The Spanish Prisoner (1997)

Director:

David Mamet

Writer (WGA):

David Mamet (written by)

Release Date:

3 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Can you really trust anyone?

Plot:

An employee of a corporation with a lucrative secret process is tempted to betray it. But there's more to it than that.

Plot Keywords:

Carousel | Self Reflexivity | Tennis | Camera | Boston Massachusetts

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Campbell Scott	...	Joseph A. 'Joe' Ross
Steve Martin	...	Julian 'Jimmy' Dell
Rebecca Pidgeon	...	Susan Ricci
Ben Gazzara	...	Mr. Klein
Ricky Jay	...	George Lang
Felicity Huffman	...	Pat McCune
Richard L. Friedman	...	Businessman
Jerry Graff	...	Businessman
G. Roy Levin	...	Businessman
Hilary Hinckle	...	Resort Concierge
David Pittu	...	Resort Manager
Christopher Kaldor	...	Dell's Bodyguard
Gary McDonald	...	Ticket Agent
Michael Robinson	...	Security Person
Olivia Tecosky	...	Flight Attendant

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements including tension, some violent images and brief language.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Singapore:PG | USA:PG (certificate #35283) | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Jasmine Productions Inc.

Trivia:

A lot of similarities to 'The Water Engine'; a made for TV movie also written by David Mamet in which an inventor creates something special which he is paranoid (rightfully so) about maintaining the rights to (unsuccessfully, in both cases.)

Goofs:

Continuity: After he supposedly kills his friend in his apartment, he has blood on his hands. The blood dries. When he is on the subway, he scratches his nose and his hand is clean. In the next shot, his hand has blood on it again.

Quotes:

FBI Team Leader: It's an interesting setup, Mr. Ross. It is the oldest confidence game on the books. The Spanish Prisoner. Fellow says him and his sister, wealthy refugees, left a fortune in the home country. He got out, girl and the money stuck in Spain. Here is her most beautiful portrait. And he needs money to get her and the fortune out. Man who supplies the money gets the fortune and the girl. Oldest con in the world.

Movie Connections:

References Charade (1963)

Soundtrack:

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

An intelligent masterpiece made by the hands of genius film maker David Mamet

I remember watching this film in 1998 at the theater and it became one of my favorites ever since. I have since watched every Mamet film I ran into, they were very good, but I believe this one's his best film yet. The story follows Joseph Ross (Campbell Scott), a salaried mathematician who's invented some truly valuable system that will make a fortune for his company. We meet him as he goes on vacation and befriends with a seemingly multi-millionaire who calls himself Julian "Jimmy" Dell (Steve Martin). Ross is then drawn into a big conspiracy surrounds his valuable "system". I won't go into the details so that i won't spoil the surprises and there are many. All the actors involved gives their best, most notable are Rebecca Pigeon as Susan, Joseph's pretty and sophisticated secretary and for Steve Martin, who was very refreshing to see in a serious role. The film has some unique and intelligent dialogs often appear in David Mamet's works. The twists are very surprising but MAKE SENSE, something that a lot of film makers have to learn these days. Overall an intelligent gem of a film you will not forget easily. Thumbs up and 10/10. Highly Recommended.