Kiss of Death (1995)

Director:

Barbet Schroeder

Writers (WGA):

Eleazar Lipsky (story)
Ben Hecht (1947 screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 April 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Little Junor Brown. He rules the streets. He owns the game. But he doesn't own all of the players.

Plot:

A reformed convict goes undercover with the help of an angry detective to ensnare a psychotic mobster.

Plot Keywords:

Shot In The Face | Undercover Agent | Federal Agent | Beaten To Death | Shea Stadium Queens New York City

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

David Caruso	...	Jimmy Kilmartin
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Calvin Hart
Nicolas Cage	...	Little Junior Brown
Helen Hunt	...	Bev Kilmartin
Kathryn Erbe	...	Rosie Kilmartin
Stanley Tucci	...	Frank Zioli
Michael Rapaport	...	Ronnie Gannon
Ving Rhames	...	Omar
Philip Baker Hall	...	Big Junior Brown
Anthony Heald	...	Jack Gold
Angel David	...	J.J.
John Costelloe	...	Cleary
Lindsay J. Wrinn	...	Corinna as a Toddler
Megan L. Wrinn	...	Corinna as a Toddler
Katie Sagona	...	Corinna, 4 Years Old
Anne Meara	...	Bev's Mother
Kevin Corrigan	...	Kid Selling Infinity
Hugh Palmer	...	Naked Man Dancing
Hope Davis	...	Junior's Girlfriend
Richard Price	...	City Clerk
Edward McDonald	...	US Attorney
Alex Stevens	...	Convoy Drunk
Mark Hammer	...	Judge
Joe Lisi	...	Agent at Bungalow
Frank DiLeo	...	Big Junior's Friend
Jason Andrews	...	Johnny A.
Sean G. Wallace	...	Bobby B.
Ed Trucco	...	Calvin's Partner
Bernadette Penotti	...	Molested Dancer
Debra J. Pereira	...	Sioux Dancer
Shiek Mahmud-Bey	...	Federal Agent
John C. Vennema	...	Angry Federal Agent
Tony Cucci	...	Junior's Crew #1
Allen K. Berstein	...	Junior's Crew #2
Jose De Soto	...	J.J.'s Crew
Lloyd Hollar	...	Prison Chaplin
Nicholas Falcone	...	Priest at Funeral
James McCauley	...	Cop Outside Bar
Michael Artura	...	Emergency Room Cop
Tom Riis Farrell	...	EMS Supervisor
Juliet Adair Pritner	...	Agent
Henry Yuk	...	Chinese Restaurant Owner
Chuck Margiotta	...	Escort at Cemetery
Jay Boryea	...	Escort at Cemetery
Joe Pentangelo	...	Riker's Security Officer (as Joseph Pentangelo)
Alan Jeffrey Gordon	...	Riker's Security Officer
Dean Rader-Duval	...	Sing Sing Guard
Willie M. Watford	...	Sing Sing Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Calderon	...	Undercover FBI Agent (uncredited)
Jill Church	...	Cocktail (uncredited)
Jay O. Sanders	...	Federal Agent (uncredited)

Directed by
Barbet Schroeder

Writing credits (WGA)
Eleazar Lipsky		(story)
Ben Hecht		(1947 screenplay) and
Charles Lederer		(1947 screenplay)
Richard Price		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jack Baran	....	executive producer
Chris Brigham	....	associate producer
Susan Hoffman	....	producer
Emma James	....	line producer
Richard Price	....	co-producer
Barbet Schroeder	....	producer

Original Music by
Trevor Jones

Cinematography by
Luciano Tovoli

Film Editing by
Lee Percy

Casting by
Paula Herold

Production Design by
Mel Bourne

Set Decoration by
Roberta J. Holinko

Costume Design by
Theadora Van Runkle

Makeup Department
Joseph Coscia	....	hair stylist
Craig Lyman	....	makeup artist
Neal Martz	....	special makeup department head
James Waterhouse	....	makeup production assistant
Allen Weisinger	....	makeup artist
Todd Kleitsch	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Chris Brigham	....	unit production manager
Alexandra White	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marlene Arvan	....	second assistant director
Jack Baran	....	first assistant director
Christopher Surgent	....	dga trainee
David H. Venghaus Jr.	....	second second assistant director (as David Venghaus Jr.)

