IMDb > An American Crime (2007)
An American Crime
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

An American Crime (2007) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 30 | slideshow) Videos (see all 7)
An American Crime (2007) -- The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s.
An American Crime (2007) -- MovieMaze.de - Trailer (Quicktime & Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   7,267 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 9% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Tommy O'Haver (written by) &
Irene Turner (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for An American Crime on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 December 2007 (Sweden) more
Genre:
Tagline:
This has been the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of Indiana more
Plot:
The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(38 articles)
Showtime Signs Shameless Pilot
 (From BuzzFocus.com. 15 October 2009, 10:37 AM, PDT)

Ellen Page dismisses "dark" film reputation
 (From digitalspy. 4 October 2009, 10:22 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Shocking, Repulsive...and Fascinating more (74 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ellen Page ... Sylvia Likens

Hayley McFarland ... Jennifer Faye 'Jennie' Likens

Nick Searcy ... Lester Likens

Romy Rosemont ... Betty Likens

Catherine Keener ... Gertrude Baniszewski

Ari Graynor ... Paula Baniszewski

Scout Taylor-Compton ... Stephanie Baniszewski
Tristan Jarred ... Johnny Baniszewski

Hannah Leigh Dworkin ... Shirley Baniszewski

Bradley Whitford ... Prosecutor Leroy K. New

Michael O'Keefe ... Reverend Bill Collier

Carlie Westerman ... Marie Baniszewski

Michelle Benes ... Hope Orbach
Patricia Place ... Mrs. Doyle
Calvin Keet ... Mr. Doyle
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Basement (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for strong and disturbing depiction of child abuse and torture.
Runtime:
97 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Ellen Page was the only choice to play Sylvia Likens. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: When a shot of the front of the house is shown, you can see that there is a red Chevrolet Corvette '68 parked in front of the neighbor's. At that time, the story is set in 1965. more
Quotes:
Leroy K. New: Are you scared?
Gertrude Baniszewski: I've been scared about a lot of things for a long time.
more
Movie Connections:
Version of The Girl Next Door (2007) more
Soundtrack:
You Don't Own Me more

FAQ

Was this really based on a true story?
Did any of those involved ever express remorse?
Is there anything shown after the credits?
more
9 out of 12 people found the following comment useful.
Shocking, Repulsive...and Fascinating, 26 May 2008
8/10
Author: gradyharp from United States

AN American CRIME is a problematic little reenactment of a real criminal case of child abuse dating back to 1965. The story is horrifying and while the film places the facts in our faces, the impact of the film is out of focus. This is due to the script that elects to glaze over the motivational aspects of a brutal crime in favor of attempting to investigate fully the mindset of both the perpetrator and the victims. Were it not for some sterling performances by Catherine Keener and Ellen Page this film might be easily dismissed: the strength of these actresses to overcome a weak script and manage to involve us is much to their credit as artists.

Indiana, 1965, and Gertrude Baniszewski (Catherine Keener) is a 'borderline' single mother of several children who is asked to take care of Sylvia (Ellen Page) and Jennie Likens (Hayley McFarland) while the girls parents remain on the road as carnies, promising to send checks to help support their farmed out children. Gertrude is a woman of loose morals who adds babies to her large family during liaisons with young men like the itinerant Dennis (James Franco). Gertrude takes in laundry to support her household and requires her young children to work toward the same goal. A friction develops between Sylvia and Jenny and the children by Gertrude's illicit adventures as well as covert sexual similarities surfacing in her children and at 'family meetings' Gertrude doles out punishment for Sylvia - punishment including cigarette burns, coke bottle insertions, branding etc. - all of which are undeserved and eventually lead to Sylvia's imprisonment in the basement where Gertrude and her children and their friends daily torture Sylvia. Eventually Sylvia dies and Gertrude and family are brought to court for charges of first-degree murder and variations thereof. The court proceedings (under the leadership of lawyer Leroy K. New played by Bradley Whitford) provide the story drivers as each allegation is then acted out by flashbacks until the verdicts are reached.

Catherine Keener is superb as the deranged, maladaptive Gertrude and Ellen Page adds yet another feather to her cap in a role that in another actor's hands could have been over the top. Writer/director Tommy O'Haver (the script was written with the aid of Irene Turner) does manage to show us the facts of this atrocity yet fails to go inside the characters to give us the psychobiographies this film has the potential for illuminating. It may well repel some viewers, but it does bring to the forefront a crime that is all too common in this country.

Grady Harp

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (74 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for An American Crime (2007)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Parole after only 20 years?! How is that justice? tictacjak
horrifying new story moviequeen123
Writing on the walls in the former 3850. lumililly
People in Indianapolis remembersylvia
My new opinion. xerxerxex
Leroy New letter about the crime - 1990 BrianGaddis
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Girl Next Door Sophie Scholl - Die letzten Tage Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Karla Savage Grace
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Crime section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.