Obsession (1976)

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writers:

Brian De Palma (story) and
Paul Schrader (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 September 1976 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The love story that will scare the life out of you

Plot:

New Orleans businessman Michael Courtland's life is shattered when his wife and daughter are tragically killed in a botched kidnap rescue attempt...

Plot Keywords:

Business Trip | Mausoleum | Wedding Anniversary | Ransom Note | Art Restoration

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Cliff Robertson	...	Michael Courtland
Geneviève Bujold	...	Elizabeth Courtland / Sandra Portinari
John Lithgow	...	Robert Lasalle
Sylvia Kuumba Williams	...	Maid (as Sylvia 'Kuumba' Williams)
Wanda Blackman	...	Amy Courtland
J. Patrick McNamara	...	Third Kidnapper (as Patrick McNamara)
Stanley J. Reyes	...	Insp. Brie
Nick Kreiger	...	Farber (as Nick Krieger)
Stocker Fontelieu	...	Dr. Ellman
Don Hood	...	Ferguson
Andrea Esterhazy	...	D'Annunzio
Thomas Carr	...	Paper Boy
Tom Felleghy	...	Italian Businessman
Nella Simoncini Barbieri	...	Mrs. Portinari
John Creamer	...	Justice of the Peace
Regis Cordic	...	Newscaster
Loraine Despres	...	Jane
Clyde Ventura	...	Ticket Agent
Fain M. Cogrove	...	Secretary
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Harper	...	Man In Airport (uncredited)
Warren Kenner	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Brian De Palma

Writing credits
Brian De Palma		(story) and
Paul Schrader		(story)
Paul Schrader		(screenplay)

Produced by
Harry N. Blum	....	producer
Robert S. Bremson	....	executive producer
George Litto	....	producer

Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by
Vilmos Zsigmond

Film Editing by
Paul Hirsch

Art Direction by
Jack Senter

Set Decoration by
Jerry Wunderlich

Costume Design by
Frank Balchus

Production Management
Frank Beetson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Wiliam Pool	....	assistant director

Sound Department
David M. Ronne	....	sound
Dan Sable	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Joe Lombardi	....	special effects

Stunts
Bob Herron	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Nick McLean	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
Paul B. Clay	....	music editor
Louis Halsey	....	choral director (uncredited)
Bernard Herrmann	....	conductor (uncredited)
Laurie Johnson	....	conductor: finale (uncredited)
Christopher Palmer	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Rachel Griffiths	....	script supervisor
Hannah Scheel	....	script supervisor
Rachel Ticotin	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Yellowbird Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• 111 Pictures (2006) (worldwide) (all media)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1978) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Fox-Stockholm Film Distribution (1976) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Magna-Filmi (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Anolis Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Another World Entertainment (2007) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Bristol Media International (1976) (non-USA) (all media) (as George Litto Productions)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Future Film (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• GoodTimes Home Video (video)
• Pioneer Entertainment (1990s) (USA) (video) (LaserDisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• Studio S (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)

Other Companies

• National Philharmonic Orchestra  orchestra
• St. Giles Church in Cripplegate  music recorded at (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

98 min | Australia:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:12 (video rating) | UK:AA (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Australia:M | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | West Germany:16 (f) | Argentina:13 | UK:12 (video rating) (2011)

Filming Locations:

Basilica di San Miniato al Monte, Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Alfred Hitchcock was reportedly furious when Brian De Palma decided to make Obsession (1976), because he thought it was a virtual remake of Vertigo (1958). Ironically, De Palma stopped making mystery/adventure films after Hitchcock's death in 1980, with the possible exception of Body Double (1984).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In Robertson's first trip on the paddle-wheel boat to deliver ransom money in 1959, as it takes off, a pan to the street reveals traffic nearby with contemporary (1970's) cars.

Quotes:

Sandra Portinari:How did she die?
Michael Courtland:I killed her.

Movie Connections:

References High and Low (1963)

best of the early depalma

...and so I started depalma's "Obsession" and noticed the screenplay by Paul Schrader and did a double take and saw the score by Bernard Hermann and thought to myself "Taxi Driver"?? This is the fifth film i've seen in a cycle started with "Wedding Party" of early depalma works. It is I believe with this film that depalma finally seems to settle into a consistent film making style... I mean it's really difficult to figure out a directors vision when he jumps between making significant socio-political films like "Hi Mom" to cheezy schlock like "Phantom of the Paradise". Anyways, whether it be Hermann's bi-polar score (see. Taxi Driver) or Paul Hirch's magnificent editing, depalma finally makes a film worthy of a second viewing. If "Sisters" and "Phantom of the Paradise" showed depalma's clever camera play with split screen editing, "Obsession" shows depalma's delicate use of filtering to enhance a feeling of dreaminess and actually stay with a single theme till the end. Finally it's interesting to note the final sequence of the film and it's similarity to what in my opinion is his greatest triumph "Carlito's Way". Check this one out...