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American Heart ()


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An ex-convict is tracked down by his estranged teenage son, and the pair try to build a relationship and life together in Seattle.

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Cast verified as complete

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John Boylan ...
Janitor
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Jack Kelson
...
Nick Kelson
Greg Sevigny ...
Young Jack
Jayne Entwistle ...
Monique
Willie Williams ...
The Gospel Fireballs
Roosevelt Franklin ...
The Gospel Fireballs
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Normandy
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Rainey
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Landlady
Wren Walker ...
Lisa
Cristine McMurdo-Wallis ...
School Administrator
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Charlotte
Charlotte London ...
Flo
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Vernon the Bartender
Richard Joffray ...
Taxi Dispatcher Voice
Christian Frizzell ...
Rollie
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Molly
Benjamin Hinkle ...
Roy
Jared Hinkle ...
Roy
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Diane
Franciso Arenas ...
Moose
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Terry Cosmos
Michelle Matlock ...
Bandit
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Freddie (as Maggie Welsh)
Sam Strange ...
Stony
Mark Namer ...
Pool Bar Guy
Barbara Irvin ...
Nicole
Burke Pearson ...
Jack's Bum
Apollo Dukakis ...
Steve
Laura Bobovski ...
Girl in Food Bank
John DeLay ...
Building Supervisor
Gary Lee Dansenburg ...
Suburban Son
Todd Jamieson ...
Suburban Father
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
...
Homeless Vet (uncredited)
Diane Mello ...
Guide (uncredited)
Roger Petan ...
Pedestrian / Pickup Driver (uncredited)
William Rossman ...
Banker (uncredited)

Directed by

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Martin Bell

Written by

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Peter Silverman ... (story) &
Martin Bell ... (story) &
Mary Ellen Mark ... (story)
 
Peter Silverman ... (screenplay)

Produced by

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Jeff Bridges ... producer
Cary Brokaw ... executive producer
Rosilyn Heller ... producer
Neil Koenigsberg ... co-producer
Mary Ellen Mark ... associate producer
Nancy Rae Stone ... associate producer

Music by

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James Newton Howard

Cinematography by

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James R. Bagdonas

Editing by

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Nancy Baker

Editorial Department

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Sharyl Allensworth ... post-production intern
Rick Downey ... negative cutter
John Hendrickson ... editing intern (as John Hendricson)
Julie Jones ... editing intern
David Kolenda ... editing intern
George Langworthy ... second assistant editor (as George H. Langworthy)
José Luis Manjon ... editing intern
Christine Mantey ... editing intern
Mike Mertens ... color timer (as Michael Mertens)
Jean Marie Offenbacher ... first assistant editor
Rob Penque ... editing intern
Gavin Tatro ... editing intern

Casting By

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Cecily Adams

Production Design by

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Joel Schiller

Set Decoration by

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Rondi Tucker

Costume Design by

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Beatrix Aruna Pasztor

Makeup Department

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Steven Fitzpatrick ... assistant hair stylist / assistant makeup artist
Bob Haaves ... tattoo designer: Jack
Kathy C. King ... assistant hair stylist (as Kathy Carroll Crouse) / assistant makeup artist (as Kathy Carroll Crouse)
Gina Monaci ... hair stylist / makeup artist

Production Management

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Robert V. Girolami ... production manager: Vermont
Leslie A. Leitner ... post-production supervisor (as Leslie Leitner)
Kathryn Riccio ... unit production manager
Nancy Rae Stone ... production manager
Kathryn Riccio ... assistant production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Anthony F. Esposi ... second assistant director: Vermont
Robert V. Girolami ... first assistant director: Vermont
Richard Hawley ... first assistant director/Second Unit Director
Randall LaFollette ... second second assistant director
Timothy J. Lonsdale ... second assistant director (as Timothy Lonsdale)

Art Department

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Dave Barnes ... carpenter
Dave Barnes ... carpenter
Keith Bergman ... construction foreman
Steven E. Eyrse ... lead scenic artist (as Steve E. Eyrse)
Richard Joffray ... property master
Alexander Lamb ... set painter/carpenter
Kim Larsen-Santini ... assistant property master (as Kim Larsen)
David Lenz ... lead carpenter
Robert A. Maisto ... construction coordinator
Sharon Manolopoulos ... art department intern
Drew Pinniger ... on-set dresser
David Saltzman ... leadman (as Dave Saltzman)
Grant Samson ... swing (as Grant D. Samson)
Crista Schneider ... assistant set decorator
Kirk Thompson ... carpenter
Bob Warner ... scenic artist (as Robert Warner)
Frederic C. Weiler ... location designer: Vermont

