Sea of Love (1989)

Director:

Harold Becker

Writer (WGA):

Richard Price (written by)

Release Date:

15 September 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Deception is dangerous. Desire is deadly.

Plot:

A detective investigating a series of murders becomes involved with a woman who may be the culprit.

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Love | Suspect | Murder | Single

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Det. Frank Keller
Ellen Barkin	...	Helen Cruger
John Goodman	...	Det. Sherman
Michael Rooker	...	Terry
William Hickey	...	Frank Keller Sr.
Richard Jenkins	...	Gruber
Paul Calderon	...	Serafino
Gene Canfield	...	Struk
Larry Joshua	...	Dargan
John Spencer	...	Lieutenant
Christine Estabrook	...	Gina Gallagher / Lonelyheart
Barbara Baxley	...	Miss Allen
Patricia Barry	...	Older Woman
Mark Phelan	...	Murdered Man
Michael O'Neill	...	Raymond Brown
Michael Fischetti	...	Doorman
Luis Antonio Ramos	...	Omar Maldonado (as Luis Ramos)
Rafael Báez	...	Efram Maldonado
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Black Guy
Damien Leake	...	Ernest Lee
Zachary Michael Simmons	...	Ernest's Son
John Thaddeus	...	Tommy
Joshua Nelson	...	Willie
Christofer de Oni	...	Supermarket Manager
Dwayne McClary	...	Supermarket Cashier
Jacqueline Brookes	...	Helen's Mother
Thom Curley	...	Toastmaster
Fred Sanders	...	Cable Supervisor
Larry Mullane	...	Clipboard Guy #2
Anthony Calanese	...	Clipboard Guy #3 (as Anthony Catanese)
Thomas Wagner	...	Pete, Bartender
Manny Alfaro	...	Doorman
Brian Paul	...	James Mackey
Deborah Taylor	...	Tense Woman
Ferne Downey	...	Sasha
Gerald Lenton	...	Murdered Man
Nancy Beatty	...	Raymond Brown's Wife
Arun Greenaway	...	Raymond Brown's Kid
Nicolina Greenaway	...	Raymond Brown's Kid (as Nicolina Greenway)
Tony De Santis	...	Clipboard Guy #1
Jackie Laidlaw	...	Yuppie Detective #1
Paul Hubbard	...	Yuppe Detective #2
Bill Haslett	...	Surveillance Team Member
James Kidnie	...	Surveillance Team Member
Bridget O'Sullivan	...	Sherman's Wife
Delaney Moore-Wickham	...	Sarah, Helen's Daughter
Franz Fridal	...	Criminal Type
James O'Regan	...	Hallway Cop
Wayne Best	...	Hallway Cop
John Bourgeois	...	Young Cop
Hugh Thompson	...	Young Cop
Philip Ho	...	Karate Cop
Igor Stern	...	Violinist
Miranda de Pencier	...	Bride
Ty Templeton	...	Groom
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lorraine Bracco	...	Denice Gruber (scenes deleted)
David Berni	...	Guy At Bar (uncredited)
Julianne Gillies	...	Hostess (uncredited)
Barry Godin	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Christopher Maleki	...	Detective (uncredited)
Roger Montgomery	...	Detective (uncredited)
Anita Rossi	...	Wedding Singer (uncredited)

Directed by
Harold Becker

Writing credits (WGA)
Richard Price		(written by)

Produced by
Martin Bregman	....	producer
Michael Bregman	....	associate producer (as Michael Scott Bregman)
Louis A. Stroller	....	producer

Original Music by
Trevor Jones

Cinematography by
Ronnie Taylor

Film Editing by
David Bretherton

Casting by
Mary Colquhoun

Production Design by
John Jay Moore

Set Decoration by
Gordon Sim

Costume Design by
Betsy Cox

Makeup Department
Irving Buchman	....	makeup artist: New York (as Irv Buchman)
Bryan Charbonneau	....	hair stylist
Bob Grimaldi	....	hair stylist: New York
Irene Kent	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Barbara Kelly	....	production manager
Louis A. Stroller	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Herb Gains	....	first assistant director: New York (as Herb Gaines)
Rocco Gismondi	....	second assistant director
Madeleine Henrié	....	second assistant director (as Madeleine Henrie)
Donald J. Lee Jr.	....	second second assistant director: New York (as Donald Lee)
Thomas J. Mack	....	first assistant director (as Tom Mack)
David Sardi	....	second assistant director
Michael E. Steele	....	first assistant director (as Michael Steele)
Rose Tedesco	....	third assistant director
Dick Ziker	....	second unit director

