The Chamber (1996)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

James Foley

Writers (WGA):

John Grisham (novel)
William Goldman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Time is running out.

Plot:

A young man fresh out of law school tries to win a reprieve for his racist grandfather who is on death row.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Ku Klux Klan | Prison | Racist | Law

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Chris O'Donnell	...	Adam Hall
Gene Hackman	...	Sam Cayhall
Faye Dunaway	...	Lee Cayhall Bowen
Robert Prosky	...	E. Garner Goodman
Raymond J. Barry	...	Rollie Wedge / Donnie Cayhall (as Raymond Barry)
Bo Jackson	...	Sgt. Clyde Packer
Lela Rochon	...	Nora Stark
David Marshall Grant	...	Gov. David McAllister
Nicholas Pryor	...	Judge Flynn F. Slattery
Harve Presnell	...	Atty. Gen. Roxburgh
Richard Bradford	...	Wyn Lettner
Greg Goossen	...	J.B. Gullitt (as Gregory Goossen)
Seth Isler	...	Marvin B. Kramer
Millie Perkins	...	Ruth Kramer
Sid Johnson	...	Josh Kramer
Blake Johnson	...	John Kramer
Josef Sommer	...	Phelps Bowen
Leonard Vincent	...	Lucas Mann
Bonita Allen	...	Baker Cooley
Dick Stilwell	...	George Nugent
Gloria Jackson Winters	...	Woman Guard
Greg Wayne Elam	...	Joe Lincoln (as Greg Elam)
Zaquirii Walters	...	Quince Lincoln
Jane Kaczmarek	...	Dr. Anne Biddows
Thom Gossom Jr.	...	Bink
Jana Barraza	...	Gate Attendant
Nick Brett	...	Rally Skinhead
Craig A. Pinckes	...	Rally Skinhead (as Craig Pinckes)
Dan Beene	...	Lead Sheriff
James Geralden	...	Newscaster
Michelle Davison	...	Prof. Burns
Jack Conley	...	White Guard
Stephanie Bell Flynt	...	Herself - On-Air Newscaster
Ruby Wilson	...	Jesse, Lee Bowen's Maid
Joe Meek	...	Senatorial Aide
Anthony Kopcynski	...	Visitors' Room Guard
Ken Colquit	...	Visitors' Room Guard (as Ken Colquitt)
Neil Barton	...	Visitors' Room Guard
Gilbert Ivan Johnson	...	Trustee
Jerry Gauny	...	Inmate
Ed Siebert	...	Inmate
Bob Rummler	...	Inmate (as Bob Rummier)
Disraeli Ellison	...	Inmate
Rod Phillips	...	Inmate
Jeff Sanders	...	Inmate
Richard T. Muñoz	...	Inmate
Clee Cottel	...	Inmate
Ian Brady	...	Deputy Executioner
Sam Bologna	...	Deputy Executioner
Charles Swain	...	Observation Cell Guard
Tony Scott Sherron	...	Governor's Aide (as Tony Scott Sherrom)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kurtis Epper	...	Rally Skinhead (as Curtis Epper)
Vince Canlas	...	Reporter #1 (uncredited)
Clay Cranford	...	SWAT Team Captain (uncredited)
John Kerry	...	Death-house guard (uncredited)
Shayne Tingle	...	Senator's Aid (uncredited)

Directed by
James Foley

Writing credits (WGA)
John Grisham		(novel)
William Goldman		(screenplay) and
Chris Reese		(screenplay)

Produced by
John Davis	....	producer
David T. Friendly	....	executive producer (as David Friendly)
Brian Grazer	....	producer
Ron Howard	....	producer
Karen Kehela	....	executive producer
Ric Kidney	....	executive producer
Karen Snow	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Ian Baker

