The Firm (1993)

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers (WGA):

John Grisham (novel)
David Rabe (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

30 June 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Power can be murder to resist.

Plot:

A young lawyer joins a prestigous law firm only to discover that it has a sinister dark side.

Plot Keywords:

Law | FBI | Law Firm | Lawyer | Mafia

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Mitch McDeere
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Abby McDeere
Gene Hackman	...	Avery Tolar
Hal Holbrook	...	Oliver Lambert
Terry Kinney	...	Lamar Quinn
Wilford Brimley	...	William Devasher
Ed Harris	...	Wayne Tarrance
Holly Hunter	...	Tammy Hemphill
David Strathairn	...	Ray McDeere
Gary Busey	...	Eddie Lomax
Steven Hill	...	F. Denton Voyles
Tobin Bell	...	The Nordic Man
Barbara Garrick	...	Kay Quinn
Jerry Hardin	...	Royce McKnight
Paul Calderon	...	Thomas Richie
Jerry Weintraub	...	Sonny Capps
Sullivan Walker	...	Barry Abanks
Karina Lombard	...	Young Woman on Beach
Margo Martindale	...	Nina Huff
John Beal	...	Nathan Locke
Dean Norris	...	The Squat Man
Lou Walker	...	Frank Mulholland
Debbie Turner	...	Rental Agent
Tommy Cresswell	...	Wally Hudson
David A. Kimball	...	Randall Dunbar (as David Kimball)
Don Jones	...	Attorney
Michael Allen	...	Attorney (as Michael D. Allen)
Levi Frazier Jr.	...	Restaurant Waiter
Brian Casey	...	Telephone Installer
William J. Parham	...	Minister (as Reverend William J. Parham)
Victor Nelson	...	Cafe Waiter
Richard Ranta	...	Congressman Billings
Janie Paris	...	Madge
Frank Crawford	...	Judge
Bart Whiteman	...	Dutch
David Dwyer	...	Prison Guard
Mark W. Johnson	...	FBI Agent (as Mark Johnson)
Jerry Chipman	...	FBI Agent
Jimmy Lackie	...	Technician
Afemo Omilami	...	Cotton Truck Driver
Clint Smith	...	Cotton Truck Driver (as Clinton Smith)
Susan Elliott	...	River Museum Guide
Erin Branham	...	River Museum Guide
Ed Connelly	...	Pilot
Joey Anderson	...	Ruth
Deborah Thomas	...	Quinns' Maid
Tommy Matthews	...	Elvis Aaron Hemphill
Chris Schadrack	...	Lawyer Recruiter
Jeffrey Buckner Ford	...	Lawyer Recruiter (as Jeffrey Ford)
Rebecca Glenn	...	Young Woman at Patio Bar
Terri Welles	...	Woman Dancing with Avery
Greg Goossen	...	Vietnam Veteran (as Gregory Goossen)
Jeane Aufdenberg	...	Car Rental Agent
William R. Booth	...	Seaplane Pilot
Ollie Nightingale	...	Restaurant Singer
Teenie Hodges	...	Restaurant Lead Guitarist
Little Jimmy King	...	Memphis Street Musician
James White	...	Singer at Hyatt
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ron Clinton Smith	...	Cotton Truck Driver #1
Ken Axmaker Jr.	...	Student (uncredited)
Harry Dach	...	Garbage Truck Driver (uncredited)
Julia Hayes	...	Girl in Bar (uncredited)
Ted Kraus	...	Son of Attorney (uncredited)
Tom McCrory	...	Associate (uncredited)
Yvonne Sayers	...	Young girl (uncredited)
Paul Sorvino	...	Tommie Morolto (uncredited)
Joe Viterelli	...	Joey Morolto (uncredited)

Directed by
Sydney Pollack

Writing credits (WGA)
John Grisham		(novel)
David Rabe		(screenplay) and
Robert Towne		(screenplay) &
David Rayfiel		(screenplay)

Produced by
John Davis	....	producer
Lindsay Doran	....	executive producer
Michael Hausman	....	executive producer
Sydney Pollack	....	producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer

Original Music by
Dave Grusin

Cinematography by
John Seale

Film Editing by
Fredric Steinkamp
William Steinkamp

Casting by
David Rubin

Production Design by
Richard Macdonald

Art Direction by
John Willett

Set Decoration by
Casey Hallenbeck

Costume Design by
Ruth Myers

Makeup Department
Richard Dean	....	makeup artist: Mr. Cruise
William A. Farley	....	key hair stylist (as Bill Farley)
Ben Nye Jr.	....	makeup supervisor
Lyndell Quiyou	....	hair stylist: Mr. Cruise
Gloria Belz	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
Gloria Belz	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Scott Ferguson	....	unit manager
Michael Hausman	....	unit production manager
Karen Marmer	....	post-production supervisor
Gerry Robert Byrne	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carla Corwin	....	second assistant director
Scott Harris	....	second second assistant director
David McGiffert	....	first assistant director

