Dangerous Game (1993)

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writer (WGA):

Nicholas St. John (written by)

Release Date:

19 November 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A New York film director, working on his latest movie in Los Angeles, begins to reflect the actions in his movie and real life, especially when he begins an affair with the lead actress.

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Film In Film | Psychological Drama | Divorce | Film Making

Cast

Harvey Keitel	...	Eddie Israel
Madonna	...	Sarah Jennings
James Russo	...	Francis Burns
Nancy Ferrara	...	Madlyn Israel
Reilly Murphy	...	Tommy
Victor Argo	...	Director of Photography
Leonard L. Thomas	...	Prop Guy
Christina Fulton	...	Blonde
Heather Bracken	...	Stewardess
Glenn Plummer	...	Burns' Buddy
Niki Munroe	...	Girl in Trailer
Lori Eastside	...	Party Guest
John Snyder	...	Party Guest
Adina Winston	...	Party Guest
Dylan Hundley	...	Party Guest

Also Known As:

Snake Eyes (UK) (USA) (working title)
Dangerous Games (Australia) (TV title)

Runtime:

108 min (Unrated Director's Cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | New Zealand:R18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:18 | Ireland:(Banned) | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 (video premiere) | South Korea:18 | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | USA:R | USA:Unrated (DVD/VHS release) (uncut version)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cecchi Gori Europa N.V.

Trivia:

Eddie Israel is shown watching a scene from Les Blank's documentary Burden of Dreams (1982), about Werner Herzog's attempt to haul a real 340-ton steamship over a mountain during the making of his film Fitzcarraldo (1982) (which he successfully accomplished).

Quotes:

Francis Burns: I need these things!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Short Film About the Long Career of Abel Ferrara (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

ORIGINAL GANGSTER

An interesting film, with many a hidden secrets

Not a particularly entertaining movie this one, but definitely an interesting watch when you take into consideration not only the movie, but the similarities which surrounded its release. And of course Madonna, who (unwittingly?) gives the best performance of her much ridiculed celluloid career.

The film revolves around director Eddie Israel (Keitel) and his supporting cast members in their journey to film the uber-dark relationship drama 'Mother of Mirrors'. Starring alcoholic drug dependent Francis Burns (James Russo) and recent Christian convert Sarah Jennings (Madonna) the film within a film blurs over into real life, leaving the viewer confused about whether the actors are acting their character in 'Mother', their character in 'Dangerous Game' or even their character in real life. The confusion even seems apparent on set, with one directors clapper-board shots with the movies real director A. Ferrara noted on it.

In reality, Ferrara had to resort to accepting finance for the film by Madonna's Maverick Films and thus also accepting its MD as his leading actress. Madonna once said that when she attended the premiere she left the theatre crying as it was in her eyes a completely different movie, and all her best scenes were cut. Dig a little deeper with this one and you might be able to see the underlying story which is far more interesting than what's bubbling on the surface.