American History X (1998)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

Tony Kaye

Writer (WGA):

David McKenna (written by)

Release Date:

30 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

His father taught him to hate. His friends taught him rage. His enemies gave him hope.

Plot:

A former neo-nazi skinhead tries to prevent his younger brother from going down the same wrong path that he did.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Neo Nazi | Skinhead | Hatred | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Edward Norton	...	Derek Vinyard
Edward Furlong	...	Danny Vinyard
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Doris Vinyard
Avery Brooks	...	Dr. Bob Sweeney
Jennifer Lien	...	Davina Vinyard
Ethan Suplee	...	Seth Ryan
Stacy Keach	...	Cameron Alexander
Fairuza Balk	...	Stacey
Elliott Gould	...	Murray
Guy Torry	...	Lamont
William Russ	...	Dennis Vinyard
Joseph Cortese	...	Rasmussen (as Joe Cortese)
Jason Bose Smith	...	Little Henry (as Jason Bose-Smith)
Antonio David Lyons	...	Lawrence
Alex Sol	...	Mitch McCormick
Keram Malicki-Sánchez	...	Chris (as Keram Malicki-Sanchez)
Giuseppe Andrews	...	Jason
Cleo Adell	...	Lizzy (as Michelle Christine White)
Jonathan Fowler Jr.	...	Jerome
Christopher Masterson	...	Daryl Dawson (as Chris Masterson)
Nicholas R. Oleson	...	Huge Aryan
Jordan Marder	...	Curtis
Paul Le Mat	...	McMahon
Thomas L. Bellissimo	...	Cop #2 (as Tommy L. Bellissimo)
Cherish Lee	...	Kammi
Sam Vlahos	...	Dr. Aguilar
Tara Blanchard	...	Ally Vinyard
Anne Lambton	...	Cassandra
Steve Wolford	...	Reporter
Richard Noyce	...	Desk Sergeant
Danso Gordon	...	Buddy #1
Jim Norton	...	Randy
David Basulto	...	Guard
Alexis Rose Coen	...	Young Ally Vinyard
Kiante Elam	...	Lawrence's Partner (as Kiant Elam)
Paul Hopkins	...	Student
Keith Odett	...	Random Skinhead
Paul E. Short	...	Stocky Buddy (as Paul Short)
Nigel Miguel	...	Basketball Player
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter	...	Skinhead (uncredited)
Sydney 'Big Dawg' Colston	...	Prison Gang Leader (uncredited)
John Embry	...	Parking Lot Skinhead (uncredited)
Maximillian Kesmodel	...	Young Danny Vinyard (uncredited)
Barbie Marie	...	Student (uncredited)
Allie Moss	...	Skinhead Girlfriend (uncredited)
Denney Pierce	...	Arresting Officer (uncredited)
Glendon Rich	...	Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
Sam Sarpong	...	Jail Inmate (uncredited)
Mark Swanson	...	Skinhead in Store (uncredited)
Jeremy Sweet	...	Skinhead (uncredited)
Selwyn Ward	...	High School Student Leaving Bathroom (uncredited)

Directed by
Tony Kaye

Writing credits (WGA)
David McKenna		(written by)

Produced by
Bill Carraro	....	executive producer
Michael De Luca	....	co-executive producer
Jon Hess	....	co-producer
David McKenna	....	co-producer
John Morrissey	....	producer
Kearie Peak	....	executive producer
Steve Tisch	....	executive producer
Lawrence Turman	....	executive producer
Brian Witten	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Anne Dudley

Cinematography by
Tony Kaye

Film Editing by
Gerald B. Greenberg		(as Jerry Greenberg)
Alan Heim

Casting by
Valerie McCaffrey

Production Design by
Jon Gary Steele

Art Direction by
J. Kyler Black		(as James Kyler Black)
Dan Olexiewicz

Set Decoration by
Tessa Posnansky

Costume Design by
Doug Hall

Makeup Department
Judith A. Cory	....	supervising key hair (as Judith Alexander-Cory)
Bill Fletcher	....	wig maker
Heather Fraker	....	makeup artist
Karyn Huston	....	hair stylist
John E. Jackson	....	supervising key makeup
Matthew W. Mungle	....	special effects makeup artist
Gina Rylander	....	body makeup artist
Christina Smith	....	supervising key makeup

