Dead Man Walking (1995)

Director:

Tim Robbins

Writers (WGA):

Helen Prejean (book)
Tim Robbins (written by)

Release Date:

12 January 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

A nun, while comforting a convicted killer on death row, empathizes with both the killer and his victim's families.

Plot Keywords:

Nun | Death Row | Murder | Empathy | Repentance

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 19 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Susan Sarandon	...	Sister Helen Prejean
Sean Penn	...	Matthew Poncelet
Robert Prosky	...	Hilton Barber
Raymond J. Barry	...	Earl Delacroix
R. Lee Ermey	...	Clyde Percy
Celia Weston	...	Mary Beth Percy
Lois Smith	...	Helen's mother
Scott Wilson	...	Chaplain Farlely
Roberta Maxwell	...	Lucille Poncelet
Margo Martindale	...	Sister Colleen
Barton Heyman	...	Capt. Beliveau
Steve Boles	...	Sgt. Neal Trapp
Nesbitt Blaisdell	...	Warden Hartman
Ray Aranha	...	Luis Montoya
Larry Pine	...	Guy Gilardi
Gil Robbins	...	Bishop Norwich
Kevin Cooney	...	Gov. Benedict
Clancy Brown	...	State trooper
Adele Robbins	...	Prison nurse
Michael Cullen	...	Carl Vitello
Peter Sarsgaard	...	Walter Delacroix
Missy Yager	...	Hope Percy
Jenny Krochmal	...	Emily Percy
Jack Black	...	Craig Poncelet
Jon Abrahams	...	Sonny Poncelet
Arthur Bridgers	...	Troy Poncelet
Steve Carlisle	...	Helen's brother
Helen Hester	...	Helen's sister
Eva Amurri	...	Helen (9 years old)
Jack Henry Robbins	...	Opossum kid #1
Gary 'Buddy' Boe	...	Opossum kid #2
Amy Long	...	Opossum kid #3
Dennis F. Neal	...	Henry
Molly Bryant	...	Nellie
Pamela Garmon	...	Mirabeau
Adrian Colon	...	Reporter
John D. Wilmot	...	Supporter
Margaret Lane	...	Reporter #1
Sally Ann Roberts	...	Reporter #2
Alec Gifford	...	Reporter #3
John Hurlbutt	...	Reporter #4
Mike Longman	...	News anchor
Pete Burris	...	Parent #1
Joan Glover	...	Parent #2
Florrie Hathorn	...	Parent #3
Lenore Banks	...	Parent #4
Idella Cassamier	...	Idella
Marlon Horton	...	Herbie
Kenitra Singleton	...	Kenitra
Palmer Jackson	...	Palmer
Johnathan Thomas	...	Johnathan
Walter Breaux Jr.	...	Guard #1
Scott Sowers	...	Guard #2
Cortez Nance Jr.	...	Guard #3
Adam Nelson	...	Guard #4
Dalvin Ford	...	Guard #5
Derek Steeley	...	Guard #6
Jeremy Knaster	...	Guard #7
Mary Robbins	...	Aide to Gov. Benedict
Miles Robbins	...	Boy in church
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marcus Lyle Brown	...	Parole Board Member (uncredited)
Joanna Doherty	...	Nun (uncredited)
Anthony Michael Frederick	...	Trustee (uncredited)
Rawleigh Moreland	...	La. Senator (uncredited)
Helen Prejean	...	Woman at vigil (uncredited)
Codie Scott	...	Cop (uncredited)

Directed by
Tim Robbins

Writing credits (WGA)
Helen Prejean		(book "Dead Man Walking") (as Sister Helen Prejean C.S.J.)
Tim Robbins		(written by)

Produced by
Tim Bevan	....	executive producer
Eric Fellner	....	executive producer
Jon Kilik	....	producer
Allan F. Nicholls	....	associate producer (as Allan Nicholls)
Tim Robbins	....	producer
Mark Seldis	....	associate producer
Rudd Simmons	....	producer
Bob White	....	associate producer

Original Music by
David Robbins

Cinematography by
Roger Deakins		(as Roger A. Deakins)

Film Editing by
Lisa Zeno Churgin
Ray Hubley

Casting by
Douglas Aibel

Production Design by
Richard Hoover

Art Direction by
Tom Warren

Costume Design by
Renee Ehrlich Kalfus		(as Renée Ehrlich Kalfus)

