Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989)

Director:

Uli Edel

Writers (WGA):

Hubert Selby Jr. (book)
Desmond Nakano (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 May 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The Novel That Shocked The World Is Now A Movie.

Plot:

Set in Brooklyn during the 1950s against a backdrop of union corruption and violence. A prostitute falls in love with one of her customers...

Plot Keywords:

Prostitute | 1950s | Union | Strike | Gang Rape

Awards:

6 wins

Cast

Stephen Lang	...	Harry Black
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Tralala
Burt Young	...	Big Joe
Peter Dobson	...	Vinnie
Jerry Orbach	...	Boyce
Stephen Baldwin	...	Sal
Jason Andrews	...	Tony
James Lorinz	...	Freddy
Sam Rockwell	...	Al
Maia Danziger	...	Mary Black
Camille Saviola	...	Ella
Ricki Lake	...	Donna
Cameron Johann	...	Spook
John Costelloe	...	Tommy
Christopher Murney	...	Paulie
Frank Acciarto	...	Eddie
Lisa Passero	...	Teresa
Mike Cicchetti	...	Brickowski
Nicholas J. Giangiulio	...	Stump
Alexis Arquette	...	Georgette
Bernard Zette	...	Regina (as Zette)
Robi Martin	...	Goldie
Sarah Rose	...	Rosie
Julian Alexon	...	Camille
Robert Weil	...	Alex
Mark Boone Junior	...	Willie
Sylvie Spector	...	Submarine Annie
Colleen Flynn	...	Ruthie
Frank Military	...	Steve
David Warshofsky	...	Mike
Daniel O'Shea	...	Bill
Daniel Beer	...	Tral's Trick
Rutanya Alda	...	Georgette's Mother
Al Shannon	...	Arthur
Bruce Smolanoff	...	Lost Soldier
James McDonald	...	Lost Soldier
Andrew Van Dusen	...	Lost Soldier
James Harper	...	Cop
Ray Gill	...	Dowland
Mike Starr	...	Security Guard
Christopher Curry	...	Riot Police Officer
Michael O'Hare	...	Riot Police Officer
Bob Martana	...	Truck Driver
Joseph Carberry	...	Uptown Bartender
John Michael Bennett	...	Uptown Doggie
Bill Mondy	...	Uptown Doggie
Frank Vincent	...	Priest
Brent Katz	...	Bobby
Marc Ryan	...	Jack
Rob Kramer	...	Fred
Hubert Selby Jr.	...	Car Driver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Peter Austin Noto	...	A Union Leader
Steve Baker	...	Dean (2nd rapest) (uncredited)
Mario Biazzo	...	Soldier in Bar (uncredited)
David Giardina	...	Extra (uncredited)
John Hayden	...	Security Guard (uncredited)
Rick McKay	...	Strike Leader (uncredited)
Burke Morgan	...	Soldier Hustled in Bar (uncredited)
Nick Pernice	...	Striking Dockworker (uncredited)
Jerry Rector	...	Strike Worker (uncredited)
David Sherrick	...	Military Officer (uncredited)
Stan Taffel	...	Striking Worker (uncredited)
George-Michael Tucci	...	Riot Police Officer (uncredited)
F.X. Vitolo	...	Lou (uncredited)

Directed by
Uli Edel

Writing credits (WGA)
Hubert Selby Jr.		(book)
Desmond Nakano		(screenplay)

Produced by
G. Mac Brown	....	line producer
Jake Eberts	....	associate producer
Bernd Eichinger	....	producer
Anna Gross	....	associate producer
Dieter Meyer	....	line producer
Herman Weigel	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Mark Knopfler

