Menace II Society (1993)

Director:

The Hughes Brothers
(more)

Writers:

Allen Hughes (story) &
Albert Hughes (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 May 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

This is the truth. This is what's real.

Plot:

A young street hustler attempts to escape the rigors and temptations of the ghetto in a quest for a better life.

Plot Keywords:

Street | High School | Ghetto | Drug Dealing | Black American

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Tyrin Turner	...	Caine
Larenz Tate	...	O-Dog
June Kyoto Lu	...	Grocery Store Woman (as June Kyoko Lu)
Toshi Toda	...	Grocery Store Man
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Tat Lawson
Anthony Johnson	...	Tony
Brandon Hammond	...	Five Year Old Caine
Glenn Plummer	...	Pernell
Reginald Ballard	...	Clyde
Khandi Alexander	...	Karen Lawson
Eugene Lee	...	Man #1
James Pickens Jr.	...	Man #2 (as James Pickins Jr.)
Nancy Cheryll Davis	...	Teacher (as Nancy Cheryl Davis)
Jullian Roy Doster	...	Anthony
Jada Pinkett Smith	...	Ronnie (as Jada Pinkett)
Marilyn Coleman	...	Grandmama
Arnold Johnson	...	Grandpapa
Saafir	...	Harold Lawson
Pooh Man	...	Doc
MC Eiht	...	A-Wax
Vonte Sweet	...	Sharif
Ryan Williams	...	Stacy
Cynthia Calhoun	...	Jackee
Garen Holman	...	Junior
Joy Matthews	...	Nurse #1
Clifton Powell	...	Chauncy
Too $hort	...	Lew-Loc
Christopher M. Brown	...	Lloyd
Stacy Arnell	...	Deena
Dwayne L. Barnes	...	Basehead (as Dwayne Barnes)
Dave Kirsch	...	Insurance Man
Alvin Mears	...	K-9 Police Officer
Bill Duke	...	Detective
Robert Gonzales	...	Car Dealer (as Robert R. Gonzales)
Martin Davis	...	Car-Jack Victim
Erin Leshawn Wiley	...	Ilena
Charles S. Dutton	...	Mr. Butler
Charles J. Grube	...	Officer Fassel
Mike Kelly	...	Officer Gadd
Rolando Molina	...	Vato #1
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Vato #2 (as Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez)
Tony Valentino	...	Vato #3
Daniel Villarreal	...	Vato #4 (as Danny Villarreal)
Yolanda Whittaker	...	Girl at Party (as Yo Yo)
Samuel Monroe Jr.	...	Ilena's Cousin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Karolyn Grimes	...	Zuzu Bailey in 'It's a Wonderful Life' (archive footage) (uncredited)
James Stewart	...	George Bailey in 'It's a Wonderful Life' (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
The Hughes Brothers
Albert Hughes		(uncredited)
Allen Hughes		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Allen Hughes		(story) &
Albert Hughes		(story) and
Tyger Williams		(story)
Tyger Williams		(screenplay)

Produced by
Michael Bennett	....	line producer
The Hughes Brothers	....	co-producer
Kevin Moreton	....	executive producer
Darin Scott	....	producer
Tyger Williams	....	co-producer
Albert Hughes	....	co-producer (uncredited)
Allen Hughes	....	co-producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Quincy Jones III		(as QD III)

Cinematography by
Lisa Rinzler

Film Editing by
Christopher Koefoed

Casting by
Tony Lee

Production Design by
Penny Barrett

Set Decoration by
Adel A. Mazen

Costume Design by
Sylvia Vega-Vasquez

Makeup Department
Kim D. Davis	....	key hair stylist
Kim D. Davis	....	key makeup artist
Philippa Gutridge	....	additional hair stylist
Philippa Gutridge	....	additional makeup artist
Fay Kelly	....	additional hair stylist
Fay Kelly	....	additional makeup artist
Joanetta Stowers	....	key hair stylist
Joanetta Stowers	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Leon Dudevoir	....	unit production manager
Deborah Moore	....	executive in charge of production
Pamela Winn-Barnett	....	post-production supervisor (as Pamm Winn)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Janice Arrington	....	second second assistant director
Simone Farber	....	second assistant director
Evan Gilner	....	second second assistant director
Tyrone L. Mason	....	first assistant director
Eric Oliver	....	dga trainee

Art Department
Jonny Acropolis	....	swing gang
Lisa Boutillier	....	set dresser
Renee M. Clare	....	prop assistant (as Renée M. Clare)
David Clayter	....	assistant lead man
Matt Fitzell	....	swing gang
Cliff Lane	....	property master
Tamara Murphy	....	prop assistant
Eric Ramsey	....	storyboard artist
Faye Tasch	....	prop assistant
Eric Troop	....	lead man
Belvin Whitfield	....	swing gang (as Belvin 'D' Whitfield)