Makeup Department
Michal Bigger	....	key makeup artist
Marilyn Carbone	....	makeup designer: Ms. Sarandon
Allison Gordin	....	assistant makeup artist: New Orleans
Michael Kriston	....	hair stylist: Mr. Penn
Aaron F. Quarles	....	key hair stylist
Lizz Scalice	....	additional hair stylist: New York
Donna Spahn	....	assistant hair stylist: New Orleans
Stacy Kelly	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Nancy Kriegel	....	production supervisor
Rudd Simmons	....	unit production manager
Graham Stumpf	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sam Hoffman	....	second assistant director
Patrick Mangan	....	DGA trainee: New York
Allan F. Nicholls	....	first assistant director (as Allan Nicholls)
Ann C. Salzer	....	second second assistant director: New Orleans

Art Department
Christie Alexander	....	art department coordinator: New Orleans
Lawrence Amanuel	....	set dresser: New York (as Larry Amanuel)
Lucian Baran	....	scenic artist: New York
Martin Bernstein	....	construction coordinator: New York
Jack Blanchard	....	set dresser: New Orleans
Michael Curry Sr.	....	construction foreman: New York
Glen Engels	....	construction grip: New York
Ralph Fratianni	....	construction grip: New York
Laurie Friedman	....	set decorator: New York
Charles H. Furey	....	shop craftsman: New York (as Charles Furey)
Harvey Goldberg	....	set dresser: New York
Ken Hardy	....	art director: New Orleans
John Herbert	....	scenic artist: New Orleans
Eugene J. Hines	....	shop craftsman: New York
Coril Joseph	....	property assistant: New Orleans
Richard S. Kamin	....	shop craftsman: New York
Henry Kaplan	....	set dresser: New York
Brian Kasch	....	set decorator: New Orleans (as Brian S. Kasch)
Phillis Lehmer	....	art department coordinator: New York
E.J. Levron Jr.	....	set dresser: New Orleans
Mark Mann	....	shop craftsman
Michael S. Martin	....	on-set dresser: New Orleans (as Michael Martin)
Malcolm McClay	....	scenic artist: New Orleans
Patrick McGuire	....	lead man: New Orleans
Eric M. Metzger	....	set dresser
Timothy Metzger	....	lead man: New York
Morgan Miller	....	set dressing production assistant: New Orleans
Arne Olsen	....	key construction grip: New York
Nick Rippon	....	construction coordinator: New Orleans
Chinyere Ryan	....	scenic shop coordinator: New York
Joanne Schmidt	....	assistant set decorator: New Orleans
James Sorice	....	lead scenic: New York
Larry Spurlock	....	lead scenic: New Orleans
Shawna Starkman	....	art department production assistant: New Orleans
David Stein	....	assistant art director: New York
George 'Chuck' Stringer III	....	lead carpenter: New Orleans
Margot Therre	....	scenic artist: New York
Kevin A. Tonkin	....	construction grip: New York
Mary Wigmore	....	art department production assistant: New York
Greg Williams	....	scenic artist: New York
John S. Wright	....	carpenter: New Orleans
Thomas Wright	....	property master (as Tom Wright)
Travis Wright	....	assistant property master
Jacqueline Arnot	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Michael Hendrick	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Brick Mason	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Scott P. Murphy	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Chuck Stringer	....	construction foreman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary Chester	....	sound mixing engineer
Gary Chester	....	sound recording engineer
Anthony J. Ciccolini III	....	dialogue editor (as Anthony 'Chic' Ciccolini III)
Rick Dior	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott Dior	....	sound recordist
Bradford L. Hohle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Joel Holland	....	sound recordist
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer (as George Lara)
Hal Levinsohn	....	adr editor
Tod A. Maitland	....	sound mixer
James Murray	....	second assistant sound recording engineer (as Jim Murray)
Yvette Nabel	....	assistant sound editor
Bob Olari	....	sound recordist
T.J. O'Mara	....	boom operator
Daniel Pagan	....	apprentice sound editor
Harry Peck Bolles	....	dialogue editor
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer: Los Angeles
Dan Sable	....	supervising sound editor
Lynn Sable	....	sound editor
Brian Vancho	....	foley walker (as Bryan Vancho)
Yvonne Yedibalian	....	assistant sound recording engineer
Paul J. Zydel	....	adr mixer: New York (as Paul Zydel)

