The Last Seduction (1994)

Director:

John Dahl

Writer:

Steve Barancik

Release Date:

18 June 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Plot:

A devious sexpot steals her husband's drug money and hides out in a small town where she meets the perfect dupe for her next scheme.

Plot Keywords:

Money | Dupe | Lover | Cocaine | Femme Fatale

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 9 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Linda Fiorentino	...	Bridget Gregory
Bill Pullman	...	Clay Gregory
Michael Raysses	...	Phone Sales Rep.
Zack Phifer	...	Gas Station Attendant
Peter Berg	...	Mike Swale
Brien Varady	...	Chris
Dean Norris	...	Shep
Donna Wilson	...	Stacy
Mik Scriba	...	Ray
J.T. Walsh	...	Frank Griffith
Erik-Anders Nilsson	...	Beston Passerby #1
Patricia R. Caprio	...	Beston Passerby #2
Herb Mitchell	...	Bob Trotter
Bill Nunn	...	Harlan
Renee Rogers	...	Receptionist
Bill Stevenson	...	Mail Boy
Walter Addison	...	Detective
Anne Flanagan	...	Nurse
Mike Lisenco	...	Bert
Serena	...	Trish Swale
Michelle Davison	...	911 Operator
Jack Shearer	...	Public Defender

Directed by
John Dahl

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Steve Barancik

Produced by
Alysse Bezahler	....	line producer: New York (as Alysse Bezhaler)
W.M. Christopher Gorog	....	executive producer
Jonathan Shestack	....	producer
Nancy Rae Stone	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Joseph Vitarelli

Cinematography by
Jeff Jur		(as Jeffrey Jur)

Film Editing by
Eric L. Beason

Casting by
David Rubin
Debra Zane

Production Design by
Linda Pearl

Art Direction by
Dina Lipton

Set Decoration by
Kathy Lucas

Costume Design by
Terry Dresbach

Makeup Department
Karen Dahl	....	assistant hair stylist
Karen Dahl	....	assistant makeup artist
Camille Henderson	....	hair styles supervisor
Camille Henderson	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Guy J. Louthan	....	executive in charge of production
Guy J. Louthan	....	production manager
Kathryn Riccio	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eric Heffron	....	first assistant director (as Eric N. Heffron)
Mara J. Lee	....	second second assistant director
Michael J. Moore	....	second assistant director
Todd Pfeiffer	....	second assistant director: New York

Art Department
Jimmy Adams	....	lead man (as Jimmy W. Adams)
Richard Berg	....	assistant art director
Andrea Berty	....	set dresser
Andrea Berty	....	swing
Shawn Carson	....	art production assistant: New York
Carlos A. Chavez	....	painter
Peter Croyle	....	carpenter (as Peter D. Croyle)
Lisa De Alva	....	property master
Josh Ian Elliott	....	swing man (as Josh Elliott)
Lisa Gamel	....	scenic
Marc Gillson	....	painter (as Marc 'Marcos' Gillson)
Peter M. Gurski	....	lead man (as Peter Gurski)
Bruce Harris	....	carpenter
Shane Hawkins	....	carpenter
Anne F. Helmstadter	....	art department coordinator
Thierry Labbe	....	set dresser (as Thierry 'T.T.' Labbe)
David Lazan	....	swing man (as David S. Lazan)
Michael Lucas	....	swing man
Brian Markey	....	construction coordinator
Ray Maxwell	....	construction foreman
Michael McGettigan	....	carpenter
Kathleen Ann O'Loughlin	....	painter
Dena Roth	....	buyer
Chris Scher	....	painter
Mark Scher	....	carpenter
Pedro V. Suchite	....	painter (as Pedro Vinicio Suchite)
Steven C. Voll	....	foreman
Perry Welch	....	carpenter
Michael Winston	....	swing man
Carl Winter	....	carpenter
Matthew Woody	....	assistant props
Michael Zadresny	....	props assistant: New York (as Mike Zadrosny)
Steve Zimmel	....	art/construction coordinator: New York

