IMDb > Shadows (1959)
Shadows
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Shadows (1959) -- Clip: House party with credits

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   2,627 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
John Cassavetes (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Shadows on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 November 1959 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
Cassavetes' jazz-scored improvisational film explores interracial friendships and relationships in Beat-Era (1950s) New York City. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
The gutting of Miramax, Pt. II: Is this the end of New York movie culture?
 (From EW.com - The Movie Critics. 2 November 2009, 3:58 PM, PST)

Husbands and Wives
 (From IFC. 18 August 2009, 7:10 AM, PDT)

User Reviews:
Well-done early independent film by Cassavetes... more (25 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
81 min | UK:87 min | USA:87 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (re-rating) (1992) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:PG (1991)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The love scene was shot in Katharine Hepburn's brother's apartment. more
Quotes:
Tony: I need the key for 042!
David: You can't get it, Elaine's not in.
Rupert: Where is she?
David: She's dealing with the raccoons, man.
more
Movie Connections:
References Desperate Journey (1942) more
Soundtrack:
Beautiful more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
8 out of 14 people found the following review useful.
Well-done early independent film by Cassavetes..., 26 August 2001
8/10
Author: dwpollar from Bothell, Washington

1st watched 8/26/2001 - 8 out of 10 (Dir-John Cassavetes): Well-done early independent film by Cassavetes introduced a style that was much different than what Hollywood shows it's audience. This movie also introduced some very taboo subjects, especially the actual racism that probably was prevalent all over the country but was not displayed by the mostly white controlled filmmakers of the time. About the only black actors that had much respect at this time were the ones that acted and displayed personality like whites(aka. Sidney Poitier). Besides this, the idea of ending a film without truly concluding the relationships that began leaves many moviegoers dumbfounded but actually makes the viewers realize that life is like this(it goes on...). I prefer this kind of an ending because it makes you think more about the characters and what may happen next and the conclusions are not just laid out for you. The movie follows the lives of people(particulary a couple of people who have a brief relationship and happen to be opposite skin colors) then we watch what happens when the white man realizes what he's done. This is done very well and makes the movie very special. The acting is supposedly done improvisationally which makes the movie even more amazing. I guess you can say I liked this movie, if you can't tell. If you can find it check out this classic early independent film.

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more (25 total)

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