The Hunger (1983)

Director:

Tony Scott

Writers:

Ivan Davis (screenplay) and
Michael Thomas (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 April 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Nothing Human Loves Forever

Plot:

The Egyptian vampire lady Miriam subsists upon the blood of her lovers. In return the guys or girls don't age...

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Blood | Doctor | Sex | Aging

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Catherine Deneuve	...	Miriam Blaylock
David Bowie	...	John Blaylock
Susan Sarandon	...	Sarah Roberts
Cliff De Young	...	Tom Haver
Beth Ehlers	...	Alice Cavender
Dan Hedaya	...	Lieutenant Allegrezza
Rufus Collins	...	Charlie Humphries
Suzanne Bertish	...	Phyllis
James Aubrey	...	Ron
Ann Magnuson	...	Young Woman from Disco
John Stephen Hill	...	Young Man from Disco
Shane Rimmer	...	Arthur Jelinek
Bauhaus	...	Disco Group
Douglas Lambert	...	TV Host
Bessie Love	...	Lillybelle
John Pankow	...	1st Phone Booth Youth
Willem Dafoe	...	2nd Phone Booth Youth
Sophie Ward	...	Girl in London House
Philip Sayer	...	Boy in London House
Lise Hilboldt	...	Waiting Room Nurse
Michael Howe	...	1st Intern
Edward Wiley	...	2nd Intern
Richard Robles	...	Skater
George Camiller	...	Eumenes
Oke Wambu	...	Egyptian Slave
Kent Miller	...	Cadaver
Fred Yockers	...	Cadaver
Susan Hunter	...	Cadaver
James Wassenich	...	Cadaver
Allan Richards	...	Cadaver
Hilary Six	...	Cadaver
Carole-Ann Scott	...	Cadaver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Howard Blake	...	Restaurant Pianist (uncredited)
Jane Leeves	...	(uncredited)
Peter Murphy	...	Performer in Club (uncredited)
James Payne	...	Taxi Driver at Hotel (uncredited)

Directed by
Tony Scott

Writing credits
Ivan Davis		(screenplay) and
Michael Thomas		(screenplay)
Whitley Strieber		(novel)

Produced by
Richard Shepherd	....	producer

Original Music by
Denny Jaeger
Michel Rubini

Cinematography by
Stephen Goldblatt		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Pamela Power

Production Design by
Brian Morris

Art Direction by
Clinton Cavers

Set Decoration by
Ann Mollo

Costume Design by
Milena Canonero

Makeup Department
Antony Clavet	....	special makeup
Nick Dudman	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Carl Fullerton	....	makeup illusions
Peter Montagna	....	special makeup effects artist
Dick Smith	....	makeup illusions
Doug Drexler	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Terence A. Clegg	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Stevenson	....	second assistant director
David Tringham	....	first assistant director
Debbie Vertue	....	third assistant director
Julian Wall	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Terry Apsey	....	construction manager
Edward Drohan	....	property master: New York
Trisha Edwards	....	buyer
John King	....	draughtsman
Beverly Miller	....	scenic artist: New York
Grahame Ménage	....	scenic artist
Victoria Paul	....	art director: New York (as Vicky Paul)
Ian Ritchie	....	art department assistant
Janet Rosenbloom	....	set decorator: New York
Janet Shearer	....	scenic artist
Walter Tatro	....	assistant props: New York

Sound Department
Campbell Askew	....	sound effects editor
John H. Bolz	....	sound mixer: New York (as John Bolz)
Geoff R. Brown	....	assistant dialogue editor
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist
Rowland Fowles	....	boom operator
Jeremy Gibbs	....	assistant sound editor
Mike Hopkins	....	dialogue editor
Dushko Indjic	....	second boom operator
Ray Merrin	....	dubbing mixer
Danny Neroda	....	sound recordist: New York (as Dan Neroda)
Peter Pennell	....	sound editor
Bill Rowe	....	dubbing mixer
Clive Winter	....	sound mixer
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Allen	....	monkey effects (as Dave Allen)
Roger Dicken	....	monkey effects
Martin Gutteridge	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
David Allen	....	stop motion animator: monkey sequence (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Garrett Brown	....	Steadicam operator
Catharine Bushnell	....	still photographer: New York
David Cadwallader	....	camera grip
Mark Cridlin	....	clapper loader
Angelo Di Giacomo	....	second assistant camera: New York (as Angelo DiGiacomo)
Joseph Di Pasquale	....	assistant camera: New York (as Joe DiPasquale)
Martin Evans	....	gaffer
James Fitzpatrick	....	gaffer: New York
Hugh Johnson	....	additional photographer
Hugh Johnson	....	focus puller
Tom Mangravite	....	director of photography: New York
Ray Meehan	....	best boy
Angelo Pacifici	....	assistant camera
John Palmer	....	camera operator
Ed Quinn	....	key grip: New York (as Edward Quinn)
Bob Smith	....	camera operator
Michael Stone	....	camera operator: New York
David Wagreich	....	first assistant camera: New York
Daniel Mindel	....	assistant camera: reshoots (uncredited)

Casting Department
Maggie Cartier	....	casting: UK
Mary Goldberg	....	casting: USA
Joan Sauers	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ken Crouch	....	wardrobe supervisor
Yves Saint-Laurent	....	costumes: Catherine Deneuve

Editorial Department
Tim Fulford	....	second assistant editor
Peter Honess	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Howard Blake	....	music arranger
Howard Blake	....	music supervisor
David Lawson	....	performer: additional electronic music and effects
David Lawson	....	composer: additional electronic music and effects (uncredited)

Other crew
John O'Driscoll	....	title designer
Clayton Townsend	....	location assistant
Bob Wilkins	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Peerford Ltd.

Distributors

• MGM/UA Entertainment Company (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Cinema International Corporation (C.I.C.) (1984) (Japan) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1983) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Vídeo Arte (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Effects Associates

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Brazil:18 | Singapore:R21 (cut) | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (1989) | Finland:K-18 (1983) | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Senate House, University College London, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, London, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Two of the cast had been part of the music industry. 'Cliff de young' had been lead singer in the 1960s rock group "Clear Light" whilst David Bowie was an internationally known pop superstar.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the scene when Miriam offers the drink to Sarah, Sarah is standing in front of a bust depicting Miriam. The camera pans between the two a total of three times. The third time, when Sarah takes a sip of her drink, the bust is not there.

Quotes:

[first lines]
John Blaylock:No ice.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Danger Zone: The Making of 'Top Gun' (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Le Gibet

Stylish Vampire Movie- Love Is Eternal While It Lasts

In New York City, the lovers Miriam Blaylock (Catherine Deneuve) and John (David Bowie) are vampires that survive through time under the Egyptian symbol of Ankh. When John starts an accelerated aging process, he seeks the specialist Dr. Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon). However, he does not survive, and Miriam selects Sarah to be her next lover.

"The Hunger" is one of the best vampire movies ever made. I recall when I saw this movie for the first time, in an art cinema in Rio de Janeiro, and later at least three times on VHS. Now on DVD, this stylish film improves with the fantastic melancholic and artistic atmosphere, with a magnificent music score and wonderful cinematography. This movie is totally underrated in IMDb since it is one of the most beautiful vampire movies ever made, actually a masterpiece of the genre. Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie and Susan Sarandon have overwhelming performances in this unforgettable movie. The remarkable scene of the lesbian love of Miriam and Sarah is among the most erotic in the cinema history, never being vulgar. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Fome de Viver" ("Hunger for Living")