Sound Department
James Bailey	....	foley artist (as Jim Bailey)
Keith Bilderbeck	....	sound effects editor
Lynn Bopeley	....	additional boom operator
Casey J. Crabtree	....	foley artist (as Casey Crabtree)
Patrick Cyccone Jr.	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Patrick Cyconne)
Robert L. Harman	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Robert Harmon)
Jon Johnson	....	supervising sound editor
Howard Neiman	....	supervising sound editor
Douglas Shamburger	....	boom operator (as Douglas Shamberger)
Brian Slack	....	sound consultant: Ultra Stereo
Kira Smith	....	boom operator: New York
Roger V. Stevenson	....	additional boom operator
Mark Weingarten	....	sound mixer (as Mark Deren)
J.R. Westen	....	adr foley mixer (as J.R. Weston)
Ben Wilkins	....	sound editor (as Ben Wilkens)
Dean St. John	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Dean St. John	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects coordinator (as John Hartigan)
Derek Ross Hunt	....	special smoke effects

Stunts
Eric Chambers	....	stunts
Bill Erickson	....	stunt coordinator
Glory Fioramonti	....	stunts (as Gloria Fioramonti)

Camera and Electrical Department
Elizabeth J. Annas	....	still photographer
David Ariniello	....	additional dolly grip (as David Arinello)
Patrick Barry	....	additional grip (as Patrick M. Barry)
Brian Berlin	....	grip
Anthony Lee Beverly	....	additional electrician (as Anthony Beverly)
Bart Blaise	....	second assistant camera: New York
Craig A. Brink	....	additional electrician
Regge Bulman	....	first assistant camera
David Burroughs	....	grip: New York
Richard M. Butkus Jr.	....	electrician
Anthony Caldwell	....	additional dolly grip (as Tony Caldwell)
Jon Caradies	....	dolly grip
Alan Colbert	....	additional electrician
Pat Donovan	....	grip: New York (as Donovan Patrick)
Lee A. Dublin	....	additional first assistant camera
Larry Edwards	....	additional electrician (as Larry Edwards Jr.)
Nelson Elwell	....	additional grip
David Flanigan	....	third assistant camera: New York (as Dave Flanigan)
Alan Frazier	....	electrician (as Alan Fraizer)
Beth Jana Friedberg	....	additional camera operator (as Beth-Jana Friedberg)
Allan Goodnoff	....	best boy electric (as Alan I. Goodnoff)
Austin Goss	....	gaffer (as Austin W. Goss)
Michael Grady	....	grip
Xavier Henselman	....	best boy grip: New York (as Xavier Hanselmann)
Piotr Jagninski	....	electrician: New York (as Piotr 'Ski' Jagninski)
Chris Kaelin	....	additional electrician
Michael Lyon	....	additional electrician
Billy Mears	....	additional dolly grip
Scott Middleton	....	second assistant camera (as Scott R. Middleton)
Jonathan Mintz	....	electrician: New York
Jerry Patton	....	camera loader
Peter Pearce	....	additional grip
Alfonso Pelayo	....	grip
Storn Peterson	....	first assistant camera: New York
Linda Phillips	....	third electric: New York
John Prenatt	....	additional grip
Robert Schierer	....	additional camera loader
Val Schubert	....	additional grip (as Valentin P. Schubert)
Roger Schweitzer	....	24 frame video operator
Robert J. Studenny	....	key grip
Brian Sullivan	....	camera operator
Claire Sutherland	....	additional second assistant camera
Antonio Tatum	....	best boy electric: New York
Randolph J. Verdigo	....	additional grip (as Randolph J. Verdugo)
Scott Webb	....	best boy electric
Paul Wilkowsky	....	additional grip

Casting Department
Dennis Hansen	....	extras casting
Amy Taksen	....	casting assistant (as Amy Tasken)
Cyd Yoshizawa	....	extras casting: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda S. Cormany	....	assistant wardrobe (as Linda Cormany)
Susan Michalek	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Linda A. Borgeson	....	director of post-production
Louis F. Cioffi	....	associate editor
Christine Griswold	....	post-production coordinator
Ron Radvinsky	....	apprentice editor
Paul Schramm	....	apprentice editor
Nicole Schubert	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Bradford Ellis	....	music mixer
Bradford Ellis	....	music recordist
Jennifer Pyken	....	music supervisor
Karyn Rachtman	....	music supervisor
Mary Ramos	....	music coordinator: Mind Your Music
Allan K. Rosen	....	music editor
Nicholas Viterelli	....	music mixer (as Nick Viterelli)
Nicholas Viterelli	....	music recordist (as Nick Viterelli)
Patty von Arx	....	music editor
Gary Wasserman	....	assistant music editor

