Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)

Director:

Hector Babenco

Writers:

Manuel Puig (based on the novel by)
Leonard Schrader (written by)

Release Date:

26 July 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Luis Molina and Valentin Arregui are cell mates in a South American prison. Luis, a homosexual, is found...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Homosexual | Nazi | Nazi Propaganda | Ambiguous Ending

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 12 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

William Hurt	...	Luis Molina
Raul Julia	...	Valentin Arregui
Sonia Braga	...	Leni Lamaison / Marta / Spider Woman
José Lewgoy	...	Warden
Milton Gonçalves	...	Secret Policeman
Míriam Pires	...	Mother (as Miriam Pires)
Nuno Leal Maia	...	Gabriel
Fernando Torres	...	Americo
Patricio Bisso	...	Greta
Herson Capri	...	Werner
Denise Dumont	...	Michele (as Denise Dummont)
Nildo Parente	...	Leader of Resistance
Antônio Petrin	...	Clubfoot (as Antonio Petrin)
Wilson Grey	...	Flunky
Miguel Falabella	...	Lieutenant
Walter Breda	...	Agent #1
Luis Guilherme	...	Agent #2
Walmir Barros	...	Agent #3
Luiz Serra	...	Prison Doctor (as Luis Serra)
Ana Maria Braga	...	Lidia
Benjamin Cattan	...	Molina's Friend
Oswaldo Barreto	...	Molina's Friend
Sergio Bright	...	Molina's Friend
Claudio Curi	...	Molina's Friend
Lineu Dias	...	Bank Cashier
Joe Kantor	...	Judge
Luis Roberto Galizia	...	Nurse
Pericles Campos	...	Prison Guard
Edmilson Santos	...	Prison Guard
Walter Vicca	...	Prison Guard
Ken Kaneko	...	Prison Guard (as Kenichi Kaneko)
Geogers Schlesinger	...	Jewish Smuggler
Carlos Fariello	...	Jewish Smuggler
Frederico Botelho	...	Jewish Smuggler
Sylvio Band	...	Rabbi
Paulo Ludmer	...	Rabbi
Elvira Bisso	...	Maid

Directed by
Hector Babenco

Writing credits
Manuel Puig		(based on the novel by)
Leonard Schrader		(written by)

Produced by
Altamiro Boscoli	....	associate producer
Paulo Francini	....	associate producer
Gustavo Halbreich	....	associate producer
Jane Holzer	....	associate producer
Michael Maiello	....	associate producer
Francisco Ramalho Jr.	....	executive producer
Jaime Sverner	....	associate producer
David Weisman	....	producer

Original Music by
Nando Carneiro
John Neschling

Cinematography by
Rodolfo Sánchez		(director of photography) (as Rodolfo Sanchez)

Film Editing by
Mauro Alice

Production Design by
Clovis Bueno

Art Direction by
Clovis Bueno

Costume Design by
Patricio Bisso

Makeup Department
Nilda de Moura	....	hair stylist
Nena de Oliveira	....	makeup artist
Guilherme Pereira	....	makeup artist: Ms. Braga
Marco Simon	....	hairdresser: Ms. Braga

Production Management
John Paul Lussier	....	unit production manager
Liza Monteiro	....	production manager: Brazil

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Amilcar Monteiro Claro	....	assistant director (as Amilcar Monero)
Flávio R. Tambellini	....	assistant director

Art Department
Nanci Audi	....	props
Felipe Crescenti	....	set designer
Solange Magerowski	....	assistant art director
Cecília Ribeiro	....	assistant art director
Berta Segall	....	assistant art director
Mique Stedile	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Mark Berger	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Paul Coombe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ismael Cordeiro	....	production sound mixer
Susan Dudeck	....	supervising sound editor
Scott Ganary	....	foley mixer
Gary Gegan	....	foley mixer
Allen Hartz	....	sound editor
Val Kuklowsky	....	supervising adr editor
Lorie O'Shatz	....	sound editor
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist
Jeff Rosen	....	sound editor
José Luiz Sasso	....	sound engineer
Peter Waggoner	....	sound re-recording mixer
Cathy Welch	....	assistant sound editor
Hugo Weng	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
José Marchesin	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Robert Dawson	....	optical director

