....	intern (as Armando Perez)
Joan Rebello	....	intern
Edward A. Robinson Jr.	....	intern (as Ted Robinson)
Tammy Rose	....	intern
Gina Rotondo	....	intern
Robert Rotondo	....	film runner
John Ryder	....	security officer
Jeremy Segal	....	intern
Seth I. Shire	....	post-production accountant
Derek Skaletsky	....	intern
Todd Skovron	....	intern
John Sloss	....	legal services: Sloss Law Office (as John Sloss Esq.)
Michelle Sy	....	intern
Shawnna Thibodeau	....	intern
Robert Turano	....	creative assistant (as Bob Turano)
Carla Wahnon	....	intern
Karen Weber	....	intern
Hillary Webster	....	assistant: Mr. Franz
Shawn Wilson	....	post-production accountant
Byron Wong	....	intern
Frank D'Agostino	....	intern (uncredited)
Robert Turano	....	creative consultant (uncredited)

Thanks
Emile A. Corriveau	....	special thanks: Pride Photo Lab
Jeff Field	....	very special thanks
Katherine E. Goodman	....	special thanks
Wayne Greenfield	....	special thanks
Adam Heroux	....	special thanks
Jacqueline Hurt	....	special thanks
Libby Langdon	....	very special thanks
Kevin Marks	....	very special thanks
Bill Marmor	....	very special thanks
Robert E. Metivier	....	very special thanks: mayor of Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Premila Moon	....	special thanks
Bill Nisselson	....	special thanks
Natalia Nogulich	....	special thanks
William T. Noonan	....	very special thanks: director of public safety, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Nigel Palmer	....	special thanks
Michael Shyjka	....	special thanks
Rick Smith	....	special thanks: Rhode Island Film Office
Miles Tingley	....	special thanks
Kenny Varone	....	special thanks
Alyn Webster	....	special thanks: Carlson Webster Avery

Production Companies

• Capitol Films
• Channel Four Films
• Prairie Oyster Productions
• Punch Productions
• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Distributors

• Evergreen Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Samuel Goldwyn Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (video)
• New Star Home Entertainment (1998) (Sweden) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Aquarius TV (2004) (Greece) (TV)
• Capelight Pictures (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2002) (Finland) (TV)
• Malofilm Distribution (Canada)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (TV)
• Nelonen (2000) (Finland) (TV)
• Nordisk Film Home Entertainment (1997) (Finland) (VHS)
• Pan Vision Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The
• Telegroup S.L. (Spain)
• Tobis Filmkunst (Germany)

Other Companies

• Advanced Digital Services (ADS)  video transfer
• Axium Entertainment Group  payroll services
• Boston Light & Sound  production equipment
• Carlson Webster Avery  special thanks
• City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island  very special thanks
• Coast to Coast Catering  catering
• Collinge Pickman Casting  special thanks
• Dartmouth La-Z-Boy  special thanks
• Design Lighting and Grip  grip and lighting equipment
• Evian  special thanks
• Film Finances  completion guarantee
• Fleet Bank Rhode Island  production bank
• Great Northern/Reiff & Associates  insurance carrier
• Guinness Mahon and Company  financing bank
• Jilly's Antiques  special thanks
• Marine Midland  production bank
• N&D Film and Video  negative matching
• Omni Biltmore Hotel  accomodations
• Oop, Providence  special thanks
• PMK Public Relations  publicity
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by
• Post-Productions  post-production supervision and accounting
• Pride Photo Lab  special thanks
• REI Media Group  titles and opticals
• Sloss Law Office  legal services
• Sound One Corporation  sound facilities
• Spera Corporation  post-production equipment
• Tom Tux Formal Wear  special thanks
• Trinity Repertory Theatre  very special thanks
• Vinny's Antiques  special thanks

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-14 | Australia:MA | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA

Company:

Capitol Films

Trivia:

The play opened in New York on 16 February 1977 and had 122 performances. 'Robert Duvall (I)' played Teach, Kenneth McMillan played Don and John Savage played Bobby. Al Pacino also played Teach from 1981-1984.

Quotes:

Teach: Loyalty is fine, but this is business.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Frogs for Snakes (1998)

Great, solid acting and brilliant dialogue. A supreme pleasure!

Watching this film on screen and on stage (I imagine) wouldn't be a hell of a lot different. It's still a 3-character film that revolves around the same setting--most of the time. But when you see great acting like this, how can you complain?? Dustin Hoffman is great at whatever he does, and he's perfectly believable as the foul-mouthed Teach. He has some of the greatest lines. My favorite is "Guys like that, I'd like to f**k their wives." He is rude and obnoxious with barely a sympathetic quality, but he's the guy you love to hate. I just recently started watching "NYPD Blue" and just from watching a few episodes, I can say that Dennis Franz is one of the best actors I've ever seen. He deserves to be on the big screen a lot more, because he has abilities as an actor that only few TV actors also possess. He delivers every line and every emotion with such power that your eyes are wide open with amazement every minute he's on screen. Even young actor (I assume he's now in his late teens) Sean Nelson is perfectly cast, blowing me away with a performance I'm sure very few young actors can pull off just as effectively. He only has about 20 or 30 minutes of screen time, yet he's the character you most feel sorry for at times, despite the fact that he lives an unclean life, dealing with thugs and earning his money via dishonest methods. You can just sense that he didn't have any parental leadership, and he wasn't sure what path in life to take, so he took the most easy one--and also the most dangerous one. In a way, the two guys are like his surrogate parents.

I've never seen the play, but when I see the name "David Mamet" under the writing credits, I immediately know that I'm gonna hear some priceless dialogue. I don't know how he does it, but he just has a relentlessly quick wit when it comes to creating dialogue. Like a play, this movie is composed of 80 % dialogue, but the dialogue is so great that I don't really care if there's no exciting visuals. And last but no least, I loved the opening and closing theme song. It just has that grungy quality that perfectly fits the tone of "American Buffalo." If you're a fan of superb acting, this will be a real treat! A real treat!

My score: 8 (out of 10)