Manhunter (1986)

Director:

Michael Mann

Writers:

Thomas Harris (novel)
Michael Mann (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 August 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

(reissue) Hannibal Lecter's legacy of evil begins here.

Plot:

An FBI specialist tracks a serial killer who appears to select his victims at random.

Plot Keywords:

FBI | Serial Killer | Criminal | Florida | Crime Scene

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

William Petersen	...	Will Graham
Kim Greist	...	Molly Graham
Joan Allen	...	Reba McClane
Brian Cox	...	Dr. Hannibal Lecktor
Dennis Farina	...	Jack Crawford
Tom Noonan	...	Francis Dollarhyde
Stephen Lang	...	Freddy Lounds
David Seaman	...	Kevin Graham
Benjamin Hendrickson	...	Dr. Frederick Chilton
Michael Talbott	...	Geehan
Dan Butler	...	Jimmy Price (as Dan E. Butler)
Michele Shay	...	Beverly Katz
Robin Moseley	...	Sarah
Paul Perri	...	Dr. Sidney Bloom
Patricia Charbonneau	...	Mrs. Sherman
Bill Cwikowski	...	Ralph Dandridge
Alex Neil	...	Eileen
Norman Snow	...	Springfield
Jim Zubiena	...	Spurgen
Frankie Faison	...	Lt. Fisk
Garcelle Beauvais	...	Young Woman Housebuyer
Joanne Camp	...	Mother on Plane
David Allen Brooks	...	Mr. Leeds (as David A. Brooks)
Elisabeth Ryall	...	Mrs. Leeds (as Lisa Ryall)
Chris Elliott	...	Zeller
Gary Chavaras	...	Guard
Chris Cianciolo	...	Attendant
Ken Colquit	...	Husband Housebuyer (as Ken Colquitt)
Ron Fitzgerald	...	Storage Guard #1
Dennis Quick	...	Storage Guard #2
David Meeks	...	Dr. Warfield
Sherman Michaels	...	Technician
Robin Trapp	...	Secretary #1
Lisa Winters	...	Secretary #2
Daniel T. Snow	...	State Trooper
Cynthia Chvatal	...	Airport Waitress
King White	...	Swat Man
Mickey Lloyd	...	Atlanta Detective
Dawn Carmen	...	Child on Plane
David Fitzsimmons	...	Bill
Robert A. Burton	...	Doctor
Steve Hogan	...	Helicopter Pilot
Mickey Pugh	...	Lear Jet Technician
Kin Shriner	...	Mr. Sherman
John Posey	...	Mr. Jacobi
Kristin Holby	...	Mrs. Jacobi
Greg Kelly	...	Jacobi Boy #1
Brian Kelly	...	Jacobi Boy #2
Ryan Langhorne	...	Jacobi Boy #3
Hannah Caggiano	...	Sherman Child #1
Lindsey Fonora	...	Sherman Child #2
Jason Frair	...	Leeds Child #1
Bryant Arrants	...	Leeds Child #2
Christopher Arrants	...	Leeds Child #3
Melvin Clark	...	SWAT Team Member
Renee Ayala	...	SWAT Team Member
Dana Dewey	...	SWAT Team Member
Stephen Hawkins	...	SWAT Team Member
Leonard Johnson	...	SWAT Team Member
Keith Pyles	...	SWAT Team Member
Michael Russell	...	SWAT Team Member
Michael Vitug	...	SWAT Team Member
Pat Williams	...	SWAT Team Member
Charles Yarbaugh	...	SWAT Team Member
Bill Smitrovich	...	Lloyd Bowman
Peter Maloney	...	Dr. Dominick Princi
Michael D. Roberts	...	The Runner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marshall Bell	...	Atlanta Policeman (uncredited)
Gusmano Cesaretti	...	National Tattler Photographer (uncredited)
Annie McEnroe	...	Stewardess (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Mann

Writing credits
Thomas Harris		(novel "Red Dragon")
Michael Mann		(screenplay)

Produced by
Richard Roth	....	producer
Bernard Williams	....	executive producer
Dino De Laurentiis	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
The Reds
Michel Rubini