Camera and Electrical Department
Greg Addison	....	electrician: New York
Tony Arnaud	....	grip: New York
Robin Brown	....	camera operator
Sal Camacho	....	second assistant camera: New Orleans
Brian Carmichael	....	video playback operator
Buddy Carr	....	grip: New Orleans
Cougar Easley	....	electrician: New Orleans
Kris Enos	....	camera trainee: New York
Richie Ford	....	rigging gaffer: New York
Adam Gilmore	....	second assistant camera
Jonathan Graham	....	rigging grip: New York
Joseph Grimaldi	....	electrician: New York (as Joe Grimaldi)
Bruce Hamme	....	dolly grip
Andy Harris	....	first assistant camera
Jeremy Knaster	....	second electric
Mitchell Andrew Lillian	....	key grip (as Mitch Lillian)
Charlie Marroquin	....	best boy grip (as Charles Marroquin)
Gary Martone	....	grip: New York
Bill McCord	....	grip (as Dollar Bill McCord)
Erskin Mitchell	....	electrician: New Orleans
Monique Mitchell	....	grip: New York
William Moore	....	best boy electric
Bill O'Leary	....	gaffer
Chris Robertson	....	grip: New Orleans
Lance Shepherd	....	electrician: New York (as Lance A. Shepherd)
Michael L. Smith	....	electrician: New Orleans (as Mike Smith)
Demmie Todd	....	still photographer
Val Zimmer	....	grip: New Orleans
John B. Pekkanen	....	grip (uncredited)
Abe Schrager	....	camera operator: New York (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jordan Beswick	....	casting assistant
Vicki Cosentino	....	extras casting: New York
Rebecca Gibson	....	casting assistant: New Orleans
Tracy Kilpatrick	....	local extras casting: New Orleans
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kim Marie Druce	....	assistant costume designer
Alix Hester	....	wardrobe production assistant: New York
Bonney Langfitt	....	additional wardrobe: New Orleans
Gina Lombardino	....	assistant wardrobe
Jeanne Normand	....	assistant wardrobe
Hartsell Taylor	....	wardrobe supervisor
Peter White	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Julie Daggett	....	editing production assistant: New Orleans
Barry Gastelu	....	post-production intern
Agnes Grandits	....	second assistant editor (as Agnès Challe-Grandits)
Allison R. Hebble	....	post-production assistant: Tim Robbins
Kristen M. Johnson	....	assistant editor (as Kristen Johnson)
Clare Larson	....	first assistant editor
Chris Lechler	....	apprentice editor: New Orleans
Sandra Nash	....	apprentice editor
Eddie Nichols	....	apprentice editor
James Nichols Jr.	....	apprentice editor
Anne O'Brien	....	apprentice editor
Angela Organ	....	apprentice editor
Tom Salvatore	....	color timer
Shawna Starkman	....	assistant editor
Chris Talbott	....	post-production assistant
Michael J. Wechsler	....	apprentice editor
Mary Wigmore	....	post-production assistant
Sara Corrigan	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan	....	musician: harmonium and vocals
John Beal	....	musician: bass
David Richard Campbell	....	orchestrator (as David Campbell)
Frank Centeno	....	musician: bass guitar
Mino Cinélu	....	musician: percussion, wood flute and accordion
Ry Cooder	....	music producer: songs
Ry Cooder	....	musician: additional guitar
Joel Diamond	....	musician: hammond organ
David Düsing	....	choral contractor
Seamus Egan	....	musician: uilleann pipes and bouzoki
Norwood Fisher	....	musician: bass guitar
Phillip Fisher	....	musician: drums
Eric Friedlander	....	musician: violincello
Juliet Haffner	....	orchestral contractor
Juliet Hafner	....	musician: viola
Dildar Hussain	....	musician: tabla
Julianne Jordan	....	music project manager (as Julianne Kelley)
David Klotz	....	music assistant
Gale Limansky	....	soloist
Richard Locker	....	musician: violincello
Jill Meyers	....	music business affairs
Alison Miner	....	music consultant: New Orleans
Eugene J. Moye	....	musician: violincello (as Eugene Moye)
Patrick Mullins	....	music editor
Annie Ohayon	....	music consultant: New York
Frankie Pine	....	music licensing manager
Susan Pray	....	musician: viola
David Ratajczak	....	musician: drums
David Robbins	....	music supervisor
David Robbins	....	musician: electric and acoustic guitars
Gil Robbins	....	choral arrangement
Gil Robbins	....	conductor
Ira Selsky	....	music business affairs
Dawn Soler	....	executive in charge of music (as Dawn Solér)
David Spinozza	....	additional musician: guitar
Georgi Sviridov	....	composer: song "Sacred Love"
John Vartan	....	musician: oud, kementci and tambour
Ron Wasserman	....	musician: bass
Frederic Zlotkin	....	musician: violincello

