An American Crime (2007)

Director:

Tommy O'Haver

Writers (WGA):

Tommy O'Haver (written by) &
Irene Turner (written by)

Release Date:

7 December 2007 (Sweden)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

This has been the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of Indiana

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.

Plot Keywords:

Carnival | Teenage Girl | 1960s | Basement | Single Mother

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

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
Jeremy Sumpter	...	Coy Hubbard
James Franco	...	Andy
Brian Geraghty	...	Bradley
Channing Nichols	...	Patty Ryan
Eliza Dean	...	Mary O'Connell
Michael Welch	...	Teddy Lewis
Evan Peters	...	Ricky Hobbs
Amy Ferguson	...	Sally Kent
Scott Eastwood	...	Eric (as Scott Reeves)
Will Carter	...	Officer Waters (as William Carter)
Edward James Gage	...	Bailiff
Kuma	...	Baniszewski Dog
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Meehan	...	Defense Attorney (uncredited)
Paul Palo	...	Newspaper Reporter (uncredited)
Isabel Shaw	...	Juror (uncredited)

Directed by
Tommy O'Haver

Writing credits (WGA)
Tommy O'Haver		(written by) &
Irene Turner		(written by)

Produced by
Jocelyn Hayes	....	producer
Pamela Koffler	....	executive producer
Hans C. Ritter	....	co-producer (as Hans Christian Ritter)
Katie Roumel	....	producer
Kevin Turen	....	producer
Christine Vachon	....	producer
John Wells	....	executive producer
Henry Winterstern	....	producer

Original Music by
Alan Ari Lazar		(as Alan Lazar)

Cinematography by
Byron Shah		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Melissa Kent

Casting by
Anya Colloff
Judy Cook
Amy McIntyre Britt
Michael V. Nicolo

Production Design by
Nathan Amondson

Art Direction by
Zach Bangma

Set Decoration by
Lisa Alkofer

Costume Design by
Alix Hester

Makeup Department
Mandy Danielle Benton	....	additional makeup
Marc Boyle	....	additional hair
Essie Cha	....	additional makeup
Daniel Curet	....	hair department head
Jorjee Douglas	....	makeup department head
Rebecca Perkins	....	special effects makeup
Randa Squillacote	....	key hair stylist
Nancy Stimac	....	additional hair
Liz Webster	....	additional hair (as Elizabeth Webster)

Production Management
Stuart Burkin	....	executive in charge of production
Beau J. Genot	....	post-production supervisor
Jonathan McCoy	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lance Lanfear	....	day player first assistant director
Chad Rosen	....	first assistant director
Tessa Lyn Stephenson	....	second assistant director
Frank Tignini	....	second second assistant director
Frankie Tignini	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Isaac Amondson	....	set dresser
Rachel Amondson	....	art department production assistant
Bruce Bellamy	....	set dresser
Craig D. Bentley	....	propmaker
Max Bozeman	....	leadman (as Max K. Bozeman)
Nelson Bush	....	leadman
Michael A. Clark	....	propmaker gang boss
Scott Cockerell	....	assistant property master (as Scott C. Cockerell)
Billy Constantine	....	painter
Juliane Crump	....	conceptual researcher
Scott Enge	....	plasterer
David Esparza	....	painter
Eduardo H. Esparza	....	propmaker gang boss (as Eddie Esparza)
Brian Fernandez	....	plasterer
Craig Handschu	....	set dresser
Ken Howland	....	plasterer
Sean D. Jackson	....	set dresser
Roger Kelton	....	construction coordinator
Jina Kim	....	p.a.
Scott Kitchen	....	propmaker foreman (as Scott A. Kitchen)
Chris Larsen	....	set dresser
Robert C. Moore	....	propmaker
Jeffrey M. O'Brien	....	property master
Doreen Parker	....	painter
Chris Patterson	....	set dresser
Paul V. Picerni Jr.	....	on-set property (as Paul V. Picerni)
Kip Sawyer	....	paint foreman
Jamie Silverstein	....	set intern
Dan Thompson	....	set intern
Dennis J. Vannatta	....	set dresser (as Dennis Vannatta)
Helen Wilson	....	swing
Adam C. Woods	....	propmaker