Cinematography by
Dante Spinotti

Film Editing by
Dov Hoenig

Casting by
Bonnie Timmermann

Production Design by
Mel Bourne

Art Direction by
Jack Blackman

Costume Design by
Colleen Atwood

Makeup Department
Kareen Boursier	....	hair stylist
John Caglione Jr.	....	special makeup designer
Doug Drexler	....	special makeup designer
Stefano Fava	....	chief makeup artist
Sharon Ilson	....	assistant makeup artist (as Sharon Ilson Reed)
Neal Martz	....	special makeup lab
Gene Witham	....	makeup artist
Jeff Goodwin	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Don Kurt	....	post-production supervisor
Jon Landau	....	unit production manager
Peter R. McIntosh	....	unit production manager (as Peter McIntosh)
Bernard Williams	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gusmano Cesaretti	....	second unit director
Herb Gains	....	first assistant director
Adam Meams	....	dga trainee
Adam Merims	....	dga trainee
Nathalie Vadim	....	second assistant director
Michael Waxman	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Joseph Bernard	....	concept artist
Tristan Paris Bourne	....	set dresser (as Tristan Bourne)
David Brace	....	lead man
David Brace	....	set dresser
Steve Davis	....	assistant set decorator
Anthony Dunne	....	construction coordinator (as Tony Dunne)
Jim Hill	....	supervising carpenter
Linda Kiffe	....	assistant property master
John D. Kretschmer	....	set dresser (as John Kretschmer)
Todd B. Lawson	....	propmaker
Alba Leone	....	on-set dresser
Charles E. McCarry	....	assistant art director (as Charles McCarry)
Julie Plakanis	....	assistant art director
Mickey Pugh	....	property master
Mickey Pugh	....	stand-by
Dawn Snyder	....	draftswoman
A.E. Stapleton	....	shop foreman (as Jeep Stapleton)
Charles Stewart	....	property master
Brian Stultz	....	scenic artist (as Brian Stolz)
Dean Taucher	....	assistant art director
Dean Taucher	....	head scenic artist
Joan Travis	....	set dresser
Mark S. Turner	....	scenic
Brian Kontz	....	plasterer (uncredited)

Sound Department
George H. Anderson	....	sound editor
David A. Arnold	....	sound editor
Michael J. Benavente	....	sound editor
Steve Borne	....	sound editor (as Steve Born)
Ed Callahan	....	sound editor
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Susan Dudeck	....	sound editor (as Susan M. Dudeck)
Jim Fitzpatrick	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Robert Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bob Glass)
Scott Hecker	....	sound editor (as Scott A. Hecker)
J. Paul Huntsman	....	looping editor
Robert Knudson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudson)
John A. Larsen	....	sound editor
John W. Mitchell	....	sound mixer (as John Mitchell)
Bob Newlan	....	sound editor
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Keith Pamplin	....	boom operator
Tom Passmore	....	sound assistant
Robert R. Rutledge	....	supervising sound editor
Frank Serafine	....	sound editor
Charles Ewing Smith	....	sound editor (as Charles E. Smith)
Jay Wilkinson	....	sound editor
Ed Golya	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Wayne Beauchamp	....	pyrotechnician
Joe Digaetano	....	special effects supervisor (as Joseph Digaetano III)
R.J. Hohman	....	special effects assistant (as R. J. Hohman)
Larry Reid	....	special effects assistant (as Larry Daniel Reid)

Visual Effects by
Gusmano Cesaretti	....	visual consultant

Stunts
Jack Carpenter	....	stunts
Bud Davis	....	stunt coordinator
Bud Davis	....	stunts
Chuck Hart	....	stunts
Michael Haynes	....	stunts (as Mike Haines)
Bernard Johnson	....	stunts
Larry Modlin	....	stunts
Don Pulford	....	stunts
Dennis Scott	....	stunts
Debra Shuckman	....	stunts (as Deborah Shuckman)