Production Management
Bill Carraro	....	unit production manager
Carla Fry	....	executive in charge of production
Diana Kaufman	....	post-production supervisor
Michael Mandaville	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Cotone	....	first assistant director
Michael Keller	....	second second assistant director
David Larson	....	second assistant director
Rusty Mahmood	....	dga trainee
Scott Harris	....	first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Curtis Baruth	....	construction coordinator (as Curtis W. Baruth)
Sharleen Bright	....	head scenic artist
Clovis Chamberet	....	lead man (as Clovis Chambaret)
Michael Cudlitz	....	construction coordinator
Franco Esile	....	set dresser
Steven E. Eyrse	....	scenic artist
Brandon S. Gilgen	....	scenic painter
Chris Griffiths	....	set dresser
Vincent M. Jackson	....	scenic painter
Pete Josephs	....	construction foreman (as Peter Josephs)
Ian Kay	....	prop assistant
Craig Lafferty	....	on-set dresser
Lynda Reiss	....	property master
Lisa Roman	....	set dresser
Parker Swanson	....	assistant property master
Le'Von Webb	....	set dresser (as Lévon Webb)

Sound Department
Joe Barnett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Javier Bennassar	....	sound effects editor
Dorian Cheah	....	sound effects editor
Benjamin L. Cook	....	background sound editor (as Benjamin Cook)
Suzanne Davis	....	utility cable
Jed M. Dodge	....	dialogue editor (as Jed Dodge)
Roger Dudley	....	additional sound engineer
Mary Erstad	....	foley mixer
David Lee Fein	....	foley artist (as David Lee Fine)
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Cormac Funge	....	sound effects editor
Robert Getty	....	assistant sound editor
Kurt Godel	....	transfer engineer
David Grant	....	dialogue editor
Tom Hartig	....	boom operator (as Thomas W. Hartig)
Frederick Howard	....	sound designer
Frederick Howard	....	supervising sound editor
Craig Jurkiewicz	....	foley editor
Ossama Khuluki	....	foley artist (as Ossame Khuluki)
David Mann	....	foley editor
Diane Marshall	....	foley artist
Bob McNabb	....	dialogue editor (as Robert McNabb)
Michael Mullane	....	background sound editor
Steve Nelson	....	production sound mixer
Sarah Peterson	....	dialogue assistant
Yuri Reese	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Ross	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Scoville	....	dialogue editor
Susan Shin	....	adr supervisor
Anne Slack	....	transfer engineer
William Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bill Smith)
Walter Spencer	....	dialogue editor
Lucy Sustar	....	foley mixer
Roland N. Thai	....	sound effects editor (as Roland Thai)
Paul Coogan	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Michael Ferdie	....	production sound editor (uncredited)
Jason George	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Cameron Hamza	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Dean Hovey	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Robert Jackson	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Scott Jones	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Thomas Jones	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Paul Vik Marshall	....	pickups sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)
Paul Vik Marshall	....	sound mixer (uncredited)
Aletha Rodgers	....	sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)
Walter Spencer	....	production sound editor (uncredited)
Kelly Vandever	....	additional sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Charles Belardinelli	....	special effects (as Charlie Belardinelli)
Thomas L. Bellissimo	....	special effects supervisor (as Tom Bellissimo)
Jerry Donegan	....	special effects
Christie Sumner	....	special effects (as Christy Sumner)
Malia Thompson	....	special effects
Shannon J. Thompson	....	special effects (as Shannon Thompson)

Stunts
Charles Belardinelli	....	stunts
Chris Carnel	....	stunts
Eugene Collier	....	stunts
Kevin LaRosa	....	stunts
Chai Lee	....	stunts
Dwayne McGee	....	stunts
Francine Morris	....	stunts
Ernie F. Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator (as Ernie Orsatti)
Noon Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator
Mark Orson	....	stunts
Jimmy Ortega	....	stunts
Courtney Pakiz	....	stunt double
Eddie Perez	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunt coordinator
Paul Sherrod	....	stunts
Paul E. Short	....	stunt coordinator (as Paul Short)
Russell Solberg	....	stunts
Sammy Thurman	....	stunts
Frank Torres	....	stunts
Mark Aaron Wagner	....	stunts (as Mark Ron Wagner)
Eddie Wong	....	stunts
Merritt Yohnka	....	stunts (as Merritt Yohnke)

