Clerks. (1994)

Director:

Kevin Smith

Writer:

Kevin Smith (written by)

Release Date:

19 October 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Just Because They Serve You... Doesn't Mean They Like You.

Plot:

A day in the lives of two convenience clerks named Dante and Randal as they annoy customers, discuss movies, and play hockey on the store roof.

Plot Keywords:

Day | Clerk | Hockey | Video | Friend

Awards:

4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Brian O'Halloran	...	Dante Hicks
Jeff Anderson	...	Randal Graves
Marilyn Ghigliotti	...	Veronica
Lisa Spoonhauer	...	Caitlin Bree (as Lisa Spoonauer)
Jason Mewes	...	Jay
Kevin Smith	...	Silent Bob
Scott Mosier	...	Willam the Idiot Manchild / Angry Hockey-Playing Customer / Angry Mourner
Scott Schiaffo	...	Chewlies Rep
Al Berkowitz	...	Old Man
Walter Flanagan	...	Woolen Cap Smoker / Egg Man / Offended Customer / Cat-Admiring Bitter Customer (as Walt Flanagan)
Ed Hapstak	...	Sanford / Angry Mourner
Lee Bendick	...	#812 Wynarski
David Klein	...	Hunting Cap Smoking Boy / Low I.Q. Video Customer / Hubcap Searching Customer / Angry Mourner / Angry Crowd at Door
Pattijean Csik	...	Coroner
Ken Clark	...	Administer of Fine / Orderly
Donna Jeanne	...	Indecisive Video Customer
Virginia Smith	...	Caged Animal Masturbator
Betsy Broussard	...	Dental School Video Customer
Ernest O'Donnell	...	Trainer
Kimberly Loughran	...	Heather Jones
Gary Stern	...	Tabloid Reading Customer
Joe Bagnole	...	Cat-Shit-Watching Customer
John Henry Westhead	...	Olaf the Russian Metalhead
Chuck Bickel	...	Stuck in Chips Can
Leslie Hope	...	Jay's Lady Friend / Angry Crowd at Door
Connie O'Connor	...	'Happy Scrappy' Mom (as Connie O'Conner)
Vincent Pereira	...	Hockey Goalie / Engagement Savvy Customer
Ashley Pereira	...	'Happy Scrappy' Kid
Erix Infante	...	Bed-Wetting Dad / Cold Coffee Lover
Melissa Crawford	...	Video Confusion / Candy Confusion Customer / Angry Crowd at Door
Thomas Burke	...	Blue Collar Man
Dan Hapstak	...	Door Tugging Customer
Mitch Cohen	...	Leaning Against Wall / Angry Crowd at Door
Matthew Banta	...	Burner Looking for Weed
Rajiv Thapar	...	Cut-Off Customer
Mike Belicose	...	Customer with Diapers
Jane Kuritz	...	Customer with Vaseline and Rubber Gloves
Grace Smith	...	Milk Maid
Frances Cresci	...	Little Smoking Girl
Matt Crawford	...	Angry Crowd at Door
Sarla Thapar	...	Angry Crowd at Door
Brian Drinkwater	...	Hockey Player
Bob Fisler	...	Hockey Player
Derek Jaccodine	...	Hockey Player
Matthew Pereira	...	Angry Smoking Crowd
Frank Pereira	...	Angry Smoking Crowd
Carl Roth	...	Angry Smoking Crowd
Paul Finn	...	Angry Smoking Crowd
Haiku	...	Dog
Lenin's Tomb	...	Cat

Directed by
Kevin Smith

Writing credits
Kevin Smith		(written by)

Produced by
Scott Mosier	....	producer
Kevin Smith	....	producer

Cinematography by
David Klein		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Scott Mosier
Kevin Smith

Makeup Department
Leslie Hope	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Charlie McClellan	....	post-production supervisor