Art Department
E.W. Bradford	....	construction coordinator (as Bill Bradford)
Sharleen Bright	....	production painter
Gerry Robert Byrne	....	construction manager (as Gerry Byrne)
Ann Cockerton	....	art department coordinator: Grand Cayman Islands
Mary Kate Edmonstone	....	draper
Mark Fabert	....	construction foreperson
James C. Feng	....	assistant art director (as James Feng)
Michael Gastaldo	....	assistant property master
Thomas Gilbert	....	greensperson
Claudia Gilligan Ivanjack	....	production painter (as Claudia Gilligan-Ivanjack)
Yael Haffner	....	art department coordinator
Jerry G. Henery	....	construction foreperson (as Jerry Henery)
Steven Curtis Husch	....	assistant set decorator (as Steven Husch)
Tom Ivanjack	....	painter supervisor
Joseph McAfee Jr.	....	set dresser
Lisa Miller	....	set dresser
Robin L. Miller	....	property master (as Robin Miller)
Spencer H. Register	....	set dresser (as Spencer Register)
Chris Ubick	....	property assistant
David Weathers	....	set dresser
Alan Easley	....	carpenter (uncredited)
David Eckert	....	set designer (uncredited)
Tommy Gilbert	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Frank Hendrick	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Frank Hendrick	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Beadle	....	dialogue editor
Steve Bowerman	....	boom operator
Lucy Coldsnow-Smith	....	foley editor
Carmen Flores De Tanis	....	assistant sound editor (as Carmen Flores)
Jessica Gallavan	....	supervising adr editor
John Haeny	....	sound effects editor
Doug Hemphill	....	sound re-recording mixer
J. Paul Huntsman	....	supervising sound editor
Chris Jargo	....	adr editor (as J. Christopher Jargo)
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jonathan Klein	....	foley editor
Gary Lewis	....	dialogue editor
David MacMillan	....	sound mixer
Myron Nettinga	....	sound effects editor
Kevin E. Patterson	....	cable person
Jennifer Portman	....	assistant sound editor
Jeff Rosen	....	foley editor
Carolann Sanchez-Shapiro	....	assistant sound editor
Adam Sawelson	....	dialogue editor
Matt Sawelson	....	dialogue editor (as Matthew Sawelson)
Mark Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Ken Estes	....	special effects
Steve Wolf	....	additional special effects

