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The Silence of the Lambs
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The Silence of the Lambs (1991) More at IMDbPro »

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The Silence of the Lambs -- A young FBI cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims.

Overview

User Rating:
Top 250: #24  (login to vote)
8.7/10   371,406 votes »
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Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Jonathan Demme
Writers (WGA):
Thomas Harris (novel)
Ted Tally (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Silence of the Lambs on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 February 1991 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Thriller See more »
Tagline:
Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Brilliant. Cunning. Psychotic. In his mind lies the clue to a ruthless killer. - Clarice Starling, FBI. Brilliant. Vulnerable. Alone. She must trust him to stop the killer. See more »
Plot:
A young FBI cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Won 5 Oscars. Another 41 wins & 29 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(730 articles)
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Supporting Actors: The Overlooked and Underrated (part 5 of 5)
 (From SoundOnSight. 30 May 2012, 10:08 PM, PDT)
Jude Law as Douglas Fairbanks: Good Idea?
 (From Alt Film Guide. 30 May 2012, 3:09 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
A truly remarkable film See more (735 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Jodie Foster ... Clarice Starling
Lawrence A. Bonney ... FBI Instructor

Kasi Lemmons ... Ardelia Mapp
Lawrence T. Wrentz ... Agent Burroughs

Scott Glenn ... Jack Crawford
Anthony Heald ... Dr. Frederick Chilton

Frankie Faison ... Barney
Don Brockett ... Friendly Psychopath
Frank Seals Jr. ... Brooding Psychopath
Stuart Rudin ... Miggs

Anthony Hopkins ... Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Maria Skorobogatov ... Young Clarice (as Masha Skorobogatov)
Jeffrie Lane ... Clarice's Father
Leib Lensky ... Mr. Lang
George 'Red' Schwartz ... Mr. Lang's Driver (as Red Schwartz)
Jim Roche ... TV Evangelist

Brooke Smith ... Catherine Martin

Ted Levine ... Jame Gumb
James B. Howard ... Boxing Instructor
Bill Miller ... Mr. Brigham
Chuck Aber ... Agent Terry
Gene Borkan ... Oscar
Pat McNamara ... Sheriff Perkins

Tracey Walter ... Lamar
Kenneth Utt ... Dr. Akin

Dan Butler ... Roden
Paul Lazar ... Pilcher
Darla ... 'Precious' (as 'Darla')
Adelle Lutz ... TV Anchorwoman

Obba Babatundé ... TV Anchorman (as Obba Babatunde)
George Michael ... TV Sportscaster

Diane Baker ... Senator Ruth Martin

Roger Corman ... FBI Director Hayden Burke
Ron Vawter ... Paul Krendler

Charles Napier ... Lt. Boyle
Jim Dratfield ... Sen. Martin's Aide
D. Stanton Miranda ... 1st Reporter (as Stanton-Miranda)
Rebecca Saxon ... 2nd Reporter
Danny Darst ... Sgt. Tate
Cynthia Ettinger ... Officer Jacobs
Brent Hinkley ... Officer Murray
Steve Wyatt ... Airport Flirt
Alex Coleman ... Sgt. Pembry

David Early ... Spooked Memphis Cop

Andre B. Blake ... Tall Memphis Cop (as Andre Blake)
Bill Dalzell ... Distraught Memphis Cop (as Bill Dalzell III)

Chris Isaak ... SWAT Commander

Daniel von Bargen ... SWAT Communicator
Tommy Lafitte ... SWAT Shooter (as Tommy LaFitte)
Josh Broder ... EMS Attendant
Buzz Kilman ... EMS Driver

Harry Northup ... Mr. Bimmel
Lauren Roselli ... Stacy Hubka
Lamont Arnold ... Flower Delivery Man
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Hall ... State Trooper (uncredited)

John W. Iwanonkiw ... Orderly (uncredited)
Lynette Jenkins ... Nurse (uncredited)
Chris McGinn ... Autopsy Victim (uncredited)

Ted Monte ... FBI Agent (uncredited)

George A. Romero ... FBI Agent in Memphis (uncredited)
Mike Schaeffer ... Prison Guard (uncredited)
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Directed by
Jonathan Demme 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Thomas Harris (novel)

Ted Tally (screenplay)

