Get Shorty (1995)

A mobster travels to Hollywood to collect a debt and discovers that the movie business is much the same as his current job.

Director:

Barry Sonnenfeld

Writers:

Elmore Leonard (novel), Scott Frank (screenplay)

Stars:

John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Travolta	...	Chili Palmer
Gene Hackman	...	Harry Zimm
Rene Russo	...	Karen Flores
Danny DeVito	...	Martin Weir
Dennis Farina	...	Ray 'Bones' Barboni
Delroy Lindo	...	Bo Catlett
James Gandolfini	...	Bear
Jon Gries	...	Ronnie Wingate
Renee Props	...	Nicki
David Paymer	...	Leo Devoe
Martin Ferrero	...	Tommy Carlo
Miguel Sandoval	...	Mr. Escobar
Jacob Vargas	...	Yayo Portillo
Linda Hart	...	Fay Devoe
Bobby Slayton	...	Dick Allen

Storyline

Some guys get all the luck, whether they like it or not. Chili Palmer happens to be in Hollywood collecting a gambling debt when he's struck by lightning (not literally). Called a natural for the movie business, he's snagged up by a producer. The rest is history.

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Plot Keywords:

debt | mobster | producer | movie business | gambling | 

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Taglines:

Drug smuggling. Racketeering. Loan sharking. Welcome to Hollywood!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Lion's Den

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cómo conquistar Hollywood

Filming Locations:

1017 N Crescent Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,250,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,003,430 (UK) (15 March 1996)

Gross:

£4,931,393 (UK) (19 April 1996)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Jersey Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael Keaton, Bruce Willis, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Dustin Hoffman all turned down the role of Chili Palmer. While Danny DeVito was Barry Sonnenfeld's first choice for the role of Chilli Palmer because of his natural charisma, he could not fit it into his schedule (he was directing Matilda) so he ended up playing the smaller role of Martin Weir instead.

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Goofs

In the theater, Chili alternates between leaning forward and leaning backwards.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Tommy Carlo: It's fucking cold outside.

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Crazy Credits

In memory of Danny Gill

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #19.131 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Up, Up and Away"
Written by Jimmy Webb
Performed by Greg O'Connor

User Reviews

One of the best Elmore Leonard adaptations; vintage Travolta and game cast = fun & funny

GET SHORTY (1995) ***1/2 John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny De Vito, Delroy Lindo, Dennis Farina, James Gandolfini, David Paymer, Martin Ferrero, Bette Midler, Linda Hart, Bobby Slayton, Harvey Keitel (cameo), Penny Marshall (cameo). Funny and entertaining adaptation of Elmore Leonard's crime novel about Chili Palmer (Travolta, perfectly charming) a loan shark from Miami who heads out to LA after a pay cheat and winds up in Hollywood teaming up with horror schlock producer Hackman and B-film screamer Russo pitching a story and avoiding some not-so-pleasant criminal types along the way. Great satire and excellently keen in keeping Leonard's dialogue intact with some dead-on spoofing of Tinsel Town in particular De Vito as a Method actor run amok. Look for director Barry Sonnenfeld as a parking valet and also the real Chili Palmer as one of Farina's dinner companions at the film's pre-credit sequence prior to Travolta punching out Farina.