Sound Department

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Robert J. Anderson Jr. ... sound mixer (as Robert Anderson)
Kevin Bartnof ... foley artist
Bob Beemer ... re-recording mixer
Joseph A. Brennan ... stage engineer (as Joe Brennan)
Adam Buckner ... boom operator
Blake R. Cornett ... assistant sound editor (as Blake Cornett)
Robert Deschaine ... adr mixer (as Bob Deschaine)
John Edwards-Younger ... sound effects editor (as John S. Edwards-Younger)
Alison Fisher ... dialogue editor
Bryan Fowler ... machine operator (as Brian Fowler)
Dennis Fuller ... boom operator (as Dennis Robert Fuller)
Marilyn Graf ... foley recordist
Hilda Hodges ... foley artist
David Jobe ... adr recordist
Nicholas Korda ... adr editor (as Nick Korda)
Mark 'Frito' Long ... sound recordist
Christian P. Minkler ... machine operator (as Chris Minkler)
Michael Minkler ... re-recording mixer
Howard Neiman ... sound effects editor
Lauren Palmer ... dialogue editor
Nancy Richardson ... foley editor
Dave Sakai ... assistant sound editor
Steve F.B. Smith ... stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Hamilton Sterling ... supervising sound editor
Carolyn Tapp ... foley mixer
John Joseph Thomas ... sound effects editor
Shade Rupe ... cable person (uncredited)
Hugo Weng ... dialogue editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Ray Brown ... special effects
Mark McDaniel ... additional special effects (as Marc McDaniel)
Bob Riggs ... special effects
Terry Shattuck ... special effects
Joel Youngerman ... special effects

Stunts

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Loyd Catlett ... precision stunt driver
Gilbert B. Combs ... stunt coordinator (as Gil Combs)
Chris Howell ... stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department

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Michael Baird ... video assist operator
Bill Barcroft ... best boy grip
Lloyd Barcroft ... key grip
Bill Baxter ... lighting technician
Pat Blymyer ... gaffer
Eric Budlong ... grip
Kris Conde ... second assistant camera (as Kris A. Conde)
Tom Connole ... camera operator
Bob Fillis ... best boy electric
Steve Fugikawa ... assistant still photographer
John M. Hennessy ... dolly grip
Steve Itano ... first assistant camera: "b" camera
Colin Kell ... electrician (as Colin R. Kell)
Rocky Kenworthy ... assistant still photographer
Donald E. Lange ... electrician
Mary Ellen Mark ... still photographer
Stephen McGehee ... lighting technician
Marco Nicholas Miller ... camera intern
Greg Moring ... grip
Don Mosley ... electrician (as Donald Ray Mosley)
Marvin C. Newton ... grip intern (as Marvin Newton)
Peter Riches ... still photographer
Troy Smith ... Steadicam operator
Rick Tiedeman ... steadicam operator
Rick Tschudin ... first assistant camera
Mitchell J. Wood ... video playback operator
Eric Thomas ... grip (uncredited)

Casting Department

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Amy Caton-Ford ... extras casting
Robert Green ... extras casting assistant
Barbara Harris ... adr voice casting
Alison Roth ... casting: Seattle
Jodi Rothfield ... casting: Seattle
Jessica Wilson ... casting assistant: Seattle

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Kathleen McKenzie ... seamstress (as Kathleen 'Arias' McKenzie)
Allegra Moody ... wardrobe assistant
Vanessa Vogel ... wardrobe supervisor

Location Management

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John Anderson ... location assistant
Kristin Capp ... location scout
Roger D. Faires ... location scout (as Roger Faires)
Andrew Grob ... location scout (as Andrew Hirodo Grob)
Michael Leon ... location manager

Music Department

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Peter Afterman ... music supervisor
Sally Boldt ... music editor
Marc Bonilla ... musician: solo guitar
Orion Crawford ... music copyist
Sandy De Crescent ... orchestra contractor (as Sandy DeCrescent)
Michael Mason ... scoring coordinator
Robert Schaper ... score mixer
Marc Bonilla ... composer: additional music (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Eva Banhidi ... script supervisor

Transportation Department

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George Evans ... transportation captain
Tom Featherstone ... driver
Jimmy Jones ... driver (as James Jones)
Joel McCarthy ... driver
Jon McCarthy ... transportation coordinator
Sharon McCarthy ... driver
Fred Mirante ... driver
Mike Sassen ... driver (as Michael Sassen)
Leo Schaible ... driver
Robert Sullivan ... driver (as Bob Sullivan)
Gene Ungersma ... driver
Don Weaver ... driver
Rick Wiley ... driver: camera car