Sound Department
Scott Bailey	....	apprentice sound editor (as Scott 'Dub' Bailey)
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist (as Greg 'G Stone' Barbanell)
Ricardo Broadus	....	foley editor (as Ricardo 'C Mac' Broadus)
Jim Brookshire	....	dialogue editor (as Jim 'ReRoc' Brookshire)
Lance Brown	....	sound effects editor (as Lance 'J Roc' Brown)
Veda Campbell	....	sound mixer
Harry Cohen	....	digital sound designer (as Harry 'Monster' Cohen)
David Farmer	....	sound effects editor (as David 'Iceman' Farmer)
Marc Fishman	....	adr editor (as Marc 'Da Chronic' Fishman)
William Freesh	....	adr engineer (as Bill 'Lil Dog' Freesh)
Scott Ganary	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Scott 'Scooby' Ganary)
Tim Gedemer	....	sound effects editor (as Tim 'Dope Jam' Gedemer)
Brian Geer	....	foley mixer (as Brian 'Smokey' Geer)
Dennis Harris	....	apprentice sound editor (as Dennis 'Scrappy' Harris)
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist (as Vince 'OE' Nicastro)
Michael A. Patillo	....	boom operator (as Michael Anthony Patillo)
Paul Rodriguez	....	general manager of sound services (as Paul 'Slo Poke' Rodriguez)
Tony Sereno	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Tony 'Lil Snoop' Sereno)
Byron Short	....	sound intern (as Byron 'Eiht Ball' Short)
Cathie Speakman	....	dialogue editor (as Kathy 'Loco' Speakman)
Ken Teaney	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Ken '187' Teaney)
Jeff Vaughn	....	adr engineer (as Jeff 'MC Trey' Vaughn)
Steven D. Williams	....	sound supervisor (as Steve 'Scarface' Williams)

Special Effects by
Mark R. Byers	....	special effects assistant (as Mark Byers)
Frank Ceglia	....	special effects supervisor

Stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunts (as Bruce Barbour)
Roydon Clark	....	stunts
Gregg Dandridge	....	stunts
Greg Wayne Elam	....	stunts (as Greg Elam)
Kiante Elam	....	stunts
Ousaun Elam	....	stunt coordinator
George Fisher	....	stunts
Bobby Hamilton	....	stunts (as Bobby Hamilton Jr.)
Dick Hancock	....	stunts (as Richard Hancock)
Henry Kingi Jr.	....	stunts (as Henry Masao Kingi Jr.)
Anthony Mason	....	stunts (as Anthony T. Mason)
Jalon Raney	....	stunts
Thomas Rosales Jr.	....	stunts
Gilbert Rosales	....	stunts
Alphonse Walter	....	stunts (as Alphonse V. Walter)
Terrence Walters	....	stunts (as Terrence Deon Walters)
Gene Williams	....	stunts
Danny Wong	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Jerry Antonetti	....	grip
Eulanda Bailey	....	second assistant camera
Stephenie Blakemore	....	best boy electric
Kenneth Bonet	....	electrician
G. Smokey Campbell	....	best boy electric
Davie Carothers	....	first assistant camera
Jim Carroll	....	grip
John L. Demps Jr.	....	camera operator: second unit (as John Demps)
Michael Dronge	....	grip
Dejon Ellis	....	best boy grip (as DeJon Ellis)
David Emmerichs	....	Steadicam operator
Scott C. Evans	....	video assist operator (as Scott Evans)
Kent Hughes	....	aerial assistant camera (as Kent P. Hughes)
Keith Jones	....	electrician
Jon Kranhouse	....	aerial director of photography
Heather Lea	....	camera loader
Manuel Lubin	....	best boy grip
David Luckenbach	....	Steadicam operator
Michelle McKinley	....	camera loader
Yariv Michaelovitz	....	electrician (as Yariv Michaelovich)
Daniel Robinson	....	electrician (as Daniel E. Robinson)
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	Steadicam operator
Richard 'Rico' Sands	....	gaffer (as Richard D. Sands)
Ralph Scherer	....	dolly grip (as Ralph Andrew Scherer)
Sabrina Simmons	....	first assistant camera: second unit
D. Stevens	....	still photographer
Newton TerMeer	....	gaffer
Bobby Thomas	....	grip
Woogie Thomas	....	key grip

Casting Department
Ajay Dass	....	extras casting
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Wesley Roby	....	extras casting
Eddie Smith	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Diana Mendoza	....	costume assistant (as Diane E. Mendoza)
Paulette Orr	....	costume assistant (as Paulette R. Orr)
Solomon Wise	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Karen Dimmig	....	second assistant editor
Halldor Enard	....	second assistant editor
Joe Fineman	....	executive in charge of post-production
Stephanie Flack	....	first assistant editor
James Morioka	....	editing intern
Lynne Whitlock	....	editing intern
Chuck Winston	....	color timer