Camera and Electrical Department
James Alden	....	grip
Curtis A. Andrews Jr.	....	lamp operator
Curtis A. Andrews Jr.	....	rigging gaffer
Tim Angelo	....	best boy grip
Mark Bolin	....	dolly grip
Rick Drapkin	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
David Elmore	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Scott England	....	lamp operator
Warren Feldman	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
David Jarrell	....	chief lighting technician
John T. Martin	....	key grip
John McCoy	....	video playback operator
Sean Hunter Moe	....	camera loader
Charles Papert	....	Steadicam operator
Charles Papert	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Rico Priem	....	grip
James Scott	....	best boy electric
John Sekula	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
Fred Talmadge	....	24 frame video operator
Barry Berona	....	first assistant camera: additional photography (uncredited)
Isaac Friedman	....	film loader: second unit (uncredited)
Eric J. Goldstein	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Barry Gross	....	electrician (uncredited)
Barry Idoine	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Tony Kaye	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Gaston Langer	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Dale Obert	....	electrician (uncredited)
Dale Obert	....	gaffer: additional unit (uncredited)
Christopher C. Pearson	....	first assistant camera: additional photography (uncredited)
Bradley Richard	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
William Robinson	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Joe Adams	....	casting assistant (as Joseph Adams)
Bill Dance	....	extras casting
Terrence Harris	....	extras casting assistant (as Terence Harris)
Mark Williamson	....	extras casting assistant
Terrence Harris	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marisa Aboitiz	....	costume supervisor
Yvette Ammon	....	additional set costumer
Ulker Irazat	....	seamstress
Ángela Núñez	....	costumer (as Angela Nunez)
Lisa Parmet	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Glenn Cocco	....	first assistant editor
Kim Ettinger	....	assistant editor
Joe Fineman	....	executive in charge of post-production
Bob McMillian	....	color timer
Dan Miller	....	first assistant editor
Brandon Smith	....	post-production coordinator
Ron Stanik	....	assistant editor
Stephanie Olah	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)

Music Department
Paul Broucek	....	music executive
Paul Broucek	....	music supervisor
Bulge	....	music performers: score
Marc Cancel	....	musician: Bulge member
Karen Elliott	....	music coordinator: Air-Edel
Richard Ford	....	music editor
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestral contractor
Paul Hulme	....	scoring mixer
Stanley Mueller	....	musician: Bulge member
Christopher Rensink	....	musician: Bulge member
Lori Silfen	....	music business affairs
Keith Swan	....	musician: Bulge member
Gavyn Wright	....	orchestra leader

Transportation Department
Joseph Aroesti	....	driver
Tony Barattini	....	driver
Robin D. Bishop	....	driver (as Robin Bishop)
Joe Cosentino	....	transportation captain
Pat Cosentino	....	driver
Angel Desanti	....	driver (as Angel De Santi)
Ed Evans	....	driver
Dash Hart	....	driver
Geno Hart	....	transportation coordinator
Alvin Hurd	....	driver: honeywagon
Glenn Knowlton	....	driver
Glen Mathias	....	driver (as Glenn Mathias)
Bill Needham	....	driver
John Pellegrino	....	driver: production van
Adam Pinkstaff	....	transportation co-captain
Leo Stefanos	....	general manager: transportation
Leo Stefanos	....	transportation dispatcher
Tom Stillman	....	driver
Steven Luke Weible	....	driver: honeywagon (as Steve Weible)
Hardy Ophuls	....	driver: cast (uncredited)

Other crew
George Alonso	....	on-set medic
Matt Baird	....	set production assistant
Peter Barnett	....	first assistant production accountant (as Peter J. Barnett)
Lisa Behlendorf	....	post-production accountant
Paul Belenardo	....	production accountant
Olivette Brown	....	office staff production assistant
Rex Camphuis	....	set production assistant
Anthony Cortés	....	personal trainer: Edward Norton (as Anthony Cortes)
Wendy Cox	....	production coordinator
Avy Eschenasy	....	production attorney
Michael Estrella	....	set production assistant
April Fawcett	....	set production assistant
Nancy A. Flint	....	studio teacher (as Nancy Flint)
Emily Glatter	....	in-house coordinator
Keeley Gould	....	assistant: Mr. Kaye
Susan Hart	....	production associate
Phil Hickerson	....	set production assistant (as Phil S. Hickerson)
Erik Holmberg	....	production executive
Ira Hurvitz	....	script supervisor
Karen Jarnecke	....	assistant production coordinator
Brian R. Keathley	....	craft service
Kevin LaRosa	....	helicopter pilot
Andrew Lipschultz	....	unit publicist
L.A. Maddos	....	adr loop group
Patti J. McDaniel	....	assistant: Mr. Carraro
Nick Mestrundrea	....	craft service (as Nick Mestrandrea)
Matthew Mizel	....	assistant: Mr. Kaye
Jeff Myers	....	set production assistant
John Nisbet	....	set production assistant
Johanna Parker	....	set production assistant
Paul Prokop	....	production controller
Joshua Ravetch	....	production resources
Marc Rindner	....	production attorney
Oscar Luis Rodriguez	....	additional best boy (as Oscar Rodriguez)
Silvie Rodriguez	....	animal trainer
Marc E. Spiegel	....	location manager (as Marc Spiegel)
Sihu Suhr	....	accounting clerk
Tim Swan	....	location scout (as Tim Swann)
Sonya Thompsen	....	contract administrator
Paul Tompkins	....	assistant location manager (as Paul Tompkins)
Omar Torres	....	office staff production assistant
Eric Troop	....	set production assistant (as Eric Topp)
Natalie Trussell	....	production secretary
Timothy P. Tundel	....	payroll accountant (as Tim Tundel)
Ryan Wallace	....	office staff production assistant
Chris Warren	....	caterer
Chris Warren	....	chef
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter	....	choreographer: slam pit (uncredited)
Sean Jordan	....	interactive media (uncredited)
Peter Menich	....	title designer (uncredited)
Kelli Sample	....	dialogue research (uncredited)
Chase White	....	personal assistant: Tony Kaye (uncredited)