Art Department
Boyd Allen	....	head carpenter
Rob Ballantyne	....	art department trainee
Richard Ferbrache	....	assistant set decorator
Steven J. Jordan	....	set decorator: New York (as Steve Jordan)
William Kane	....	property master: New York (as Bill Kane)
Sherman Labby	....	storyboard illustrator
Raman Majlath	....	set dresser
Brian A. Murray	....	head location carpenter
Jeff Poulis	....	assistant property master
Reet Puhm	....	scenic artist
Marlene Rain	....	set decoration buyer
William F. Reynolds	....	property master: New York (as Bill Reynolds)
Vic Rigler	....	property master
Robert Topol	....	scenic chargeman: New York
Wayne Wightman	....	art department trainee
Sabrina Wright	....	set decorator: New York
Lucinda Zak	....	first assistant art director

Sound Department
Randle Akerson	....	supervising sound editor
Hank Brodkin	....	sound assistant
Norval D. Crutcher	....	supervising sound editor (as Norval Crutcher)
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	sound editor (as Samuel Crutcher)
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dino Dimuro	....	sound editor
Lauren Filson	....	adr editor
Robert Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bob Glass)
Denise Horta	....	adr editor
David L. Horton Jr.	....	foley editor
Robert Knudson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudson)
Bruce Lacey	....	sound editor
Ron Meredith	....	sound assistant
Steve Scanlon	....	sound mixer: New York
Steve Switzer	....	boom operator
Michael R. Tromer	....	sound mixer: New York (as Michael Tromer)
Keith A. Wester	....	sound mixer (as Keith Wester)
Norval D. Crutcher III	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Steve Kohler	....	foley recordist (uncredited)
John Motyer	....	location sound playback (uncredited)
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Tony Parmelee	....	special effects (uncredited)
Neil Trifunovich	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Kenny Bates	....	stunts
Steve Boyum	....	stunts
Shane Cardwell	....	stunts
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (as Hank Hooker)
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunts
Rick Parker	....	stunts
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts (as Glenn Wilder)
Dick Ziker	....	stunt coordinator
Dick Ziker	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Andy Chmura	....	camera operator
Robert Connors	....	best boy electric: New York (as Robert G. Conners)
Adger W. Cowans	....	still photographer: New York (as Adger Cowans)
Robert Daprato	....	dolly grip (as Robert De Prato)
Angelo Di Giacomo	....	first assistant camera: New York
Robert Dolan	....	gaffer: New York (as Bobby Dolan)
Yves Drapeau	....	first assistant camera
Liz Dubelman	....	second assistant camera: New York (as Elizabeth Dubelman)
Howard Galbraith	....	best boy (as Howie Galbraith)
Vinnie Gerardo	....	assistant camera (as Vincent Gerardo)
Michael Hall	....	first assistant camera
Kerry Hayes	....	still photographer: New York
Adam Holender	....	additional photographer
Jimmy E. Jensen	....	assistant camera: Los Angeles
Thomas Jirgal	....	best boy grip: New York (as Thomas 'Casey' Jirgal)
Horace Jordan	....	first assistant camera (as Hobbie Jordan)
Chaim Kantor	....	second assistant camera: New York
Bobby Mancuso	....	second assistant camera: New York (as Robert Mancuso)
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator: New York
Rob McEwan	....	still photographer
Mike Miller	....	key grip: New York (as Michael Miller)
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator: New York (as Richard Mingalone)
Robert Paone	....	first assistant camera: New York
Rick Perotto	....	second assistant camera
James Pollard	....	key grip: New York (as James H. Pollard)
Kyle Rudolph	....	Steadicam operator: New York (as Kyle C. Rudolph)
Michael Stone	....	camera operator: New York
Randy Tambling	....	grip
Rae Thurston	....	gaffer
Robert Aguirre	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Douglas C. Hart	....	first assistant camera: New York (uncredited)

Casting Department
Stuart Aikins	....	casting: Canada
Sylvia Fay	....	extras casting: New York
Scott Mansfield	....	extras casting
Joy Todd	....	extras casting: New York
Hedy Stempler	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gail Filman	....	wardrobe mistress
Jennifer Nichols	....	wardrobe: New York
Walter Rivera	....	wardrobe: New York
Rosalie Wallace	....	wardrobe: New York
Debi Weldon	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Francine Fleishman	....	assistant editor
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Charlene Olson	....	assistant editor
Irvin Paik	....	assistant editor
Ray Sabo	....	negative cutter
Haydn Streeter	....	assistant editor (as Hayden Streeter)
John Wright	....	additional editor

Music Department
Julian Bratolyubov	....	music copyist
Dan Carlin Sr.	....	supervising music editor
Kathy Durning	....	music editor
John Richards	....	scoring mixer: Evergreen Studios