Camera and Electrical Department
Wilmar Moreira Carvalho	....	electrician
Felipe Daviña	....	assistant camera
José Alves do Nascimento	....	electrician
João Antônio Duarte	....	electrician
Mário Souza Gama	....	electrician
Odair Guarani	....	assistant camera
Jamelão	....	gaffer
Lúcio Kodato	....	photographer: second unit
José Carlos Lampa	....	electrician
José Manir	....	electrician
Jamelao Medeiros	....	gaffer
Oswaldo Moreira	....	electrician
Adalberto Padouim	....	electrician
Lelio Rodrigues	....	grip
Antônio Alves Souza	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Zeze Braga	....	dress maker: Miss Braga's dresses
Therezinka Ferreira	....	dress maker
Mauricio Kawamura	....	wardrobe
Avy Marciano	....	dress maker

Editorial Department
Cristina Amaral	....	assistant editor
Regina Dias	....	assistant editor
Galileu Garcia Jr.	....	assistant editor
Helen Hahn	....	negative cutter
Sergio Marin	....	assistant editor
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer
Rebecca Nauert	....	assistant editor
Rebecca Nauert	....	post-production coordinator
Lee Percy	....	additional editor

Music Department
Wally Badarou	....	composer: additional music

Other crew
Daniel Bickel	....	production coordinator
Mara Borba	....	choreographer
Murilo Carvalho	....	production assistant
Jorge Carvallo	....	assistant: Mr. Hurt
Carla Chertel	....	production assistant
Robert Dawson	....	title designer: main titles
Marçal de Souza	....	production assistant
Alberto Gieco	....	script supervisor
Daniel Gomez	....	assistant: Mr. Julia
Rui Lima	....	production assistant
Tony Payne	....	assistant to producers
Carmen Rodrigues	....	secretary
Rene Silber	....	production assistant
Janete Tsuha	....	accountant
David E. Van Houten	....	publicity designer
Oscar Veliz	....	production assistant
Edgard Zilberberg	....	production assistant
Roberto Herrero	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Michael Black	....	special thanks
Fabiano Canosa	....	special thanks
Peter Dekom	....	special thanks
Jeffrey Hunter	....	special thanks
Burt Lancaster	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• HB Filmes (presents) (as HB Films)

Distributors

• Embrafilme (1985) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• FilmDallas Pictures (1985-2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Island Alive (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Concorde Filmverleih (1986) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Hungry Eye (1985) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1985) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Charter Entertainment (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (1986) (Canada) (VHS)
• MCA Home Video (1986) (Canada) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (1990) (Germany) (VHS)
• City Lights Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• City Lights Pictures (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Independent Cinema Restoration Archive (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Strand Releasing (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Kinokuniya (2010) (Japan) (DVD) (HD remaster)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recording (as Sound One Corp.)
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound re-recording
• JDH Sound  post-production facilities
• Film Link International Inc.  project development in association with (as Filmlink Corp.)
• FilmDallas Pictures  funding
• Independent Cinema Restoration Archive  copyright holder
• Island Records  soundtrack
• MGM Laboratories  color by
• Movie Magic  opticals
• Nosso Estudio  musical score recorded at
• Sugarloaf Films Inc.  post production services
• Sugarloaf Films Inc.  production services
• TVC Studio  filmed at

Also Known As:

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

Brazil | USA

Language:

English | French | Portuguese | German

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:14 (Ontario) | Peru:18 | Brazil:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Praça da Sé, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Company:

HB Filmes

Trivia:

During rehearsals, the two actors had trouble finding the chemistry they needed for their scenes together. To better understand what each needed from the other's role, William Hurt suggested they try an experiment where they would switch roles, with Hurt as Valentin and Raul Julia as Molina. The role-switching rehearsal went so well that Hurt initially suggested to director Hector Babenco that they should switch parts for the film as well. Obviously, the switch did not occur, but Hurt states that it was a very useful experiment in helping them more fully understand their own characters.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Luis Molina:She's... well, she's something a little strange. That's what she noticed, that she's not a woman like all the others. She seems all wrapped up in herself. Lost in a world she carries deep inside her.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

JE ME MOQUE DE L'AMOUR

A well-acted and well-directed film

"Kiss of the Spider Woman" is a fine portrayal of how two completely different men can come to understand one another and how unselfish love can transcend sexual preference. The story slowly reveals itself as the movie progresses, and in the end,the film is about much more than is first apparent. I admired the gutsy performances by Hurt and Julia, and the direction by Brazilian Hector Babenco, who uses long, involved shots, instead of cutting away quickly (which, unfortunately, is used so often). The film hasn't remained very well known since it was released in 1985, but it is definitely worth seeing if you can find it. 8/10