Sound Department
Scott Mosier	....	sound editor
Scott Mosier	....	sound mixer
Joia Speciale	....	sync fix
Brian Vancho	....	foley artist
James von Buelow	....	master sound mixer (as James Von Buelow)
James von Buelow	....	sound editor (as James Von Buelow)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ed Hapstak	....	gaffer
Ed Hapstak	....	lighting assistant
Ed Hapstak	....	photographer: production stills
David Klein	....	camera operator
Vincent Pereira	....	camera assistant: occasional
Vincent Pereira	....	grip: occasional
Rajiv Thapar	....	grip: occasional

Animation Department
Frank Gabriel	....	animator
Brad Graeber	....	animator
Samantha Inoue Harte	....	animator
Bruce Tinnin	....	animator

Editorial Department
Bobbie Thomas	....	dailies colorist

Music Department
Benji Gordon	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Tara Daust	....	continuity: occasional
Ed Hapstak	....	trouble shooter
Vincent Pereira	....	cat wrangler
John Pierson	....	czar of representation
John Sloss	....	legal eagle

Thanks
Peter Broderick	....	thanks
Walter Flanagan	....	special thanks: for a copy of 'Dark Knight Returns' (as Walt)
Geoffrey Gilmore	....	thanks (as Geoff Gilmore)
Ed Hapstak	....	special thanks: for being a little Magpie (as Ed)
Hal Hartley	....	special thanks: for leading the way
Robert Hawk	....	special thanks: for having nothing better to do on 10/3/93 (as Bob Hawk)
Tim Hill	....	thanks: the Borough of Highlands
Jim Jarmusch	....	special thanks: for leading the way
Bryan Johnson	....	special thanks: for taking nothing seriously (as Bry)
Laurence Kardish	....	thanks (as Larry Kardish)
Butch King	....	thanks (as Butch)
Marylou King	....	thanks
David Klein	....	special thanks: for all the pretty pictures (as Dave)
Traci Lapanne	....	thanks
Spike Lee	....	special thanks: for leading the way
David Linde	....	thanks
Richard Linklater	....	special thanks: for leading the way
Kimberly Loughran	....	special thanks: for Seven Years (as Kim)
Jason Mewes	....	special thanks: for being Jason
Carol Mosier	....	thanks
John Mosier	....	thanks (as John)
Kristin Mosier	....	special thanks: for patience, perseverance, and love (as Kristin)
Scott Mosier	....	special thanks: for accepting an invitation to lunch (as Scott)
Vincent Pereira	....	special thanks: for the inspiration (as Vincent)
Janet Pierson	....	thanks
John Pierson	....	special thanks: for having second thoughts (as John 'My Hero' Pierson)
Kenneth Schneider	....	thanks
Bubba Shea	....	thanks
Virginia Smith	....	special thanks: for saying "Be a Filmmaker."
Amy Taubin	....	thanks
Mark Tusk	....	special thanks: for not giving up (as Mark 'Doctor Love' Tusk)
Harvey Weinstein	....	special thanks: for an unforgettable order of potato skins

Production Companies

• View Askew Productions (presents)
• Miramax Films

Distributors

• Bac Films (1994) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (1996) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (199?) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (199?) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1995) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1996) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Arthaus Filmverleih (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Arthaus Filmverleih (2013) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Cinemussy (Spain)
• Filmfreak Distributie (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Gativideo (1995) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Nelonen (2005) (Finland) (TV)
• New Vision Films
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• SubTV (2003) (Finland) (TV)
• TV Viisi (2011) (Finland) (TV)
• UPLINK Company
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2001) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Borough of Highlands, The  thanks
• Choice Video  thanks (as Steve and Choice Video)
• Columbia Records  soundtrack album available on (as Chaos/Columbia Records)
• DC Comics  thanks (as D.C. Comics)
• Doonesbury Company, The  thanks
• Film/Video Arts  thanks (as Film Video Arts)
• First Avenue Playhouse  thanks
• Henry Hudson Regional High School  thanks (as Henry Hudson Regional)
• Jan Film Labs  thanks
• Leonardo First Aid  thanks
• Magno Sound  thanks (as Magno)
• Maysle's  thanks
• New School for Social Research  thanks (as The New School for Social Research)
• Posten's Funeral Home  thanks (as Posten's Funeral Parior)
• Pro Camera  cameras by (as Pro Camera and Lighting)
• Quick Stop Convenience  catering
• Quick Stop Convenience  thanks
• R.S.T. Video  thanks
• REI Media Group  titles by
• Residents of Leonardo, The  thanks
• Sound Hound  sound mixed at
• Sound One  thanks
• Spera Corporation  post-production equipment (as Spera Corp.)