Produced by
Grace Blake .... associate producer
Ronald M. Bozman .... producer (as Ron Bozman)
Gary Goetzman .... executive producer
Edward Saxon .... producer
Kenneth Utt .... producer
 
Original Music by
Howard Shore (music by)
 
Cinematography by
Tak Fujimoto (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Craig McKay (edited by)
 
Casting by
Howard Feuer 
 
Production Design by
Kristi Zea 
 
Art Direction by
Tim Galvin 
 
Set Decoration by
Karen O'Hara 
 
Costume Design by
Colleen Atwood 
 
Makeup Department
Alan D'Angerio .... hair styles designer
Carl Fullerton .... special makeup effects creator
Neal Martz .... special makeup effects creator
Allen Weisinger .... makeup creator
Todd Kleitsch .... special effects makeup lab assistant (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Marshall Persinger .... post production supervisor
Kenneth Utt .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ronald M. Bozman .... first assistant director (as Ron Bozman)
Gina Leonetti .... second second assistant director
Kyle McCarthy .... second assistant director
Steve Rose .... additional first assistant director
 
Art Department
Francine Byrne .... art department coordinator
Sean Foyle .... assistant props
Eileen Garrigan .... master scenic artist
Frederika Gray .... key scenic artist
Kalina Ivanov .... storyboard artist
C.A. Kelly .... stand-by dresser
Gary Kosko .... assistant art director
Loren Levy .... assistant props
Ed Lohrer III .... set dresser
Ann Miller .... property master
Paula Payne .... stand-by scenic artist
Karl Shefelman .... storyboard artist
Diana Stoughton .... assistant set decorator (as Diana L. Stoughton)
Kenneth Turek .... set dresser (as Ken Turek)
Edward West .... set dresser
Natalie Wilson .... assistant art director
S. Bruce Wineinger .... construction coordinator
Vincent Borrelli .... scenic artist (uncredited)
Chris Call .... painter (uncredited)
Thomas J. Garrigan .... props (uncredited)
Smith Harper Hutchings .... scenic artist (uncredited)
Brick Mason .... storyboard artist (uncredited)
Kimberly Weeks .... buyer (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Ron Bochar .... effects editor
David Boulton .... a.d.r. recordist
Missy Cohen .... apprentice sound editor
Randall Coleman .... assistant a.d.r. editor
Marko A. Costanzo .... foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Kay Denmark .... a.d.r. boom operator
William Docker .... apprentice sound editor (as Bill Docker)
Tom Fleischman .... re-recording mixer
John Fundus .... sound recordist
Brian Johnson .... assistant sound editor
Frank Kern .... foley editor
Stuart Levy .... apprentice sound editor
Skip Lievsay .... sound designer
Marissa Littlefield .... dialogue editor
Dennis Maitland II .... boom operator
Douglas Murray .... re-recordist (as Douglas L. Murray)
Christopher Newman .... production sound mixer
Bruce Pross .... foley editor
Fred Rosenberg .... dialogue editor
Anne Sawyer .... assistant sound editor
Gail Showalter .... a.d.r. editor
Alan Snelling .... recording engineer
Sean Squires .... re-recordist
Jeffrey Stern .... dialogue editor
Philip Stockton .... dialogue editor (as Phil Stockton)
Steven Visscher .... foley editor
Deborah Wallach .... a.d.r. editor
Robert F. Warren .... dolby stereo consultant
Shari Schwartz .... apprentice sound editor (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Dwight Benjamin-Creel .... special effects
 
Stunts
Michael Cassidy .... stuntman (as Mike Cassidy)
Walter Robles .... stuntman (as Walt Robles)
John Robotham .... stunt coordinator
George P. Wilbur .... stuntman (as George Wilbur)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Aversa .... grip
Michael Burke .... electrician (as Mike Burke)
Ken Connors .... best boy electric (as Kenny Conners)
Ed DeCort .... electrician
Peter Demme .... electrician
John Donohue .... dolly grip
Russell Engels .... gaffer (as Rusty Engels)
Larry Huston .... additional camera assistant
Tony C. Jannelli .... camera operator (as Tony Jannelli)
Roswell Jones .... electrician
Jay Levy .... additional camera assistant
Mick Lohrer .... grip
Bruce MacCallum .... first assistant camera
Larry McConkey .... steadicam operator
Billy Miller .... key grip (as Bill Miller)
Matt Miller .... grip
Tom O'Halloran .... second assistant camera
Brian S. Osmond .... camera trainee (as Brian Osmond)
James Petri .... electrician
Calvin Price .... grip
Ken Regan .... still photographer
Howard Weiner .... video engineer
David Knox .... Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Mark Streapy .... aerial camera operator (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Donna M. Belajac .... additional casting: Pittsburgh (as Donna Belajac)
Staci A. Blagovich .... extras casting: Pittsburgh (as Staci Blagovich)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mark Burchard .... wardrobe supervisor
Kathleen Gerlach .... assistant costume designer
Hartsell Taylor .... wardrobe supervisor
Benjamin Wilson .... wardrobe assistant
 