Film Editing by
Mark Warner

Casting by
Mali Finn

Production Design by
David Brisbin

Art Direction by
Mark Worthington

Set Decoration by
Lisa Fischer

Costume Design by
Tracy Tynan

Makeup Department
Lance Anderson	....	makeup artist
Lon Bentley	....	makeup artist
Bonnie Clevering	....	hair stylist
Angel De Angelis	....	key hair stylist (as Angel DeAngelis)
Leonard Engelman	....	key makeup artist
Iraina Gibson	....	hair stylist: Ms. Rochon
Deborah Mills Gusmano	....	hair stylist (as Deborah Jean Mills)
Kevin Haney	....	special makeup effects
Ron Scott	....	hair stylist: Mr. Hackman
Ellen Wong	....	makeup artist: Mr. Hackman
Victoria Wood	....	wig maker
Art Anthony	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
David B. Miller	....	makeup supervisor (uncredited)

Production Management
David B. Householter	....	unit production manager (as David Householter)
Richard Klotz	....	production supervisor: Chicago
Karen Snow	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Brian W. Boyd	....	second second assistant director: Chicago (as Brian Boyd)
Robin Bronner	....	dga trainee
John Elmore	....	second second assistant director
Craig A. Pinckes	....	second assistant director (as Craig Pinckes)
Denis L. Stewart	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Fred Apolito	....	propmaker
Bradford Boll	....	art department assistant
Danny D. Cappa	....	set dresser
Laurence Castello	....	stand-by painter
Asahel Cooper	....	set dresser
Michael Corral	....	labor foreman
Douglas Fox	....	property master
Mark Gantt	....	assistant property master (as Mark W. Gantt IV)
Bobby Joe Garren	....	greensman (as Bobby J. Garren)
Pat Gomes	....	paint foreman (as Patrick Gomes)
August Goulet	....	art department assistant
Robert Gray	....	set dresser
Jennifer Lee Hirsch	....	art department coordinator
Charles L. Hoffman	....	labor foreman
Bill Iiams	....	construction coordinator
China Iwata	....	art department coordinator
James Jackson	....	set dresser (as Jim Jackson)
Kay Jordan	....	construction accountant
Roger Knight	....	set dresser
Tani Kunitake	....	production illustrator
Richard Lambert	....	lead man
Loren Lyons	....	on-set dresser (as Loren P. Lyons)
William S. Maxwell III	....	lead man
Michael Myers	....	greensman
Richard Peters	....	propmaker general foreman (as Richard J. Peters)
Joe Pfaltzgraf	....	set dresser
David Pujol	....	labor foreman
Maya Shimoguchi	....	set designer
Barbara Ann Spencer	....	set designer
Jack Stevens	....	set dresser
Michael P. Sweeney	....	assistant property master
Christopher Tandon	....	assistant art director
Benton E. Tedlie	....	set dresser
Mindy R. Toback	....	set designer (as Mindi R. Toback)
Philip Toolin	....	set designer
Dale DeStefani	....	foreman (uncredited)
Gregg Singer	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ron Bartlett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Batha	....	first assistant sound editor
Burtis Bills	....	additional sound
Paul Timothy Carden	....	supervising sound editor
Jeff Clark	....	adr editor
Patricia Conaway Lamberti	....	digital sound assistant (as Patricia Conaway)
John T. Cucci	....	foley artist (as John Cucci)
Ann Fisher	....	dialogue editor
Jonathan Fuh	....	boom operator
José Antonio García	....	production sound mixer
Hector C. Gika	....	sound effects editor
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary Hecker)
Philip A. Hess	....	foley editor
Chris Hogan	....	foley editor
Craig S. Jaeger	....	foley editor (as Craig Jaeger)
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tony Lamberti	....	sound effects editor
Philip D. Morrill	....	first digital sound assistant (as Philip D. Morill)
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Thomas O'Neil Younkman	....	adr assistant
Mark Ormandy	....	additional sound
Dan M. Rich	....	dialogue editor
Greg Salmon	....	cable person
Mark Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mary Ruth Smith	....	adr editor
Wylie Stateman	....	supervising sound editor
Kim Waugh	....	additional sound
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist (as Jeff Wilhoit)
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Jessica A. Dickson	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Dino Dimuro	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Joe Milner	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
William Aldridge	....	special effects powder man
Rodney M. Byrd	....	special effects foreman
Burt Dalton	....	special effects coordinator
Gene Grigg	....	special effects powder man (as Dewey Gene Grigg)
John M. Holliday	....	effectsman
Robert Loftin	....	effectsman (as Robert A. Loftin)