Transportation Department
Pete Aquino	....	driver: New York (as Peter Aquino)
Elven Barrow	....	driver: New Orleans
William B. Borges	....	driver: New Orleans (as Bill Borges)
Edward Brumfield	....	driver: New Orleans
Greg Collins	....	driver: New Orleans
Jerry Everett	....	transportation coordinator: New Orleans
John Fitzpatrick	....	driver: New York
Charlie Franklin	....	driver: New Orleans
Huey Grey	....	driver: New Orleans
Davis Hawn	....	driver: New Orleans
Jimmy Humphreys	....	driver: New Orleans
Earl R. Hurst Sr.	....	driver: New Orleans (as Earl Hurst)
Loney Landry	....	driver: New Orleans
David McMiller	....	driver: New Orleans
Poland Perkins	....	driver: New Orleans
Al Sens	....	transportation captain: New Orleans
Phillip L. Tomalin Jr.	....	driver: New Orleans (as Phil Tomalin)
Chip Vincent	....	driver: New Orleans
Louis Volpe	....	transportation captain: New York (as Louis 'Sonny' Volpe)
Ralph Volpe	....	driver: New York
James Patrick Whalen Jr.	....	driver: New York (as James 'Dinny' Whalen)
Bobby Williamson	....	driver: New Orleans

Other crew
Eva Amurri	....	adr loop group
Sallie Jones Arata	....	assistant production coordinator: New Orleans
Lee Arenberg	....	adr loop group
Scott August	....	set production assistant: New Orleans
Marcus Barben	....	assistant chef: New Orleans
Ned Bellamy	....	adr loop group
Debbie Berins	....	office personal assistant: New Orleans
Susie Blanchard	....	set medic: New Orleans
Brian Brophy	....	adr loop group
Molly Bryant	....	adr loop group
Eva Z. Cabrera	....	script supervisor
David Carmel	....	assistant: Tim Robbins
Cynthia Carriere	....	location production assistant: New Orleans
Greg Cattano	....	security production assistant: New York
Kayla Chaillot	....	craft service: New Orleans
Liza Chasin	....	president of development and production: Working Title
Holly Cherry	....	assistant: Sean Penn
Rashid Chinchanwala	....	head of finance: Working Title
Kay Collyer	....	legal service
Adrian Colon	....	set production assistant: New Orleans
Pierce Cravens	....	adr loop group
Christine Donatelli	....	set production assistant: New Orleans
Howard Fabrick	....	legal service
Jeremy Fader	....	office personal assistant: New York
Abby Fender	....	adr loop group
David 'Flip' Filippi	....	set production assistant: New York
Jeff Foster	....	adr loop group
Brad Fox	....	tattoo artwork performer
Jane Frazer	....	head of production: Working Title
Bonnie Friedman	....	production secretary: New Orleans
Lisa Gaede	....	set production assistant: New York
Kyle Gass	....	adr loop group
Shelley Geiler	....	assistant to producers
Chris Gilmer	....	key set production assistant
Michele Giordano	....	production coordinator (as Michelle Giordano)
Jill Goldstein	....	legal service
Oliver Goodenough	....	legal service
Brad 'Mo' Gremillion	....	chef: New Orleans
Joe Grimm	....	adr loop group
Dana A. Hanby	....	assistant location manager: New Orleans
Nancy Hartmann	....	intern: New Orleans
Gretchen Hatz	....	office personal assistant: New York
Gerry Hawkins	....	title designer
Hillary Hawkins	....	adr loop group
Allison R. Hebble	....	assistant: Susan Sarandon
Barbara Heller	....	location manager: New Orleans
Dionna Hickman	....	adr loop group
Billy Hinshelwood	....	legal service
Aldis Hodge	....	adr loop group
Edwin Hodge	....	adr loop group
Rachel Holroyd	....	legal advisor: Working Title
Lys Hopper	....	location coordinator: New York
Elston Howard	....	assistant location manager: New Orleans
Delroy Hunter	....	parking coordinator: New York
Ron James	....	assistant: David Robbins
Steven Josephs	....	assistant chef: New Orleans
Cole Kazdin	....	intern: New York (as Nicole Kazdin)
Candice Kersh	....	legal service
Genevieve King	....	intern: New Orleans
Israel Larios	....	craft service: New York
Melissa Logan	....	accounting assistant: New York
Joseph Lombardi	....	accounting assistant: New York (as Joe Lombardi)
M.J. Magbanua	....	assistant production coordinator: New York
Jill Meyers	....	legal affairs
Gary Miller	....	chef: New Orleans
Tim Monich	....	dialect coach
Anthony Monteforte	....	craft service: New York
Katherine Ann Moore	....	publicist: New Orleans (as Katherine Moore)
Angela Morrison	....	head of business affairs: Working Title
Tricia Parks	....	adr loop group
Victoria Person	....	office personal assistant: New Orleans
Dina Platias	....	adr loop group
Steve Porter	....	adr loop group
Brian Powell	....	adr loop group
Helen Prejean	....	consultant (as Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J.)
Jason Clark Ramsey	....	production secretary: New York
Michael Remacle	....	office personal assistant: New York
Kathleen Richter	....	assistant production accountant: New Orleans
Adele Robbins	....	adr loop group
Jack Henry Robbins	....	adr loop group
Dean Robinson	....	adr loop group
James Roque	....	set production assistant (as James Roque Jr.)
Ben Rothman	....	adr loop group
Albert G. Ruben	....	insurance
Joe Russo	....	office personal assistant: New Orleans
Peter Schön	....	assistant production coordinator: New York (as Peter Schon)
Carla M. Schorr	....	assistant production accountant: New York
Ira Selsky	....	legal affairs
Patrick Sheedy	....	post-production accountant
Mindy Sheldon	....	production accountant: New York
Ron Terry	....	craft service: New Orleans
Patti Tippo	....	adr loop group
Cari Dean Whittemore	....	adr loop group
Robb Williams	....	assistant sound mixing engineer
Anne Wilson	....	production accountant: New Orleans (as Anne Moosman)
Dawn Wolf	....	craft service: New York
Eric David Zoback	....	stage manager: New York
Shirley Davis	....	assistant production coordinator: New York (uncredited)
Nicole DuBois	....	body double: Missy Yager (uncredited)