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Savoy Pictures
• Turman-Morrissey Company, The

Distributors

• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (1999) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• AXN (2006) (Japan) (TV)
• Amuse Video (2000) (Japan) (DVD)
• Amuse Video (2000) (Japan) (VHS)
• Amuse Video (2003) (Japan) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• EDKO Film (Hong Kong)
• Entertainment in Video (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• H.O.M. Vision (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Herald Film Company (Japan)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (Germany)
• Líder Films (Spain)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (France)
• New Line Cinema (a Time Warner company)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (limited edition steelbook)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment (Australia)
• Sandrews (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Vitória Filmes (Portugal)
• Warner Bros. (Argentina)

Other Companies

• Air-Edel Associates  music coordination
• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring
• Angel Records  soundtrack available on
• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting (uncredited)
• Cast & Crew Entertainment Services  payroll services (as Cast and Crew Entertainment Services)
• Deluxe Catering  catering
• Digital Sound and Picture  sound post-production
• Good Spot  main titles
• Howard A. Anderson Company  opticals
• L.A. Mad Dogs  loop group
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting
• Rescues Unlimited  medical services
• WPA Film Library  stock footage courtesy of
• Whitfield Street Studios  score recorded and mixed at

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic brutal violence including rape, pervasive language, strong sexuality and nudity.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Spain:13 | Australia:MA | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:14 | Denmark:15 | Argentina:16 | Belgium:KNT | Chile:18 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Israel:18 | Italy:VM18 | Japan:PG-12 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Greece:K-17

Filming Locations:

Johnie's Coffee Shop - 6101 Wilshire Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The diner that Danny and Derek get breakfast before Danny goes to school in the morning is the same diner that is used in The Big Lebowski (1998), during the infamous "toe" scene.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the family is fighting around the dinner table and it gets so bad that everybody is standing and yelling at each other, Derek's mom pulls on his shirt, opening up several snaps or buttons. When the scene is ending, Derek opens up his shirt by pulling it open quickly, but all of the buttons or snaps are closed again for this effect.

Quotes:

Danny Vinyard: [arguing about his "Mein Kampf" paper] Look Sweeney, did you bring me here to talk about Derek? Because what happened to him has nothing to do with me.
Bob Sweeney: Everything you do right now has something to do with Derek.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Reno 911!: Released from Prison (#3.1)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Based on a true story

Not many people know this, but Ed Norton's character, Derek, is based on an actual person -- a guy that went to my high school a few years before I did. He comes to speak every year at an anti-hate assembly. They show us clips of the movie (in my case, my English teacher let us watch the whole thing) and then he comes out and speaks. It's bizarre, to see him because he sounds exactly like Derek does after he gets out of prison. He's genuinely remorseful and what most people don't realize, is what a life-change that really is. Most Neo-Nazis and extreme racists are practically brainwashed in their points of view. It can take years, even lifetimes before they can be broken out of these harmful, violent mindsets. The movie seems slightly unrealistic in that way, that someone as intelligent and seemingly brainwashed as Norton's character, could make such a change from a short stint in prison. Well as I can firsthand tell you, it is possible, and the transformation did really happen. I can't remember the guy's name to save my life, but having that knowledge of the film and the people it's based on has made me appreciate this movie even more.

On a whole other side level, yet another amazing performance by Ed Norton. This man never ceases to shock and amaze me with his range and ability to adapt physically to any role thrown at him. I'm sure he wasn't the first choice for this role, I can think of plenty of other All-American looking actors that would seemingly fit better, even Furlong seems better fit to the Neo-Nazi role than the Norton we all know. However with a beefed-up physique and a well-written film to back him up, Norton shines in this role.