Editorial Department
Trish Breganti .... post production assistant
Lisa Bromwell .... associate editor
Sam Bruskin .... post production assistant
Lynn Cassaniti .... apprentice film editor
Nzingha Clarke .... apprentice film editor
Priscilla Fleischman .... post production assistant
David Kirkman .... apprentice film editor
David Orr .... color timer
Colleen Sharp .... first assistant editor
Alice Stone .... second assistant editor
 
Music Department
Sharon Boyle .... music supervision
Susan Demskey .... assistant music editor (as Sue Demskey)
Homer Denison .... orchestrator
Suzana Peric .... music editor
Nic Ratner .... assistant music editor
Peter Fuchs .... assistant music recording engineer (uncredited)
Quincy Z. Gunderson .... assistant music editor (uncredited)
Natasha Kinne .... playback singer (uncredited)
Dana Sano .... music coordinator (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
John Leonidas .... transportation captain
Dennis Radesky .... transportation co-captain
Denny Caira .... transportation coordinator (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Judy Arthur .... unit publicist
Jeffrey T. Barabe .... production assistant (as Jeffrey Barabe)
Monica Bielawski .... production assistant
Andre B. Blake .... production assistant (as Andre Blake)
Lisa Bradley .... assistant production coordinator
Katie Clarke .... accounting assistant
John Crowder .... location coordinator: Washington DC
Leanore G. Drogin .... assistant moth wrangler and stylist
Richard Ericson .... dialect consultant
Robin Fajardo .... assistant to: Mr. Utt
Richard Fishwick .... craft service
Becky Gibbs .... production assistant
Paul Giorgi .... stage manager
Teri Hanson .... production assistant
Gus Holzer .... location coordinator: Bimini, Bahamas
Thomas A. Imperato .... financial representative
Mary A. Kelly .... continuity
Patricia LaMagna .... assistant to: Ms. Foster (as Pat LaMagna)
Annie Loeffler .... locations
Sally Love .... entomological consultant
Ann F. Markel .... accounting assistant (as Ann Markel)
Maria Alaina Mason .... production assistant (as Maria Mason)
Michael McCue .... locations (as Mike McCue)
Kevin McLeod .... special production assistant
Raymond A. Mendez .... moth wrangler and stylist
Cristie Miele .... dog trainer (as Christie Miele)
Walt Oggier .... police consultant (as Walter 'O.J.' Oggier)
Paula Oliver .... production assistant
Paula Payne .... special drawings
Lucas Platt .... assistant to: Mr. Demme
Ben Ramsey .... production assistant
John E. Rawlins .... entomological consultant (as John E. Rawlins PhD)
Vicki Dee Rock .... production auditor
Andrew Sands .... assistant production coordinator
Steve Shareshian .... assistant production auditor (as Steven Shareshian)
Alison Sherman .... assistant production coordinator
Neri Kyle Tannenbaum .... location manager
Valerie Thomas .... assistant to: Mr. Saxon
Dianne Ulan .... production assistant (as Iane Ulan)
'Buz' Wasler .... production assistant
Gina White .... production assistant
Hyle White .... production assistant
Steffany Hannan .... body double (uncredited)
Brian Hartman .... location scout (uncredited)
Alan Jacques .... projectionist (uncredited)
John Marston .... location projectionist: Washington D.C. (uncredited)
Catherine M. McDonald .... set production assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Matthew Myers .... production intern (uncredited)
Steve Parys .... production assistant (uncredited)
 