Transportation Department
Tom Leavey	....	transportation captain: New York (as Tom Leavey Jr.)
Neil Montgomerie	....	transportation coordinator
Frank Singer	....	transportation captain
James Sweeney	....	transportation captain: New York (as Jim Sweeney)
Patrick Hogan	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Joe Barzo	....	assistant location manager
Debra Beers	....	location manager
Susan Biesack	....	assistant: Mr. Becker
Toni Blay	....	production coordinator
Laurie Boyle	....	assistant to producer: Toronto
Christopher Bregman	....	production associate: New York
Karen de Montbrun	....	assistant accountant (as Karen Demontbrun)
Joan Eisenberg	....	unit publicist
Roberta Hodes	....	script supervisor: New York
Ira Katz	....	additional voice (as Stephen Weller)
Michael Klawitter	....	assistant to producer: Los Angeles
Geri Krowlikowksi	....	production associate: New York
Cabrini Lepis	....	craft service: New York
Joanna Lipari	....	additional voice
Margot Lulick	....	location assistant: New York
Deborah Lupard	....	production associate: New York
Ruth Manning	....	additional voice
Soomi Marano	....	production office coordinator: New York
Geni Marino	....	assistant to producer: New York
David McCharen	....	additional voice
Blanche McDermaid	....	script supervisor
Maggie Murphy	....	production associate: New York
Margery Nelson	....	additional voice
Sheila Paige	....	script supervisor: New York
Peter Pastorelli	....	location manager: New York
Anne Richardson	....	assistant location manager
Christina Ritzmann	....	production head: New York
Regina Robb	....	production secretary
Ann Ross	....	additional voice
Vernon Scott	....	additional voice
Carol Ann Susi	....	additional voice
Steve Susskind	....	additional voice
Joel Weiss	....	additional voice
George Zaver	....	additional voice
Deborah Bacquel	....	production accountant: New York (uncredited)
Evelyn Fitzgerald	....	assistant production coordinator: New York (uncredited)
David Rusaw	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Andrew Sears	....	first assistant accountant: New York (uncredited)
Jon S. Trebilcock	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lynnanne Zager	....	additional voice (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• MCA Home Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1990) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1991) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures France (UPF) (2000) (France) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD) (collector's edition)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• CIC Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Esselte CIC Video (1990) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Musikservice Sweden (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (1999) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (199?) (Germany) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (HD DVD)

Other Companies

• Evergreen Recording Studios  music mixed at
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and optical effects (as Howard Anderson Co.)
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Spain:18 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Australia:M | South Korea:18 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

When Frank Keller is trying to convince his Lieutenant to let him try the restaurant sting operation without wearing a wire, he says "What is she gonna do, confess? Shoot me? We're in a restaurant!!" Al Pacino famously played Michael Corleone in a scene where he shot a cop in a restaurant, which was also supposed to be improbable.

Goofs:

Continuity: Al Pacino's character's name is Frank Keller, yet when he is in Helen's apartment and sees his singles ad on her fridge, it clearly says "Frank Kellog".

Quotes:

Det. Frank Keller:What's she gonna do, shoot me? We're in a restaurant!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Siskel & Ebert: Pacific Heights/King of New York/Miller's Crossing/Texasville" (1990)

Soundtrack:

SIEMPRE HAY ESPERANZA

Lonely Nights

Al Pacino is excellent as the lonely and alcoholic Frank Keller, a veteran New York City cop, hot on the trail of a serial killer. In addition to Keller, and his tough-minded romantic interest, Helen, played well by Ellen Barkin, a third major character is the city wherein the story takes place. Ronnie Taylor's noirish cinematography and Trevor Jones' appropriately downbeat score paint rather a lonely picture of nighttime Manhattan, with all that colorful and flashy neon and the dreary rain. The overall effect is a sense of psychological isolation, alienation, and ... danger.

It's a perfect setting for a story about a series of murders, seemingly tied together by oldies-but-goodies songs. Keller searches for a killer who seems normal, but on the inside is a smoldering volcano. As a murder mystery, "Sea Of Love" works, because of its focus, and because of its restrictive narration. The viewer knows what Frank Keller knows, but nothing more. Clues are very subtle, and lie more in what is not said, than what is said. The ending was a surprise to me. I did not see it coming.

I have a couple of problems with the film, neither of which is serious. First, there are several plot segments that seem unnecessary, and could have been edited out. Second, certain scenes involving the victims are confusing.

"Sea Of Love" is a mystery/thriller that I recommend highly. It is psychologically intense, and it has an atmosphere that is suitably sinister. The acting, the music, the cinematography, the script, and the production design are all credible. And I could listen all day to that oldies-but-goodies song by Phil Phillips, from 1959.