Art Department
Ed Check	....	assistant art director
David Cooney	....	storyboard artist
William Durnin Jr.	....	set dresser
John R. Ford	....	prop man (as John Ford)
Scott Gertsen	....	construction coordinator (as Scott Gersten)
Robert Griffon Jr.	....	property master (as Robert J. Griffon Jr.)
Daniel K. Grosso	....	set dresser
Ed Larkin	....	second construction grip
John McDonnell	....	assistant property master (as John B. McDonnell)
Richard Nelson	....	set dresser (as Richard Nelson Jr.)
Glen Pangione	....	construction coordinator
Stanley Pasay	....	scenic artist
Chris Vogt	....	set dresser
Jennifer Wachtell	....	art department coordinator
Dave Weinman	....	leadman (as David C. Weinman)
Lisa Wood Shapiro	....	art department production assistant
Thomas Yacuk	....	key construction grip (as Tom Yacuk)
Michael Zansky	....	lead scenic artist

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	adr editor (as Gina R. Alfano)
Ron Bochar	....	supervising sound editor
Kam Chan	....	foley editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Kay Denmark	....	adr boom operator
Chris Fielder	....	assistant sound editor
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
Les Lazarowitz	....	sound mixer
Marissa Littlefield	....	dialogue editor
David Novack	....	adr mixer (as David Novak)
T.J. O'Mara	....	boom operator (as Terence J. O'Mara)
Anthony Ortiz	....	sound recordist
Bruce Pross	....	foley supervisor
Nicholas Renbeck	....	apprentice sound editor
Fred Rosenberg	....	dialogue editor
Philip Stockton	....	dialogue editor
Steven Visscher	....	foley editor (as Steve Visscher)
Deborah Wallach	....	adr supervisor

Special Effects by
Mark Bero	....	special effects assistant
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects coordinator (as Steve Kirshoff)

Visual Effects by
Janos Pilenyi	....	opticals

Stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunts
Dana D. Bertolette	....	stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunts
John Cenatiempo	....	stunts
Norman Douglass	....	stunts
Andy Duppin	....	stunts
Frank Ferrara	....	stunts
Tim Gallin	....	stunts
Don Hewitt	....	stunts
Jim Lovelett	....	stunts
Jalil Jay Lynch	....	stunts
John Patrick McLaughlin	....	stunts
Phil Neilson	....	stunts
Mick O'Rourke	....	stunts
Janet Paparazzo	....	stunts
Michael Russo	....	stunt coordinator (as Mike Russo)
Brian Smyj	....	stunts
Eddie L. Watkins	....	stunts
Chuck Zito	....	stunts
Chris Cenatiempo	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jim Bridges	....	still photographer
Joe Buscaglia	....	assistant camera: second unit
Michael J. Delaney	....	gaffer
Ken Ferris	....	camera operator
James Fitzpatrick	....	electrician
Kevin Fitzpatrick	....	electrician
Brian Fitzsimons	....	grip (as Brian Fitzsimmons)
Susan Gabbay	....	camera trainee
Dennis Gamiello	....	key grip
Joel Holland	....	video assist operator
Nils Johnson	....	video playback operator
Dave Lowry	....	dolly grip (as David Lowry)
John Lowry	....	best boy grip
Constantine Makris	....	camera operator
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator (as Larry McKonkey)
Michael 'Flash' McDonald	....	electrician
Robert McGavin	....	best boy electrician
Ronald Plant	....	grip (as Ron Plant)
Pamela Rittelmeyer	....	second assistant camera
Robert Stocklin	....	electrician
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Robert Ulland	....	Steadicam operator (as Bob Ulland)
Richard Yacuk	....	grip