Also Known As:

"Clerks X: Tenth Anniversary Edition" - USA (DVD title)
"cLeRKs" - USA (poster title)

MPAA:

Rated R on appeal for extensive use of extremely explicit sex-related dialogue (re-rating after appeal)

Runtime:

92 min | Turkey:87 min (TV version) | USA:102 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Mono (original Sundance cut)

Certification:

Australia:R | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Finland:K-12/9 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:III | Israel:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:Btl | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | USA:R (re-rating after appeal) | Canada:14A (Nova Scotia) (video rating) (10th anniversary edition) | Iceland:L | Singapore:M18 | USA:TV-MA (tv rating) | Australia:MA (2008 re-rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | South Africa:16 | Ireland:18 | Chile:18 | Argentina:18 | Italy:VM14 | UK:15 (video rating) (2005)

Filming Locations:

USA

Company:

View Askew Productions

Trivia:

The hat Jay is wearing while stealing the donuts during the roofer's story is a San Jose Sharks hat. The Sharks are an NHL team.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: At the end of Caitlin's confrontation with Randall, Jeff Anderson momentarily breaks character and admires Lisa Spoonhauer's butt as she walks away. (Kevin Smith points this out in the DVD/LD commentary.) However, due to Randal's sexual obessions, this action was completely in character for him.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dante Hicks:[phone rings and Dante falles out of a closet] Hello. What? No I don't work today, I'm playing hockey at two.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Scrubs: My Way Home (#5.7)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Can't Even Tell

"Clerks." - Period.

In 1994, an ambitious filmmaker named Kevin Smith was left nearly dead-broke by his commitment to his low-budget debut feature, "Clerks." Shot in black & white and filmed in and around a New Jersey convenience store, "Clerks." is genius on celluloid despite little change of scenery, wooden acting (none of the actors are professionals), and a shoe-string budget; it's also pretty damn funny. "Just because they serve you, doesn't me they like you" became an immortal tagline for one of the best independent comedies of all time, which also launched the career of its director. There's nothing PC about this debut feature, and the relentlessly explicit sex-related dialogue got the film its original certificate, the dreaded "NC-17" rating, which was later dropped down to an "R" rating on a successful appeal by the filmmakers; the characters harass their customers, leave the store during the day to tend to personal matters, and hang-out with girlfriends - not the stuff of responsible employees - and definitely NOT something you would see in any Hollywood production today. In an era rife with censorship and political-correctness, "Clerks." would undoubtedly receive the scorn and protests of the fundamental religious Right and Left. The film features Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson), two bored New Jersey convenience store employees who are both called in on a Saturday (Dante is especially upset because it's his day off) and the two break every rule in the book as they meander through the day and encounter all sorts of colorful characters. Throughout the day, Dante complains about about his girlfriend Veronica's (Marilyn Ghigliotti) sex life, Randal shirks his convenience store duties by shooting the breeze with Dante, philosophize about their daily predicaments, play hockey on the roof of the store, and observe unruly and bizarre shoppers. There's little plot but it's pure fun all the way to the ending with plenty of laughs too. But if you're the sensitive type, you should stay as far away from "Clerks." as possible, as the dialogue will certainly make you squirm in your seat. "Clerks." also contains many Smith trademarks including "Star Wars" talk, references to Spielberg movies, comic books and hockey, all qualities of which would do Smith good in his so-called "New Jersey Trilogy." P.S.: Watch out for Smith in his iconic role as Silent Bob with sidekick Jay (Jason Mewes) as they loiter outside the store and hassle customers.

10/10