Thanks
Simone Abkarian	....	special thanks
Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan	....	thanks (as The Ali Khan Family)
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan	....	thanks (as The Ali Khan Family)
Rahat Ali Khan	....	thanks (as The Ali Khan Family)
Barry Ancelet	....	special thanks
Jason Barry	....	special thanks
Thelma Bledsoe	....	dedicatee
Brigid Boden	....	special thanks
Sharon Boyle	....	special thanks
Clancy Brown	....	special thanks
Burl Cain	....	special thanks
Kimberly M. Carbo	....	special thanks
Gayle Carpenter	....	special thanks
Sam Caruso	....	special thanks
Steve Castellano	....	special thanks
Sam Cohn	....	special thanks
Ry Cooder	....	special thanks
Cindy Cook	....	special thanks
Maureen Crowe	....	special thanks
David Daugherty	....	special thanks
Rashid Ahmed Din	....	special thanks
Arlene Donovan	....	special thanks
Deana Elwell	....	special thanks
O.P. Donald Everard	....	special thanks
Rick Finkelstein	....	special thanks
Sister Lillian Flavin	....	special thanks
Peter Gabriel	....	special thanks
Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas	....	special thanks
Peter D. Graves	....	special thanks (as Peter Graves)
Samantha Hart	....	special thanks
Nadine Hasan	....	special thanks
Ken Hertz	....	special thanks
Hyatt Hood	....	special thanks
Elton Jones	....	special thanks
Malcolm Joseph	....	special thanks
Dr. Katz	....	special thanks
Michael Kelly	....	special thanks
Erin Kovel	....	special thanks
Michael Kuhn	....	special thanks
Barry Levine	....	special thanks
Sister Margaret Maggio	....	special thanks
Norik Manoukian	....	special thanks
R. Dwayne McFatter	....	special thanks
Tom Mikkelsen	....	special thanks
Marc H. Morial	....	special thanks
Grant Morris	....	special thanks
Aline Perry	....	special thanks
Pliny Porter	....	special thanks
Kieran Alexander Presley	....	special thanks
Malcolm Ritchie	....	special thanks
Chelsea Robbins	....	special thanks
Gabrielle Robbins	....	special thanks
Lee Robbins	....	dedicatee
Thiery Robbins	....	special thanks
Julia Roberts	....	special thanks
Michael Sartisky	....	special thanks
Russell Schwartz	....	special thanks
Patti Scialfa	....	special thanks
Marjolaine Sebagh	....	special thanks
Jody Silverman	....	special thanks
Jack Snyder	....	special thanks
Bruce Springsteen	....	special thanks
Roger Stein	....	special thanks
Stewart Till	....	special thanks
Nicole Vaudry	....	special thanks
Eddie Vedder	....	special thanks
Keith Villere	....	special thanks
Bart Walker	....	special thanks
Suzanne Weinert	....	special thanks
Mark Wolfe	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Havoc
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment
• Working Title Films