Sound Department
Albert Aquino	....	boom operator
Vince Balunas	....	adr & dialogue editor
Jeff K. Brunello	....	sound effects editor
Dennis Carlin	....	sound utility
Daniel Colman	....	sound effects editor
Mick Davies	....	boom operator
Bill Devine	....	adr recordist
Michael J. Fox	....	adr mixer
David Holmes	....	sound utility
Marti D. Humphrey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris M. Jacobson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jack Levy	....	supervising sound editor
Doug Madick	....	foley artist
Richard Partlow	....	foley artist (as Rick Partlow)
Scott Stolz	....	sound mixer
Steve Weiss	....	sound mixer
Ronald L. Wright	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
David Waine	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Travis Baumann	....	Flame artist
Kristin Johnson	....	digital compositor
Kristin Johnson	....	visual effects supervisor
Albert Mason	....	visual effects producer
Christopher Stack	....	imaging supervisor: Digiscope

Stunts
Lou Simon	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Jeb Banegas	....	camera intern
Amy Bojanowski	....	additional loader
Cris Borgnine	....	additional electrician
Richard W. Botchlet	....	additional best boy electric
Patrick Brennan	....	lighting board operator
Nathaniel R. Brown	....	additional electrician (as Nate Brown)
Danielle C. Carroll	....	additional loader
Brian Christie	....	dolly grip
Jeff Clark	....	Steadicam operator
Kelly Cummins	....	second assistant camera
Jeanne Dear	....	additional company grip
Guido Egger	....	additional company grip
Eric Forand	....	additional gaffer
Michael Francisco	....	additional electrician (as Michael A. Francisco)
Samuel Buddy Fries	....	camera operator (as Bud Fries)
Stephen Furry	....	best boy rigging grip
Kevin C. Goff	....	additional second assistant camera: "b" camera
Erik Gonzales	....	additional set electrician
Jilliane Grodecki	....	camera intern
Timothy Hedgecock	....	electrician (as Tim Hedgecock)
Mike Horan	....	best boy grip (as Mike 'Mega' Horan)
Paul Janossy	....	first assistant camera
Hunter Laizure	....	electrician
Heather Lea	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Heather Leroy)
Eric Lee	....	still photographer
Sabyn Mayfield	....	key grip
Wes Meilandt	....	additional electrician
Gerald Mermian	....	additional company grip
Daniel Miller	....	additional company grip
Cris Moris	....	additional electrician (as Chrisobal Moris)
Michael M. Mosley	....	additional electrician (as Mike Moseley)
Kevin Mucha	....	additional electrician
David Newbert	....	grip
Elmer S. Osorio	....	generator operator (as Elmer Osorio)
Rich Paisley	....	gaffer (as Richard Paisley)
Matt Perry	....	rigging best boy
Michelle Pizanis	....	loader: "b" camera
Michelle Pizanis	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Michele Pizanis)
Kelly Price	....	additional company grip (as Kelly Prize)
Avi Roffman	....	additional electrician
Michael Roy	....	rigging gaffer (as Michael Victor Roy)
Aaron Schulte	....	best boy electric
Kevin Sheedy	....	additional company grip
Michael Silva	....	additional electrician (as Mike Silva)
Erik Solorio	....	additional company grip
Travis Stewart	....	electrician
Daniel Taylor	....	second assistant camera
Max Thorpe	....	grip intern
Rick Tschudin	....	additional first assistant camera: "b" camera
Kenny Tucker	....	additional electrician
Jim West	....	additional company grip
Matt Whitted	....	grip (as Matthew Whitted)
Chad Wilson	....	Steadicam operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tiana Aiello	....	costumer
Lori Ayala-Read	....	costume supervisor (as Lori Reed)
Molly O'Haver	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Stacy Katzman	....	assistant editor
Mato	....	color timer