Additional Crew

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Robert C. Albertell ... production assistant: Vermont (as Robert C. Albertel)
Brett Aronowitz ... coordinator: Los Angeles
Adam Berman ... production assistant
Murphy Birdsall ... assistant: Martin Bell
Laura Bobovski ... stand-in: Mr. Furlong
Adam Buckner ... production assistant (as Adam Dean Buckner)
Edward Bunker ... technical advisor
Renee Burke ... stills intern (as Renée Foley Burke)
Rick Clark ... production assistant: Vermont
Katie Curran ... production coordinator: Vermont
Betsy Danbury ... production accountant
Kate Driver ... production assistant
Jerry Esterly ... technical advisor
Pablo Ferro ... title designer
Judy Geletko ... additional accounting services
Sheri Halfon ... financial representative: Avenue
Richard Hawley ... first assistant director/Second Unit Director
Elizabeth Hawman ... production assistant
Kelly Householder ... production assistant
Pat Hutchinson ... publicist
Michael Kennedy ... assistant: Rosilyn Heller and Jeff Bridges
Dani Knight ... assistant: Cary Brokaw
Martin L. Koleber ... set medic
Alisoun F. Lamb ... production coordinator
Claudia Lewis ... production executive
Lydia Lipatan-Sarmiento ... assistant accountant (as Lydia Lipatan Sarmiento)
Jill Maxcy ... production assistant
David S. McDonald ... assistant production coordinator
Sherry McManus ... studio teacher
Tatia Nichols ... accounting assistant
Kim Ritz ... production assistant (as Kimber Lee Ritz)
Emily Seltzer ... production intern
Bob Skolnick ... caterer: Proud Chef
Linda Skolnick ... caterer: Proud Chef
Lori Trochim ... production assistant
Catherine Webb ... post-production accountant
Keith M. Wegner ... craft service (as Keith Wegner)
Kristen Wolters ... assistant: Niel Koenigsberg
Jim Beaver ... audition reader (uncredited)
Jonathan Dana ... studio executive (uncredited)
Guy Killum ... adr voice (uncredited)

Thanks

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Michael Besman ... the director and producers wish to thank
Susan Bridges ... the director and producers wish to thank
John Carlen ... the director and producers wish to thank
Paul Clay ... the director and producers wish to thank
Ann Dubinet ... the director and producers wish to thank
Jerry Esterly ... the director and producers wish to thank
Booth Gardner ... the director and producers wish to thank
Cooper Gibson ... the director and producers wish to thank
Walter J. Hickel ... the director and producers wish to thank
Laurie Higgins ... the director and producers wish to thank
Gary Lehman ... the director and producers wish to thank
Bruce Markoe ... the director and producers wish to thank
Patrick Murray ... the director and producers wish to thank
Richard Nord ... the director and producers wish to thank
Richard Soames ... the director and producers wish to thank
William Tyrer ... the director and producers wish to thank
Jonathan Weisgal ... special thanks
Kurt Woolner ... the director and producers wish to thank

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

On the day he is released from the state penitentiary on parole after serving five years for robbery, Jack Kelson is tracked down by his now fourteen year old son, Nick Kelson, who wants to be with his father. Jack, in turn, wants nothing to do with Nick, both in having enough to contend with in getting his life on track for himself, and knowing that his own life has been one big failure, he determined for Nick not to get caught up in that cycle. Regardless as Nick cannot be dissuaded, the pair try to eke out a life together living in a rundown residential hotel in a low income neighborhood in Seattle, with the pipe dream of moving to the land of opportunity of frontier Alaska. While Jack goes to work for a commercial window washing business - one of the lies he telling Nick being he has a job as a construction supervisor - and strikes a relationship with Charlotte, a cab driver who wrote to him in prison, Nick has his first case of puppy love for Molly, a teen prostitute who lives with her adolescent brother Roy and stripper/prostitute mother Diane in a unit in the same building, leading to Nick being ensconced within a group of street youth to which Molly belongs. As the going gets tough, it may be easy for Jack to fall into old routines and Nick to follow in Jack's past footsteps, especially as Jack's old criminal associate Ray, who learned everything he knows from Jack, comes around trying to pull one or both into the life. Written by Huggo

Plot Keywords
Taglines Jack's only hope was a dream... Nick's only hope was Jack. See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • American Heart - Die zweite Chance (Germany)
  • Corazón roto (Spain)
  • Στην κορυφή του κόσμου (Greece)
  • Amerikai szív (Hungary)
  • Sydämensärkijöitä (Finland)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 113 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $10,000,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend United States $5,549, 09 May 1993

Did You Know?

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Trivia Jeff Bridges' favorite film of his own. See more »
Goofs Near the end of the movie, the ferry is leaving Seattle (towards Bainbridge Island or Bremerton). However a few seconds later we see the boat wake with the Olympic Mountains in the distance indicating the boat is headed towards Seattle, not away from it. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Lost in Yonkers/Carnosaur/American Heart/Posse/The Story of Qiu Ju (1993). See more »
Soundtracks I'll Never Let Go of Your Hand See more »
Quotes Jack Kelson: Keep my name outta your mouth.
See more »

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