Transportation Department
Stephen Brown	....	driver
Rodney Chapman	....	driver (as Rodney 'Snake' Chapman)
Juan Gonzalez	....	driver
Jeff Hubacek	....	driver (as Jeffrey Hubacek)
Chuck Kingos	....	transportation co-captain
James Lowder	....	driver (as Jim Lowder)
Steve May	....	driver
Jim Morange	....	transportation coordinator (as James C. Morange)
Jose Reynoso	....	driver (as Jose 'Little Joe' Reynoso)
Danny Stewart	....	driver: New York
Barry J. White	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Amy H. Abrams	....	additional office production assistant
David Babcock	....	teamster captain: New York
Ronald Arthur Baker	....	chef: Michaelson Food Service Inc.
Jane Barrer	....	location manager: New York
Helen Beadleston	....	location assistant: New York
Benu Bhandari	....	script supervisor
Howard Brandy	....	unit publicist
Amy DiPrima	....	production assistant: New York (as Amy Di Prima)
Maureen Duffy	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Debbie Eaton	....	key set production assistant: New York
Mario Escobar	....	assistant chef: Michaelson Food Service Inc.
Lis Fields	....	assistant to director
Bill Foley	....	production stills: New York (as William R. Foley)
Kelli Georgelos	....	craft service
Dedra Glasser	....	craft service: New York
Meredith Hight	....	production accountant
Todd Hilyard	....	office production assistant
Julia Holmes	....	unit publicist
Kevin Hyman	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Alex James	....	set production assistant: New York
Lisa Janowski	....	set production assistant: New York
Dan Jbara	....	electronic press kit
Stacy Kramer	....	executive in charge of development
Toni Maier	....	location manager
Maeve Mannion	....	assistant production accountant
Jamie Megan Mascena	....	assistant production coordinator
Ralph Merzbach	....	computer playback operator
Mary Montiforte	....	post-production accountant (as Mary Werwage-Montiforte)
Sam Montiforte	....	post-production accountant
Nelson O. Noguera	....	chef: Michaelson Food Service Inc. (as Nelson O. Noquero Jr.)
Benjamin Padilla	....	assistant chef: Michaelson Food Service Inc.
Jahmani Perry	....	set production assistant (as John 'Jahmani' Perry)
Louis Puopolo	....	location scout (as Louis A. Puopolo II)
Livia Pérez-Borrero	....	production coordinator: New York (as Livia Perez-Borrero)
Thomas Rhoads	....	production assistant
Dale Roy Robinson	....	production coordinator
Carlos Rodríguez	....	assistant chef: Michaelson Food Service Inc. (as Carlos Rodriguez)
Albert G. Ruben	....	insurance
Marcia Rutledge	....	insurance
Marla D. Saltzer	....	office runner
Elizabeth Scheflow	....	location manager: New York
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator
Scott Shiffman	....	supervising auditor
Billy Smith	....	key assistant location manager (as Bill Smith)
W. Ed Stephenson	....	set production assistant: New York
David Stonehill	....	production assistant: New York
Basti Van Der Woude	....	key set production assistant
Bill Walker	....	additional production accountant
Kurt Woolner	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Pascal Launay	....	press attache: France (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Distributors

• October Films (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• AFMD (1995) (France) (theatrical)
• Alta Films (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• ELKE (1995) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Falcon (1995) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Alpha Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Aquarius TV (2005) (Greece) (DVD)
• Barnholtz Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Capelight Pictures (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Divisa Home Video (2011) (Spain) (DVD)
• Finnkino (1994) (Finland) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1997) (Finland) (TV)
• Nelonen (2008) (2009) (Finland) (TV)
• RCV Home Entertainment (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2002) (Finland) (DVD)
• SubTV (2002) (Finland) (TV)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2001) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Fury & Grace Digital  sound design
• Michelson Food Services  catering (as Michelson's Food Service)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and language, and for violence

Runtime:

110 min | USA:129 min (extended version)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Portugal:M/16 | New Zealand:R16 | Sweden:15 (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Germany:16 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Irvington, New York, USA

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Trivia:

At one point, Bridget gives her name as "Mrs. Neff." This is a reference to Double Indemnity (1944).