Casting Department
Amy Brooks	....	casting assistant
Sarah Casper	....	casting assistant (as Sarah A. Casper)
Tracey Moore	....	extras casting
Heather M. Simmons	....	extras casting assistant (as Heather Marie Simmons)
Christian Kaplan	....	executive in charge of casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sarah Edwards	....	assistant costume designer
Lisa R. Frucht	....	costume supervisor (as Lisa Frucht)
John Glaser	....	assistant costume designer
Goldalee Semel	....	costume production assistant (as Goldalee M. Semel)
Deirdre N. Williams	....	costume supervisor (as Deirdre Williams)

Editorial Department
Julie Carr	....	apprentice editor
Mark Ginsberg	....	color timer
Marty Levenstein	....	first assistant editor: Lightworks
Tom San Martin	....	negative matcher
Arnold Shuster	....	negative matcher
Donna Stern	....	first assistant editor
Patricia Sztaba	....	negative matcher
Stan Sztaba	....	negative matcher
Zeborah Tidwell	....	apprentice editor
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor
Todd Zongker	....	assistant film editor
Todd Zongker	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Bill Abbott	....	music editor
Geoff Alexander	....	orchestrator (as Geoffrey Alexander)
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Shari Johanson	....	music editor (as Shari Schwartz)
Trevor Jones	....	conductor
Trevor Jones	....	orchestrator
Julian Kershaw	....	orchestrator
Roger King	....	score mixer
Charlie Morgan	....	musician: drums
Simon Rhodes	....	orchestra recordist
Jay B. Richardson	....	music editor
Victoria Seale	....	music coordinator: CMMP
Tony Stanton	....	music copyist
Kirsty Whalley	....	score mixing engineer
Kirsty Whalley	....	synthesizer programmer: score
John Whynot	....	score mixing engineer
John Whynot	....	score recording engineer
John Whynot	....	synthesizer programmer: score

Transportation Department
Steven R. Hammond	....	transportation captain (as Steven Hammond)
Tom Heilig	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Ray Angelic	....	production secretary
Heidi August	....	production accountant
Gail Barringer	....	payroll accountant
Bill Barvin	....	location scout
Marc Bernard	....	press attache: Cannes
Laura Berning	....	location production assistant
Lauren Buckley	....	office production assistant
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot
Shawn Cirkiel	....	office production assistant
Kathleen Corgan	....	location assistant
Shirley Davis	....	office production assistant
Robert Dawson	....	title designer: main titles
Françoise Dessaigne	....	press attache: Cannes
Ray Forman	....	craft service
Wayne Forman	....	caterer
Ellen Gannon	....	assistant production office coordinator
Jennifer Gerould	....	set production assistant (as Jenn Gerould)
Deren Getz	....	location scout
Joie Gregory	....	location scout
Calvin Hart	....	production assistant
Shell Hecht	....	production coordinator
Eryka Seimona Henderson	....	office production assistant
Scott Hornbacher	....	location manager
Delroy Hunter	....	parking coordinator
Kevin Mitchell Jackson	....	set production assistant
Larry Kaplan	....	unit publicist
Kenneth M. Kroll	....	assistant production accountant
Marco Kyris	....	stand-in
David Ray Martin	....	location assistant (as David Martin)
Paul J. Memmi	....	translator
Lisa Jane Persky	....	assistant to executive producer
Paul Byrne Prenderville	....	set production assistant (as Paul Prenderville)
Cornelia 'Nini' Rogan	....	script supervisor
Randy Sokol	....	assistant location manager
Morgan Spurlock	....	office production assistant
Karen Alicia White	....	set production assistant
Sasha Wolf	....	assistant: Mr. Schroeder & Ms. Hoffman
J. David Keefe	....	office production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (as Twentieth Century Fox) (presents)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (1995) (France) (theatrical)
• Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E. (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (1995) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (1995) (Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1995) (UK) (theatrical)
• Fox Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• RCV Home Entertainment (1996) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Hollydan Works (1998) (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Spentzos Films (1995) (Greece) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (The Nicholas Cage Celebrity Pack)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Abbey Road Studios  orchestra recorded at
• Brooklyn Navy Yard  thanks
• C-5  foley and sound effects design (as C5 Inc.)
• CMMP Studios  music mixed at
• CMMP Studios  synthesizers recorded at
• Film Unit @ The Post Group, The  post-production services
• Fire Department New York (FDNY)  thanks
• Fox Records  soundtrack
• Hail Swan Security  security
• Lightworks (II)  editing equipment
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission  thanks
• New Jersey and Hudson County Cultural & Heritage Affairs  thanks
• New York City Department of General Services  thanks
• New York City Department of Sanitation  thanks
• New York City Department of Transportation  thanks
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  thanks
• New York County Court  thanks
• New York Department of Corrections  thanks
• New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development  thanks
• Pacific Title  titles
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• REI Media Group  opticals (as REI Media)
• Sing Sing Correctional Facility  thanks
• Sound One Corporation  post-production facility
• Sound One/C5  foley and sfx design
• T.A.B. Inc.  negative cutting
• The Film Unit @ The Post Group  post-production facilities
• Todd-AO Studios  music mixed at
• U.S. Marshal's Office  thanks
• Unique Catering  catering

