Twin Peaks (1990–1991)

An idiosyncratic FBI Agent investigates the murder of a young woman in the even more idiosyncratic town of Twin Peaks.

Creators:

Mark Frost, David Lynch

Stars:

Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Mädchen Amick

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 10 wins & 40 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Kyle MacLachlan	...	Special Agent Dale Cooper (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Michael Ontkean	...	Sheriff Harry S. Truman (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Mädchen Amick	...	Shelly Johnson (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Dana Ashbrook	...	Bobby Briggs (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Richard Beymer	...	Benjamin Horne (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Lara Flynn Boyle	...	Donna Hayward (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Sherilyn Fenn	...	Audrey Horne (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Warren Frost	...	Dr. Will Hayward (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Peggy Lipton	...	Norma Jennings (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
James Marshall	...	James Hurley (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Everett McGill	...	Big Ed Hurley (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Jack Nance	...	Pete Martell (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Joan Chen	...	Jocelyn Packard (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Kimmy Robertson	...	Lucy Moran (29 episodes, 1990-1991)
Piper Laurie	...	Catherine Martell (27 episodes, 1990-1991)
Michael Horse	...	Deputy Tommy 'Hawk' Hill (27 episodes, 1990-1991)
Harry Goaz	...	Deputy Andy Brennan (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Eric DaRe	...	Leo Johnson (24 episodes, 1990-1991)
Wendy Robie	...	Nadine Hurley (22 episodes, 1990-1991)
Ray Wise	...	Leland Palmer (18 episodes, 1990-1991)
Sheryl Lee	...	Madeleine 'Maddy' Ferguson (18 episodes, 1990-1991)
Russ Tamblyn	...	Dr. Lawrence Jacoby (16 episodes, 1990-1991)
Don S. Davis	...	Maj. Garland Briggs (16 episodes, 1990-1991)
Chris Mulkey	...	Hank Jennings (13 episodes, 1990-1991)
Gary Hershberger	...	Mike Nelson (13 episodes, 1990-1991)

Storyline

The body of a young girl (Laura Palmer) is washed up on a beach near the small Washington state town of Twin Peaks. FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper is called in to investigate her strange demise only to uncover a web of mystery that ultimately leads him deep into the heart of the surrounding woodland and his very own soul.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | fbi | soul | secret | jealous lover | 

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Taglines:

A town where everyone knows everyone and nothing is what it seems.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Icelandic Afrikaans Norwegian

Release Date:

8 April 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Geheimnis von Twin Peaks

Filming Locations:

534 South Lewis Street, Monroe, Washington, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lynch/Frost Productions, Propaganda Films, Spelling Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

47 min 47 min (29 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sheryl Lee plays two characters: Laura Palmer and her cousin, a blonde and a brunette. In Vertigo'Kim Novak' plays two characters, a blonde and a brunette. One character is called Madeleine, and James Stewart's character is called John Ferguson. The name of Laura Palmer's cousin is an amalgamation of these two names: Madeleine Ferguson.

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Goofs

The fact that there was a year's gap between the filming of the pilot episode and the first season's episode is evident in the different hairstyles sported by some of the cast. Although only a night is meant to have passed between the episodes, James Hurley, Sheriff Truman, and Deputy Brennan all have shorter haircuts by the next day. Donna Hayward, Catherine Martell and Audrey Horne (in particular) all have noticeably longer hair by the next day.

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Quotes

Sheriff Truman: Jelly donuts?
Dale Cooper: Harry, that goes without saying.

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Crazy Credits

There are some episodes that don't end with the usual Homecoming Queen photo of Laura Palmer and "Laura Palmer's Theme" in the credits: Episode 2 credits feature the Little Man from Another Place seen from above and dancing. Episode 8 features Gersten Hayward (Alicia Witt) playing the piano. Episode 14 shows Agent Cooper, the red curtains and the song "The World Spins" by Julee Cruise. Episode 18 features Ben Horne's old home movies seen in this same episode. Episode 29 features the coffee cup given to Cooper in the Red Room and Laura's face on it.

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Connections

Featured in Twin Peaks/Cop Rock: Behind the Scenes (1990)

User Reviews

Everyone's Talking About It. The Talk Is Good and Bad. It Definitely Strikes a Nerve.

Stunning and explosive, completely misunderstood by many when it ran from 1990-1991 and definitely trail-blazing for the art of television production, "Twin Peaks" is one of those could-have-been, should-have-been television series that ended up being remarkable anyway. A teenage girl (Sheryl Lee) is murdered. A strange police detective (Kyle MacLachlan) is brought in to solve the mystery as the local police just cannot cope with the crime. Strange situations continue to pop up all over the landscape of the titled Pacific Northwestern town though and it becomes sadly apparent that the crime will likely never be solved. Side-stories galore confuse and intrigue and the viewer is left wondering, "Does this have anything to do with the initial crime?". Then just when you think the puzzle is about solved, total chaos strikes with whacked dream sequences that make you question your own sanity. What is really happening in the town and do we really want to know or are we happier letting the mystery suck us in? "Twin Peaks" was created by David Lynch (arguably the finest American film-maker, along with Martin Scorsese, living today) and over two very abbreviated seasons (only 29 total episodes) television reached an age that may never be experienced again. At the time many (perhaps myself included) did not know what to make of the show and even more panned it completely. The fact that the series did not really end the way it should have is sad, but in another way it just adds to the legends and myths involved here. There were eight writers on this series and a mind-blowing 15 different directors (Lynch did some of the work and even Diane Keaton got an opportunity to add to the program). Performers like Ray Wise, Piper Laurie, Joan Chen, Lara Flynn Boyle, Sherilyn Fenn, Russ Tamblyn and Madchen Amick appear, disappear and re-appear so frequently that you become confused as to what their roles in the show truly are. Monumental, gigantic, legendary, interesting, dominant and definitely thought-provoking, "Twin Peaks" is one of those television shows that amazes and dazzles with its highly unique brand of commentary. Followed by a theatrical movie ("Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me") in 1992 that was made to answer the questions presented throughout the program, it was also sadly misunderstood by most in the viewing public (even being rubbished by some who loved the series). A real gem in the history of television art. 5 stars out of 5.