Visual Effects by
Peter Montgomery	....	visual effects supervisor
Jeff Wells	....	digital effects artist: Pacific Title Digital (uncredited)

Stunts
Kevin Grevioux	....	stunts
Hugh Aodh O'Brien	....	stunts (as Hugh A. O'Brien)
Nils Allen Stewart	....	stunts (as Nils Stewart)
Webster Whinery	....	stunt coordinator
Doc Duhame	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jim McConnell	....	stunt double: Mr. O'Donnell (uncredited)
Webster Whinery	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Ash	....	best boy electric (as Ronald Ash)
John Bertram	....	grip
James M. Cox	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Joseph Dorowsky	....	rigger
François Duhamel	....	still photographer
David Dunbar	....	lamp operator
Don Estes	....	grip
Jeffrey Ferraro	....	lamp operator
Bob Fine	....	lamp operator
Rick Harris	....	grip
Steve Hastings	....	rigging best boy
Michael Ronald Heath	....	grip
Shawn Landis	....	camera loader
Kevin J. Lang	....	rigging gaffer
Al LaVerde	....	key grip
Vincent Mata	....	second assistant camera
Stan McClain	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Ted Miller	....	rigger
Paul Murphey	....	video playback operator
Ken Nishino	....	first assistant camera (as Kenneth Nishino)
Aaron Pazanti	....	camera operator
Scott J. Prophet	....	dolly grip (as Scott Prophet)
Scott Smith	....	camera remote technician (as Scott C. Smith)
Ty Suehiro	....	best boy grip
Gary Tandrow	....	chief lighting technician
C.T. Tindell	....	grip
Scott Tindell	....	grip (as Scott A. Tindell)
Jeffery White	....	lamp operator
Steven J. Winslow	....	camera technician
Steven J. Winslow	....	assistant camera: Wescam (uncredited)