Music Department
Rob Chiarelli	....	scoring mixer
Harry Cohen	....	musician: gospel organ
Howard Drossin	....	composer: additional music
Alex Gordon	....	scoring mixer
Bonnie Greenberg	....	music supervisor
Stan Jones	....	musician: bass and guitar (as Stan 'The Guitar Man' Jones)
John La Salandra	....	music editor
Jill Meyers	....	music supervisor
E. Gedney Webb	....	music assistant
Willie Z	....	musician: keyboard

Transportation Department
Michael 'Crash' Anderson	....	driver
Richard Burch	....	driver (as Richard A. Burch)
Steven Butcher	....	driver
Adisak Em-Ochwattanna	....	driver
D.J. Gardiner	....	transportation captain
Donald E. Gardiner	....	driver
Nelson Jones	....	driver (as Nelson 'Buck' Jones)
Erin Lynn	....	driver
Donald B. Martin	....	driver (as Don Martin)
Guy Merrick	....	driver (as Gordon Merrick)
Antonio Molina	....	transportation coordinator: addtiional shooting
Herberto Osoriom	....	driver
Kip Parker	....	driver (as Clifford J. 'Kip' Parker)
Robert L. Rucker Jr.	....	driver
Griff Ruggles	....	transportation coordinator
Mark Twogood	....	driver
Danny Westerberg	....	transportation captain
Carlos Williams	....	driver

Other crew
Liz Amsden	....	contract supervisor
Alpha Barry	....	craft service
Margaret Blatner	....	production attorney
Michèle R. Boissière	....	assistant production coordinator (as Michele Boissiere)
Temre Boyd	....	production assistant
Elisa Ann Conant	....	location manager (as Elisa Coleman)
Anna Czerwatiuk	....	production assistant
René L. Dawson	....	craft service
James Deeth	....	helicopter pilot
Annmarie Deringer	....	assistant: Hughes Brothers
Gregory Dunn	....	medic
Chip Fields	....	dialogue coach
Laurence R. Franks	....	assistant production accountant
Pierre Jaboin	....	production assistant
Karen R. Jones	....	unit publicist (as Karen Jones)
Kcedar Lewis	....	assistant: Mr. Scott
Haley McLane	....	script supervisor
Brian Joseph Moore	....	safety officer
Nancy Neumann	....	welfare/studio teacher
Paul Prokop	....	production controller
David Quierolo	....	welfare/studio teacher
Eleva Singleton	....	production assistant
Travis Turner	....	technical advisor
Earl West	....	location manager
Marsha Zvonkin	....	production accountant
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic (uncredited)
Elloise Dover	....	assistant: Mr. Dutton (uncredited)
Debbie Nathanson	....	production intern (uncredited)
Andrew Wert	....	armorer (uncredited)

Thanks
Fred Williams	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema

Distributors

• Sandrew Film & Teater (1994) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (Germany)
• Black Entertainment Television (BET) (2008-) (USA) (TV)
• Criterion Film Corp. (1994) (laserdisc)
• Entertainment in Video (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Mundial Filmes (Brazil) (video)
• New Line Cinema
• New Line Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• New Line Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• New Line Home Video (1993) (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• New Line Television (2009) (worldwide) (TV)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Cherokee Studios  music recorded at

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, drug use and language

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | Iceland:16 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:R | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | USA:R (certificate #45390) (director's cut) | Australia:R | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | France:-16

Filming Locations:

7th Ave and Montclair St., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

A prison riot sequence was cut from the film in order to avoid an NC-17 rating.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Caine gets his car, the camera is reflected in a car window.

Quotes:

Grocery Store Man:I feel sorry for your mother.
O-Dog:What'd you say about my mama?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Critic: L.A. Jay (#1.9)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE

The Best Hood Film I Have Ever Seen

If you like action dramas, this is definitely the film for you. I have watched this film several times since I bought it, and I don't do that with many movies. It shows what it is really like for teenagers growing up in the ghetto.

The movie takes place in LA, where Caine, O-Dog, Sharif, and the rest of they're crew trying to grow up in the Ghetto without getting shot. It deals with everything that is happening in the world with teens in the hood: Pregnancy, Drive-by's, Drug Addiction, and many other things.

What I like about this film, is that it is exactly what it's supposed to be. It does not show people getting shot every 2 minutes and showing the kids smoking weed in every scene, because it's not like that in real life. This shows exactly how everything goes down. Nothing more, nothing less.

Check it out. You can get it at Wal-Mart for a good price.