Distributors

• Gramercy Pictures (I) (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1996) (Finland) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Film Distribution (1996) (France) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1996) (Finland) (VHS)
• Pinema (1996) (Turkey) (all media)
• PolyGram Video (1996) (USA) (laserdisc)
• PolyGram Video (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• PolyGram Video (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Nelonen (1999) (Finland) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Nelonen (2001) (Finland) (TV)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1999) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Finnkino (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Herald Film Company (????) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Líder Films (????) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Distribution (1996) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• REP Distribution (????) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sogepaq Distribución (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1996) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1996) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Vitória Filmes (????) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Ascot Video (????) (Germany) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Gativideo (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Rizzoli Corriere della Sera Home Video (RCS) (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• SF Video (1996) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Top Tape (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (rental)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)

Other Companies

• Axium Entertainment Group  payroll services
• Boston Light & Sound  dailies projection
• Columbia Records  soundtrack
• Hastings Sound Editorial  sound editorial services
• Hollywood Rental Company  lighting equipment
• International Film Guarantors  completion guaranty
• J.G. Films  negative cutting
• Juniper Post  music
• Location Catering Service  catering: New Orleans
• Matthews Group  lighting equipment
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• Nancy Seltzer & Associates  publicity
• National Recording Studios  score recording
• New Orleans Film Commission, The  film commission
• Pacific Title Digital  digital film services
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Sony Music Studios  score mixed at
• Temptu  temporary tattoos

MPAA:

Rated R for a depiction of a rape and murder.

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #34133) | Iceland:16 | Philippines:PG-13 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Angola, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Havoc

Trivia:

After being told that she would be played in the film by "a famous actress from Thelma & Louise (1991)", Sister Helen Prejean was introduced to Susan Sarandon and said "Thank God, she's Louise."

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Sister Helen is talking to Hilton Barber outside the court house just after the first clemency hearing, he calls her "Susan" instead of "Helen".

Quotes:

Matthew: Thank you for loving me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Overnight (2003)

Soundtrack:

In Your Mind

Watershed

I haven't seen many films that really, truly made me rethink a long-held position or opinion on a thorny issue, but "Dead Man Walking" is one of them.

I read Sr. Helen Prejean's book, upon which this film was based, when it first came out in 1993. At that time I was utterly supportive of capital punishment -- to quote the script, I felt anyone who committed crimes horrible enough to land them on Death Row was an "expendable human being, suckin' up tax dollars." I also had personal experience with the issue when an entire family whom I knew in my childhood were slaughtered by a man who is now on Death Row for his crimes.

As you might imagine, I was disgusted with Sr. Helen's book. I thought that trotting to death row and holding the hand of some scumbag who'd killed innocent people was about the lowest thing anyone could do, and as a Catholic I was offended by the seeming hypocrisy of it.

Because I had disliked the book, I never saw the film until about two weeks ago, when I bought a remaindered copy of it in a video store. I have watched it four times since then, mostly because I am trying to work out my feelings on it. I am still a supporter of capital punishment, but it's going to be less easy for me to ignore the fact that (to quote again), "There's nobody with money on Death Row" -- and quite a few more blacks, now that I think of it, AND the fact that, like Matthew Poncelet's character, the men who are being executed are human beings who have feelings and fears. It's easy to jeer at Matthew on the day before his execution, fretting nervously about whether the lethal injection will "hurt," like a little boy at the doctor's office for a penicillin shot, since his victims' last moments certainly "hurt." What isn't easy is to realize that while the victims of these inmates didn't know they were about to die until it was too late, the inmates themselves have what seems like a blessing at first, but upon deeper examination is the greatest curse: knowing the exact hour and day they will die, and having to face it day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.

I'm sorry if this review offends people who are sincere death penalty supporters. I still consider myself to be one, but my thinking has been reformed somewhat and I'm more ready to listen to the opponents and try to make compromises; maybe that's what this issue needs more than anything. I will say finally that ONE part of this film did offend me as a Catholic: the symbolic "crucifixion" of Poncelet during the "last words" scene. That was the one place where Robbins strayed from his even-handed approach to the issue -- the only one I could find.

In all, this was a fine film that made me rethink an explosive issue, and I recommend it highly to anyone debating the pros and cons.