Stunts
Andy Armstrong	....	stunt coordinator
Andy Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Keith Campbell	....	stunt double: Tom Cruise (uncredited)
Keith Campbell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dennis Fitzgerald	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Jeffreys	....	stunts (uncredited)
Raliegh Wilson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian W. Armstrong	....	first assistant camera (as Brian Armstrong)
David Brink	....	camera loader
Chuck Brown	....	dolly grip (as Charles D. Brown)
Robert Bruce	....	electrician
David L. Butler	....	aerial camera operator
Tom Clark	....	electrician
Andy Day	....	assistant chief lighting technician
François Duhamel	....	still photographer
Morris Flam	....	chief lighting technician (as Mo Flam)
Steve Jackman	....	aerial first assistant camera (as Steven Jackman)
Sunny Johnson	....	rigging grip
Robin P. Knight	....	first company grip (as Robin Knight)
Bobby Mancuso	....	second assistant camera (as Bob Mancuso)
Lee McLemore	....	grip
Paul Murphey	....	video assistant (as Paul Murphy)
Pete Romano	....	underwater photographer
Riko Schatke	....	second company grip
Doug Schwartz	....	Steadicam assistant (as Douglas Schwartz)
Steve Spallone	....	electrician
Mark Van Loon	....	Steadicam operator
Mark Van Loon	....	camera operator
John Velez	....	rigging electrician
Tommy D. Walker	....	grip (as Tommy 'Mooky' Walker)
Darryl Wilson	....	electrician
Michael DiIeso	....	grip (uncredited)
Tim Driscoll	....	grip (uncredited)
John T. Martin	....	best boy grip (uncredited)
William M. Weberg	....	grip (uncredited)
Paul Wilkowsky	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kim Davis-Wagner	....	extras casting: Grand Cayman Islands (as Kim Davis)
Jo Doster	....	location casting consultant
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Amy Taksen	....	casting assistant
Debra Zane	....	casting associate
Jason White	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robin Borman	....	wardrobe
Bruce Ericksen	....	costume supervisor (as Bruce Erickson)
Rachel Heilpern	....	assistant wardrobe
Marjorie McCown	....	assistant costume designer
David Page	....	costumer: Mr. Cruise
Luke Reichle	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Joyce Arrastia	....	assistant editor
Randy Bricker	....	apprentice editor
Phil Hetos	....	color timer (as Philip Hetos)
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Karl F. Steinkamp	....	assistant editor
Robert W. Steinkamp	....	apprentice editor
Michael T. Wilson	....	assistant editor
Donald Freeman	....	final colorist (uncredited)
Todd Fulkerson	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Donald Murray	....	music recordist (as Don Murray)
Joel Sill	....	music consultant
Ted Whitfield	....	music editor
John Anderson	....	musician: oboe (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Richard A. Davis	....	transportation captain
A. McRae Hilliard	....	transportation assistant
Jerry Jackson	....	transportation coordinator
Vicki Lybrand	....	transportation dispatcher
Dennis Milliken	....	picture car coordinator
John Lybrand	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
David L. Abell	....	piano consultant
Stephanie Antosca	....	location assistant: Washington D.C.
Jennifer Blair	....	production assistant
Robin Borman	....	set supervisor
Brooke Brooks	....	assistant: Mr. Davis
Lauren Buckley	....	assistant: Mr. Hausman
Debbie Charboneau	....	assistant production coordinator
Marjorie Chodorov	....	accounting assistant
Cathleen Clarke	....	assistant production coordinator: Washington D.C.
Drew Clarke	....	craft service
Ed Connelly	....	pilot: aerial photography plane, Grand Cayman Islands
John 'JR' Craigmile	....	payroll accountant (as John Craigmile)
Eric Davidson	....	location manager: Boston
Matilda de Cagny	....	animal trainer (as Mathilde DeCagny)
Michael Dellheim	....	location manager
Michael Dick	....	location manager: Boston
Michael Doven	....	assistant: Mr. Cruise
Jenny R. Evans	....	assistant: Mr. Hausman (as Jenny Evans)
Brian Grisham	....	production assistant
Derek E. Johansen	....	production assistant
J. David Jones	....	helicopter pilot (as David Jones)
Carol King	....	assistant: Mr. Doran
Lisa Knudson	....	assistant production accountant
Tom Ladwig	....	production assistant
Larry Leggett	....	police coordinator
Elton MacPherson	....	production accountant
Wende Martin	....	assistant craft service
Leo McDaniel	....	production assistant
John Monsour	....	computer engineer
Phill Norman	....	title designer
Donna Ostroff	....	assistant: Mr. Pollack
Randy Ostrow	....	location manager: Grand Cayman Islands (as Randolph Ostrow)
Peggy Pridemore	....	location manager: Washington D.C.
Anne Rapp	....	script supervisor
Darin Rivetti	....	production assistant
John R. Saunders	....	production assistant
Nanette Siegert	....	production coordinator
Doug Sims	....	production assistant
Ian Stone	....	assistant location manager: Grand Cayman Islands
Lauren Beth Strogoff	....	publicist
Daniel Strol	....	location manager: Grand Cayman Islands
Mike Thompson	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Samuel O. Velasco	....	production assistant
Jeanine Wilson	....	assistant production accountant (as Jeanne Wilson)
Alonzo Woods	....	location coordinator
Frank D. Woodward	....	caterer (as Frank Woodward)
Charley Armstrong	....	location scout (uncredited)
Gerry Robert Byrne	....	aerial coordinator (uncredited)
Dennis Fitzgerald	....	stand-in: Tom Cruise (uncredited)
Billy A. Fox	....	location manager: second unit (uncredited)
Martin Garner	....	computer crew (uncredited)
Willis Baxter Johnson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Robert Lamkin	....	caterer (uncredited)
Tom McCrory	....	stand-in: Gary Busey (uncredited)
Carl Merritt	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Brandon Ramos	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Anthony Pellicano	....	special thanks
Ruth Pomerance	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Lucernafilm - Alfa (1993) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1993) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1993) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1993) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1993) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1993) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1993) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1996) (USA) (TV)
• Argentina Video Home (1994) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-edited)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title (opticals)
• Wolf Stuntworks

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• GRP Records  soundtrack released by
• MCA Records  soundtrack released by
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Stars Catering Inc.  catering
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence

Runtime:

154 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:12 (edited TV version) | New Zealand:R13 | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M | Iceland:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:14 | Netherlands:16 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

125 Front Street, Downtown, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Holly Hunter' is on screen for a total of 5 minutes, 59 seconds; one of shortest performances ever nominated for an Oscar. She is in 20 scenes, for an average of 18 seconds per scene.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The screen credits refer to a "Grand Cayman Islands unit". Grand Cayman is one of the Cayman Islands.

Quotes:

Mitch McDeere:You want to know something funny? You actually made me think about the law. I managed to go through three years of law school without doing that.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Critic: Eyes on the Prize (#1.6)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Guitar Blues

has some quibbles that can't be overlooked but it does entertain

Mitch McDeere is a brilliant young law student, happily married husband, and—despite some shady family ties—has a bright, ambitious future in the legal community. About to graduate from Harvard in the top five of his class, he agrees to join Bendini, Lambert & Locke, a prestigious Memphis law firm that makes him an offer he can't refuse. All of his dreams seem to be coming true, but he quickly learns that his new firm isn't as virtuous as it seems. Based on the novel by John Grisham the film benefits from interesting characters brought to life by an excellent cast, and it effectively builds an atmosphere of suspense and intrigue, but they're marred by the film's long running time, an odd (and inappropriate) score, and a third act that runs around before finally arriving at a resolution that's much too pat. Highly watchable, but only if you can accept the obvious flaws. **½