Cinematography by
Stefan Czapsky

Film Editing by
Peter Przygodda

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Jeffery Passero

Production Design by
David Chapman

Art Direction by
Mark Haack

Set Decoration by
Leslie A. Pope

Costume Design by
Carol Oditz

Makeup Department
Kathryn Bihr	....	makeup department head (as Katie Bihr)
Michael Maddi	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Rolf M. Degener	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Glen Trotiner	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Tommy Allen	....	property master
Jeff Balsmeyer	....	storyboard artist
Bruce Lee Gross	....	lead man
Eric Matheson	....	carpenter
John Merrick	....	construction grip
John Ralbovsky	....	scenic artist
Raymond M. Samitz	....	construction coordinator
Patricia Walker	....	charge scenic
Claudette Didul	....	set decorating production assistant (uncredited)
Timothy Main	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Peter R. Adam	....	sound effects editor
Danny Michael	....	sound mixer
Ian Silvester	....	technical engineer

Stunts
Joan Cunningham	....	stunts
Gene Harrison	....	stunt double: Steven Baldwin

Camera and Electrical Department
K.C. Bailey	....	still photographer
Philippe Carr-Forster	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Anthony Dunne	....	key grip
Morris Flam	....	gaffer
Bob Gorelick	....	Steadicam operator
Kevin Murphy	....	electrician
Claudia Raschke	....	second assistant camera
David Satin	....	video engineer
Gary Steele	....	camera operator
Allen Stillman	....	rigging gaffer
Zoran Veselic	....	assistant camera
James B. Walsh	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jennifer Lax	....	costume supervisor
Ellen Ryba	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Jolie Gorchov	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Guy Fletcher	....	musician
Mark Knopfler	....	musician
David Nolan	....	musician: violin

Other crew
Stephan Beringer	....	production assistant
Andrew D. Cooke	....	location supervisor
Quincy Z. Gunderson	....	location assistant
Tim Haslam	....	worldwide sales
Rich Murray	....	production assistant
Howard Samuelsohn	....	dialect coach
Timothy Klein	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Allied Filmmakers
• Bavaria Film
• Neue Constantin Film

Distributors

• Plånborg Film (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Egmont Film (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Cinecom Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• Guild Film Distribution (1990) (UK) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (19??) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Neue Constantin Film (1989) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Shochiku-Fuji Company (1990) (Japan) (theatrical)
• América Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Highlight Film (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Completion Bond Company  completion bond
• Nancy Seltzer & Associates  publicity
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background

Also Known As:

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA | UK | West Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | South Korea:18 | Australia:R | New Zealand:R18 | Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | Sweden:15 | Singapore:M18 | Portugal:M/18

Filming Locations:

Bavaria Filmstudios, Geiselgasteig, Grünwald, Bavaria, Germany

Company:

Allied Filmmakers

Trivia:

Ralph Bakshi had made a previous attempt to direct the film, a production he was to co-produce with Steve Krantz and author Hubert Selby Jr. Actor Robert De Niro accepted a major role in the film. However, the project fell apart when Bakshi and Krantz had a falling out. Bakshi and Selby became friends, and, according to Bakshi, they "tried a few other screenplays after that on other subjects, but I could not shake Last Exit from my mind."

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow (2005)

Soundtrack:

Love Will Break Your Heart for You

A Dark and Impressive View of the Other Side of North America in the 50's

In 1952, a panoramic view of the other side of North America is presented through the life of different characters and their dramatic stories, having Brooklyn in common. Tralala (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is a prostitute, connected with a violent street gang composed of small time crooks. They swindle most of Tralala clients, stealing their money. She meets a young lieutenant from Idaho, who falls in love with her. The labor union is on strike against the employers, placing picket against the trucks and protesting in front of the factory. American soldiers are again fighting in another war, this time against Korea. Maybe the only missing point in this film is the declared racism of those times. This sad, depressive and violent movie is another great work of Uli Edel, mainly known by `Christiane F'. The cast has amazingly performances, and the scene when Tralala is raped by dozens of men in an abandoned car is one of the most strong I have ever seen in a movie. I agree with the words of IMDB User Comments: `Great film, but not a piece of entertainment'. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): `Noites Violentas no Brooklin' (`Violent Nights in the Brooklyn')