Camera and Electrical Department
Carlo Campana	....	dolly grip
Frank Caslin	....	electrician
Gusmano Cesaretti	....	still photographer
Scott R. Davis	....	electrician (as Scott Davis)
Mauro Diamanti	....	grip
John Ferguson	....	gaffer (as John C. Ferguson)
Neal Mills Forney III	....	assistant camera (as Neals Mills Forney III)
Claudio Frollano	....	electrician
Steve Graves	....	grip (as Stephen Graves)
Steve Graves	....	rigger (as Stephen Graves)
Bob Hall	....	assistant camera
Jim Cody Harrington	....	best boy grip (as Jim Harrington)
Bobby Huber	....	chief grip
Bobby Huber	....	rigging coordinator
Davis James	....	rigging electrician
Enrico Lucidi	....	camera operator
Michael Mann	....	camera operator
Maurizio Micalizzi	....	key grip
Ettore Migalizzi	....	grip (as Ettore Micalizzi)
Mark Moore	....	best boy
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator (as Randy Nolan)
Mario Palermi	....	electrician
Stephen Perry	....	electrician (as Steve Perry)
Bill Pieper	....	electrician
Marco Sacerdoti	....	focus puller
Carlo Vinciguerra	....	gaffer
Tim Woods	....	rigging electrician
Jay W. Yowler	....	generator operator (as Jay Yowler)
Dennis Zoppe	....	grip
Dennis Zoppe	....	rigger

Casting Department
Mac Bass	....	extras casting
Mark Fincannon	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jennifer L. Bryan	....	wardrobe assistant (as Jennifer Bryan)
William A. Campbell	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Bill Campbell)
John A. Dunn	....	assistant costume designer
Tom McKinney	....	wardrobe buyer
Susie Money	....	wardrobe assistant
Ursula Schrader	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Ursula Schraeder)
Hartsell Taylor	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Dan Engstrom	....	second assistant editor
Daniel S. Frisch	....	post-production assistant
Richard D. Keefe	....	assistant editor

Music Department
George A. Martin	....	music editor
Michel Rubini	....	musician
Greg Fulginiti	....	music engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Eric Bartsch	....	driver
Ron Bledsoe	....	transportation
Howard Brady Davidson	....	transportation captain (as Howard Davidson)
Allan Hamilton	....	transportation captain (as Allan D. Hamilton)

Other crew
Daniel Aguar	....	production assistant
John Alarimo Jr.	....	interpreter
Christine Baer	....	secretary: Mr. Mann
Jane Bartelme	....	production coordinator
Tristram Bishop	....	production assistant
Beverly Charlap	....	travel
Maria K. Chavez	....	location manager: Florida (as Maria Chavez)
Theresa Curtin	....	assistant: Mr. Mann
Dino De Laurentiis	....	presenter
Robert Giardini	....	location manager: Wilmington
Cindy J. Gray	....	location office secretary (as Cindy Gray)
Nikol Hegarty	....	production coordinator (as Nikol Hegart)
Steven Holmes	....	secretary: Mr. Mann
Patrick A. Howell	....	auditor
Shiho Ito	....	location manager: Wilmington
Randee Lynne Jensen	....	secretary: Mr. Mann
Kay Joyner	....	assistant production coordinator
David Katzner	....	executive assistant to michael mann
Ron Lynch	....	assistant: Mr. Williams
Michael J. Malone	....	location manager: Chicago (as Mike Malone)
Andy Marx	....	publicist
David Meeks	....	animal trainer
Stuart Neumann	....	location manager: Washington (as Stuart A. Neumann)
Valerie E. Norman	....	script supervisor
Julie Oberdorfer	....	production coordinator
June Randall	....	script supervisor
Jane Rayleigh	....	assistant auditor
Steve Roberts	....	location manager: St. Louis
Marianne Scanlon	....	post-production auditor
Elaine Smith	....	location manager: Atlanta
Michael C. Smith	....	security coordinator
Judith M. Worth	....	assistant: Mr. Mann
Jim Zubiena	....	weapons expert
David Katzner	....	executive assistant: Mr. Mann (uncredited)

Thanks
Gudmund Vigtel	....	special acknowledgment of thanks (as Director of High Museum of Art Gudmund Vigtel)

Production Companies

• De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)
• Red Dragon Productions S.A.

Distributors

• De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG) (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Karl-Lorimar Home Video (KLV-TV) (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1989) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Nimbus HomeVideo (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Hoyts Distribution (1987) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1987) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Esselte CIC Video (198?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2009) (United Arab Emirates) (DVD) (Middle East)
• Gativideo (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Karl-Lorimar Home Video (KLV-TV) (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (The Hannibal Lecter Collection)
• Paramount Pictures (Canada)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1988) (Australia) (video)
• Recorded Releasing (UK)
• VTI Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Blue Light Sound  sound services
• Charivari  men's clothing
• Dyer/Kahn  advertising concepts
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  insurance
• Hugo Boss  men's clothing
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Joe Dunton Cameras America  camera equipment provided by
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Rogers & Cowan  publicity
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  re-recording facilities