Casting Department
Shirley Fulton Crumley	....	extras casting (as Shirley Fulton)
Theresa Phillips	....	extras casting (as Theresa E. Phillips)
Brent Scarpo	....	extras casting associate
Emily Schweber	....	casting associate
Mark A. Ridge	....	extras casting (uncredited)
Wade Woods	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Teresa Binder	....	set costumer
Zandra Harding	....	wardrobe assistant
Sabine Kelling	....	costumer
Chris Land	....	wardrobe assistant
Mary C. Lane	....	set costumer
James Lapidus	....	set costumer (as James H. Lapidus)
Birgitte Mann	....	costumer
Susie Money	....	costume supervisor
Peggy Penamon	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Mike Milliken	....	color timer
Ray Neapolitan	....	assistant film editor
Steven Ramirez	....	first assistant editor
Ann L. Thornberg	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Carter Burwell	....	conductor
Carter Burwell	....	orchestrator
Emile Charlap	....	music contractor
Michael Farrow	....	score mixer (as Mike Farrow)
J.J. George	....	music editor
Sonny Kompanek	....	orchestrator
Adam Milo Smalley	....	music editor (as Adam Smalley)
John Moses	....	musician: clarinetist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
John A. Brubaker	....	transportation captain
Shelly Rae Day	....	transportation office coordinator
Gary Duncan	....	driver: insert car
Walter Holmes	....	transportation co-captain: Mississippi
Michael Menapace	....	transportation coordinator (as Michael D. Menapace)
Robert Menapace	....	picture car coordinator
Mike Robinson	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Maryellen Aviano	....	extras coordinator
Annie Bardelli	....	assistant production coordinator
Brad Bell	....	assistant location manager
Jules Bianchi	....	assistant: Mr. O'Donnell
Brad Blondheim	....	set production assistant
Brooke Brooks	....	assistant: Mr. Davis
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach
Richard E. Chapla Jr.	....	production secretary
Christopher G. Cowen	....	office production assistant
Maureen Cowen	....	assistant: Mr. Grazer (as Mo Cowen)
James M. Crumley Jr.	....	set production assistant
Edward J. Ertel	....	projectionist
John Findley III	....	assistant location manager (as John H. Findley III)
Laura J. Fox	....	second assistant accountant
M. Gaye Galvin	....	accounting assistant
Chuk Gill	....	craft service: Mississippi
Suzy Gilstrap	....	assistant: Ms. Kehela
Greg Goossen	....	stand-in: Mr. Hackman
Robert Gordon	....	accountant
Joseph Higdon	....	set medic
Barbara Holloway	....	location assistant
Nancy Honeycutt	....	production secretary (as Nancy Carol Honeycutt)
Don J. Hug	....	location manager: Chicago
Lisa Jennings	....	craft service: Mississippi
John A. Johnston	....	assistant location manager
Peter Karp	....	assistant: Mr. Friendly
Josh Kesselman	....	assistant: Mr. Davis
James J. Klekowski	....	location consultant: Chicago
Richard Klotz	....	location manager
James Linville	....	assistant accountant
Mona Madrid	....	set production assistant
Ernie Malik	....	publicist
James Maull	....	post-production accountant
Robert T. McFadden	....	technical advisor
Kerry Lyn McKissick	....	script supervisor
Joe Meek	....	stand-in: Mr. O'Donnell
Don E. Mullis	....	aerial coordinator
Lori Nakamura	....	payroll accountant
Dana Norman	....	set production assistant
Theresa Phillips	....	location assistant (as Theresa E. Phillips)
Alan D. Purwin	....	pilot (as Alan Purwin)
Mitch Ray	....	set medic
Tina Reynolds	....	assistant: Mr. Foley
Paul Ripple	....	office production assistant
David Rubenstein	....	production assistant: Mr. Foley
Todd Sible	....	stand-in: Mr. O'Donnell
John Starr	....	craft service
Michael Tamburro	....	pilot (as Mike Tamburro)
Kyle Valentic	....	production assistant: Mr. Foley
Bekki Vallin	....	production office staff: Chicago
Leonard Vincent	....	technical advisor
Lisa J. Watters	....	production coordinator
Greg Williams	....	office production assistant
Ray Conchado	....	production assistant (uncredited)
William Danaher	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Scott Jager	....	production assistant (uncredited)
John 'J.T.' Tully	....	caterer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Davis Entertainment
• Imagine Entertainment
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Germany) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (2000) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (1997) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1997) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinema International (1997) (Netherlands) (video)

Other Companies

• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Heli-East  helicopter provided by
• Manhattan Center Studios  music recorded at
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Scarlet Letters  titles and opticals
• Variety Cinema Catering  catering
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

MPAA:

Rated R for violent images and some language.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #34851) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | UK:12 (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 (bw) | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Davis Entertainment

Trivia:

In a 2006 BBC TV Culture Show interview, John Grisham stated that this was the adaptation of his work he liked least

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: As Adam watches, the digital LED clock in his hotel room changes from 3:59 to 4:00 am, and makes a faint click as it does. Clocks of this kind do not make such sounds.

Quotes:

Sam Cayhall: Save me. Your don't look like you can save a turkey from Thanksgiving.

Soundtrack:

Sister

Excellent

Just like the book, this movie is amazing. The story is unique in the sense that it is very personal. A boy's grandfather is to be executed for murdering two small children, and as he investigates the crime further, he discovers more terrifying secrets about his grandfather and his past. He knows little about his roots because his father commited suicide when he was a kid, and this may be the only chance he has at discovering who he is, however unpleasant it may be. Chris Odonnel is great in this and Gene Hackman shines. I give this **** out of **** stars.