Thanks
James Deeth .... the producers wish to thank: pilot
John Douglas .... the producers wish to thank
Jeff Senour .... the producers wish to thank: pilot
Edward F. Sobota .... the producers wish to thank: Beechcraft provided by
Marie Streapy .... the producers wish to thank: camera operator
Robert Vogt .... the producers wish to thank: technician
George Walden .... the producers wish to thank: Albert G. Ruben Insurance Co.
Roberta Weissburg .... the producers wish to thank: Breakdown Leathers
Trey Wilson .... dedicated to
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
118 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby SR
Certification:
Denmark:15 | Italy:VM14 | USA:R (certificate #30301) | Iceland:16 | Australia:MA (tv rating) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1991) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (1991) (2001) | New Zealand:R16 | Poland:15 | Japan:PG12 (2009) | Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) | UK:15 (DVD rating) (2009) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (video rating) (special edition) | Australia:M (re-rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1998) | France:-16 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:15 (original rating) | Ireland:18 (re-rating) | Israel:18 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 (cut) | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Singapore:PG (video rating) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | Singapore:R(A) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario)
Filming Locations:
Bellaire, Ohio, USASee more »
Company:
Strong Heart/Demme ProductionSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The first moth cocoon found in one of the victim's throats was made from a combination of "Tootsie-Rolls" and gummy bears, so that if she swallowed it, it would be edible.See more »
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Crawford tells Clarice that Miggs died by swallowing his tongue. Contrary to widely spread urban legend, swallowing one's tongue is impossible.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
FBI instructor:Starling! Starling! Crawford wants to see you in his office.
Clarice Starling:Thank you, sir.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Righteous Kill (2008)See more »
Soundtrack:
Real MenSee more »

FAQ

What does 'quid pro quo' mean?
How does Clarice know that "Jack Gordon" is actually Buffalo Bill?
What is the song that is playing when Buffalo Bill is dancing in front of his videocamera?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
58 out of 74 people found the following review useful.
A truly remarkable film, 16 November 2005
Author: davideo-2 from United Kingdom

STAR RATING: ***** The Works **** Just Misses the Mark *** That Little Bit In Between ** Lagging Behind * The Pits

Rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is assigned to get into the mind of notorious incarcerated serial killer Dr Hannibal 'the Cannibal' Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to get his evaluation on the elusive Buffalo Bill, a serial killer who's been abducting and killing young women. When a prominent senator's daughter is kidnapped, it becomes a race against time to find her before she is killed and all the while Lecter is playing mind-games with Starling as well as any help he can provide...

The first of Thomas Harris's Hannibal novels to be adapted for the screen, only to be followed some years later with some very lacklustre (but inevitable!) follow-ups, despite it's age this remains one of the most effective chillers of modern times. Despite the mainstream appeal of the film, the grainy lighting and laid-back budget give it an art-house feel that sets it apart from other such films that were as successful. The film manages some effectively disturbing scenes that make it a not altogether pleasant viewing experience.

Performances wise, in a very early role, a young Foster shows her promise for future roles, with a gripping portrayal of naivety and vulnerability here that is very compelling and convincing, even though there are some plausibility problems with someone as junior as her being assigned to do something like that. Hopkins too is brilliant as Lecter, playing a dangerous man behind bars who's ability to get inside your head and see the things you don't want him to see makes him no less dangerous, if not more so, than if he was on the outside. He's certainly received the most acclaim for his role over the years, but in my humble opinion, he's actually over-shadowed (though only slightly!) by Ted Levine as Buffalo Bill, a truly extraordinary psychopath with an unsettling sexuality disorder that is probably one of the nastiest things ever to be seen in such a mainstream film. As supporting FBI agent Crawford, Scott Glenn is impressive but sort of just faded into DTV land after this film.

It's easily one of the most popular films ever made, so it's likely a lot of you are familiar with it already, but with reviews on the so-inferior follow-up films Red Dragon and Hannibal, I thought it only right that I'd finally give this first film a mention. Truly remarkable. *****

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Yikes! I found Hannibal's dad: Attenborough in 10 Rillington Place Felonious-Punk
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) or The Silence of the Lambs (1991)? Claire_Redfield_RE
How did Hannibal get the pen? mcgmcgmcg
I still don't get why it's a big deal darylUK
Is it a horror film? Tipster101
If you had to lock yourself up in a room with either Hannibal or Bill... Thamauturge
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