Music Department
Spring Aspers	....	music supervisor
Ryan Gaines	....	music coordinator
David Low	....	orchestra contractor
Dean Menta	....	music editor
Ashley Miller	....	executive in charge of music
Michael Nowak	....	orchestrator
Larry Rench	....	orchestrator
Casey Stone	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Michael Perrotti	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Carlos A. Aragon	....	location manager
Matt Baker	....	key set production assistant (as Matthew Baker)
Greg Bernstein	....	legal services
MaryEllen Blair	....	assistant to producer
Meghan Burchfield	....	production assistant
Yee Yeo Chang	....	assistant to producer
Marjorie Chodorov	....	production accountant
Sarah Clifford	....	head animal trainer
John Patrick L. Crum	....	production assistant
Chris Disher	....	assistant to director
Sean P. Galvin	....	set production assistant
Paul Jaconi Biery	....	production coordinator
Eloy Lara	....	key set medic
Joanna Lara	....	assistant production coordinator
Jan McWilliams	....	script supervisor
Beth Newbauer	....	assistant to producer
Hans C. Ritter	....	head of production (as Hans Christian Ritter)
Karen Roberts	....	post-production accountant
Kristina Santoro	....	key assistant location manager/scout
Lou Simon	....	fight choreographer
Fiona Walsh	....	production assistant

Thanks
Hugh Dancy	....	special thanks
Billy Mulligan	....	special thanks
Kirsten Smith	....	special thanks
John Waters	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• First Look International
• Killer Films
• Showtime Networks

Distributors

• First Look International (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Mars Production (2007) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Noble Entertainment (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Peace Arch Releasing (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Albatros Film (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Capelight Pictures (2007) (Germany) (all media)
• First Look International (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Future Film (2008) (Finland) (all media)
• Hollywood Entertainment (2008) (Greece) (all media)
• Noble Entertainment (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• Showtime Networks (2008) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• AnEFX  sound post-production
• Bureau Of Devine Music  vocal recording facility
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Clairmont Camera  camera equipment provided by
• Dub Stage, The  sound re-recording
• Elizabeth Bardsley & Associates  script annotation
• Panavision Remote Systems  cranes
• Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage  score recording facility

Also Known As:

The Basement (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong and disturbing depiction of child abuse and torture.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (Certificate #43082) | Sweden:15 | Germany:16 | Spain:18 | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:16 | Brazil:16 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

First Look International

Trivia:

Based on a true story that happened in Indiana in 1965.

Goofs:

Continuity: At one point during a punishment scene, the shot changes to the neighbors outside, and a fan is visible in an open window. The shot returns to the same view a moment later, but the window is closed, the curtains are drawn, and no fan is visible.

Quotes:

Gertrude Baniszewski: Who's in charge here?
Johnny Baniszewski: You are, mama.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Birds and the Bees

Poor basement girl.

"An American Crime" tells the unsettling story of Sylvia Likens.The girl was tortured to death by Gertrude Baniszewski,her children and other children from their neighborhood.Her parents,carnival workers,had left Sylvia and her sister Jenny in the care of the Baniszewski family three months before her death in exchange for twenty dollars a month.Her torture and murder were described by the prosecutor in Baniszewski's trial as "the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of Indiana".Unlike the recent adaptation of Jack Ketchum's horrific novel "The Girl Next Door" "An American Crime" follows this shocking story more closely.It uses the actual court transcripts to paint the gloomy and horrific portrait of true human depravity.The film is not as disturbing as "The Girl Next Door",but some scenes are quite upsetting and hard to watch for example when the words are being burned into Sylvia's skin.The use of suggestive violence is a wise choice.Ellen Page's leading performance is utterly believable,unfortunately the portrayal of Gertie is disappointing.She was a cruel and manipulative monster without compassion and empathy.Still I liked this film.8 out of 10.