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, nudity and strong language

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 (w) | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #33340) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

David Caruso left the TV series "NYPD Blue" (1993) in order to film this movie and pursue a full-time film career.

Goofs:

Continuity: The item of jewelry on Little Junior's wrist alternates between a gold watch and a gold chain bracelet, sometimes during the same scene.

Quotes:

[at a bar]
Little Junior Brown:See me tomorrow and we'll discuss things.
[goes back to enjoy his drink]
Jimmy Kilmartin:Wait a minute. Why not now?
Little Junior Brown:I haven't been able to find my daughter in a while, and I've already planned the night grieving about it, so you'll just have to see me tomorrow.
Jimmy Kilmartin:No, You see me now.
[takes a tiny gun out]
Jimmy Kilmartin:Tell me now! Go on! I want to hear it.
Little Junior Brown:I ain't going back to jail. I'm tired. They didn't allow me to use silverware. I had to use my fingers. That's right, they didn't even allow me to use plastic spoons, forks, and knives! But I do hate the taste of metal in my mouth. That's why I refused to have braces.
Jimmy Kilmartin:[puts gun on Brown's lip] Tell me what I want to know, or you'll never have a lip again.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Conan: The Awkward Product Placement. Swiffer (#1.89)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Spaceman

Solid crime thriller

Ex-con Jimmy Kilmartin agrees to drive a truck of stolen cars as a favour to a friend. Whilst on the job he gets caught but refuses to role over on the others involved. Whilst in prison his wife is killed in a car crash and Jimmy leaves prison, bitter but with a determination to move on. However NYPD officer Calvin wants to use Kilmartin to get close to Little Junior Brown and get evidence to shut him down.

This was one of several vehicles that was planned to turn David Caruso from a TV hit to a big screen star - as we know, it didn't work out that way. However the story is pretty solid, it doesn't break new ground and there's nothing outside of the usual crime thriller plot to surprise you but it's really quite good. At times it's a little dull because it is so straight forward but it's mostly entertaining.

Caruso, for all his current lack of success, is actually very good. The problem is that he's good by doing the same "NY Irish tough but fair" role that he did in NYPD Blue, King of New York, Bodycount and most films he's done! It's good but I don't think he can do anything else. Jackson has presence as he always does and the support cast is really well filled out with people like Helen Hunt, Stanley Tucci, Rapaport, Philip Baker Hall, Ving Rhames. Nicolas Cage's Little Junior is a mixed bag. At some points he is effective but for the most part he's horribly OTT and hammy. His character is full of ticks and eccentricities that at the end of the day that's all Cage has to do.

Overall this is a solid thriller with no surprises. Caruso fans (like me) will like it regardless because it's Caruso doing his usual role. But others may not be so easily made to overlook the weaknesses.