Goofs:

Continuity: The ruffled look of Bridget's hair throughout her love scene with Mike is inconsistent.

Quotes:

Mike Swale:Grow up.
Chris:What? Did you leave your dick in Buffalo?
Mike Swale:Chris, these women are anchors.
Chris:Here he goes again.
Mike Swale:How many guys in this bar have felt her up?
Chris:All of them.
Mike Swale:Right. And how many have gone home with her, how many guys have slept with her?
Chris:None, including yourself.
Mike Swale:Right, I rest my case.
Chris:Don't rest it too long, 'cause I promise you it will fall off.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: Villains: So Bad, They're Good" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Groove Me

Linda Fiorentino is a real star

Director John Dahl's stylish film noir `Red Rock West' couldn't find a distributor, played on cable television and then was picked up by a San Francisco moviehouse where it set attendance records. If you think its subsequent success taught Hollywood suits anything, you just aren't cut out for the movie business.

With an even better script by Steve Barancik, Dahl found the ideal lead to play the very fatale femme of `The Last Seduction.' Linda Fiorentino, someone else who hasn't been well served by Hollywood, gave one of the great performances of the 1990s as Bridget/Wendy. Her no-holds-barred potrayal perfectly matched Barancik's uncompromising writing. Fiorentino deserved an Oscar, but didn't qualify because this film also went straight to cable before finding a distributor and becoming a hit.

Limited resources can focus the mind. Dahl isn't the most sweepingly visual of directors, but he can provide the occasional arresting scene. With a small but outstanding cast of what were then B-list actors, everyday settings and a tiny budget, the director kept `The Last Seduction' focused on the basics needed to make this genre work.

Without revealing too much of the plot, Bridget is on the lam after stealing $700,000 in drug proceeds from her sleazy, abusive husband, well played by Bill Pullman just before he became a good-guy leading man. The late great J.T. Walsh is smooth as a silk suit as Bridget's attorney, who appreciates a cold-hearted bitch. Bill Nunn does yeoman work as the detective on her trail.

But the key to this sort of black widow movie is a willing sap, and Peter Berg makes one of the best. A lean slice of beecake, he's back in his small town after a disastrous fling in the big city, that is, Buffalo. He's looking to get out again, and when Bridget breezes into the local shot-and-beer joint with her `city trash' attitude, he's done for.

As another reviewer chooses to emphasize, with her skinny legs and barely pubescent, pancake-flat chest Linda Fiorentino is the scrawniest femme fatale in the history of film noir. But that just makes her and her character's progress more amusing. Like Bridget, Fiorentino gets over on attitude more than pulchritude.

While Fiorentino's physique won't make women viewers jealous, many respond enthusiastically to the sex scene where Bridget rides Berg's Mike against a fence behind the bar. In fact, there's hardly a standard bedroom scene: most of the sex is of the right-now kind. And while both seem to enjoy themselves a lot, Bridget is clearly in control, emotionally and physically.

In recent years, we've gotten used to zaftig super-women like Xena throwing men around. But perhaps not since the heyday of Diana Rigg on `The Avengers' has there been a thin, flat-chested woman who dominates males like Linda Fiorentino takes care of business here. Bridget certainly isn't a role model, but her enthusiasm for her work is infectious.

This movie also has the courage of its convictions. If it seems amoral, well just about every Arnold Schwartzenegger movie celebrates massive killing by so-called `good guys.' The only difference between this movie and Hollywood's standard murderous agit-prop is that `The Last Seduction' has a brain.

Unfortunately, great work doesn't always bring great rewards. Fiorentino was good in Kevin Smith's ramshackle low-budget `Dogma,' only to be dissed by the director. She was one of the best elements of the equally ramshackle but costly `Men in Black,' only to be booted from the sequel for more compliant girls. (In Hollywood's homoerotic subtext, `buddy movie' means no women allowed.)

Fiorentino did hook up aagin with John Dahl in the highly forgettable `Unforgettable,' weighed down by a bigger budget, second-rate script and Ray Liotta. Both the director and his leading lady are still in play, though, so we can hope they will find other siutations worthy of their talents. And if not, Linda Fiorentino makes `The Last Seduction' unforgettable.