Also Known As:

"Red Dragon: The Curse of Hannibal Lecter" - USA (TV title)

Runtime:

119 min | USA:124 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (re-rating) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Ontario) (original rating) | France:U | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 (cut) | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)

Trivia:

Tom Noonan (Dollarhyde) spent many hours in make-up so that artists could paint fake tattoos on his back and torso modeled after William Blake's "Great Red Dragon" paintings. Though Noonan appeared with the tattoos in publicity photographs (available in a Special Edition DVD), director Michael Mann concluded that the tattoos were too "over the top," and discarded the idea.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The two cops on the front porch are taken by surprise by Dollarhyde with his shotgun, despite there being eight foot high windows on either side of the door.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jack Crawford:We should have talked at the boatyard. You don't wanna talk about it here.
Will Graham:I'm not fallin' all over myself to talk about much anywhere, Jack.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Monster Squad Forever! (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

STRONG AS I AM

What? No Tattoos?!

I'm starting to think that I may be one of the only people who saw this film when it was originally theatrically released! Years after that, as a freshman in college, I was managing a video store when a woman came in looking for the recently released `Silence of the Lambs.' She said she knew William Petersen from childhood and told me that he was in THE first Hannibal the Cannibal movie. Having not read the novel or seen the movie for a while, I never related the two before that. But I specifically remembered `Manhunter' for its creepy killer, spectacular use of Iron Butterfly, and the strange & frightening notion (for then) of FBI profiling. These three details alone speak volumes for the film's acting, style and writing. The irony of forcing oneself to share the same maniacal thoughts as a killer in order to catch them is the stuff of nightmares. Since reconnecting with `Manhunter' back then, I've remained a constant fan of the film.

But the film suffers today in several ways. First off, any comparison to `Silence of the Lambs' is going to come up short. `Silence' is simply a better film – a classic of the highest caliber that will continue to sustain itself with the passage of time. Those already acquainted with Jonathan Demme's world will probably have a hard time accepting `Manhunter.' But audiences should judge the film on its own merits, and recognize that unlike `Red Dragon' it was not designed to resemble an established world of a classic movie – which is both a curse and an advantage for both films. I recently saw `Red Dragon,' by the way, and loved it. Walking out, I found myself asking whether I liked it better than `Manhunter.' These comparisons can get very silly because not only am I basing my impressions on a book, but also a previously filmed version and a closely related `sequel.' Best method: let each stand alone, THEN decide if either was successful. Both films succeed for similar and different reasons.

The approach of `Manhunter' is much more cold and observational than `Red Dragon.' This style (often concerned with widely symmetrical composition), like Kubrick's, can greatly benefit the story if used properly. I really liked it here. The neatness and sterility of the 80s décor also works perfectly in this format, providing a nice contrast to the horrors sometimes contained within its walls.

As for the music, it has not aged well. The synthesized stuff in the first hour is effective at times (especially when it's just a single, sustained note a la John Carpenter, or those bits that sound like `Blade Runner'), and the inclusion of In-a-Gadda-da-Vida is inspired, but the electronic balladry during Dolarhyde's romance is simply awful and detract from the scenes. Obviously, the danger of using such modern music is that it can become outdated and cheesy very quick. Is it just me, or does this especially seem true of 80s music? Given Michael Mann's career, he clearly wouldn't agree. I guess one never knows. The Tangerine Dream score for `Risky Business' or Phillip Glass' for `Thin Blue Line,' for example, still hold up remarkably well from this period.

The performances, however, are still wonderful. Petersen (whom I've heard didn't like the job he did) reaches just the right blend of seeming haunted, detached, morose, and as Dolarhyde describes him, purposeful. Dennis Farina, himself a former Chicago cop, exudes realistic authority as Jack Crawford. Tom Noonan obtains a disturbing childlike innocence and deliberation in his terror. And Brian Cox…poor guy, will always be compared to Anthony Hopkins. It's unfair because he gives us a Lecter that is different, to be sure, but intelligent in a way that, to me, is more realistic, intriguing and ultimately frightening. Hopkins' Hannibal is so supremely horrible that he's practically supernatural at this point, not unlike Dracula or the Wolfman. I enjoy all of that too, but just on a different level.

8/10