Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Director:

Mike Figgis

Writers:

John O'Brien (novel)
Mike Figgis (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 October 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Ben Sanderson, an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his drinking, arrives in Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he meets and forms an uneasy friendship and non-interference pact with prostitute Sera.

Plot Keywords:

Prostitute | Death | Sex | Bar | Alcoholic

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 28 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Nicolas Cage	...	Ben Sanderson
Elisabeth Shue	...	Sera
Julian Sands	...	Yuri
Richard Lewis	...	Peter
Steven Weber	...	Marc Nussbaum
Kim Adams	...	Sheila
Emily Procter	...	Debbie
Stuart Regen	...	Man at Bar
Valeria Golino	...	Terri
Graham Beckel	...	L.A. Bartender
Albert Henderson	...	Man at Strip Bar (as Al Henderson)
Shashi Bhatia	...	Hispanic Prostitute
Carey Lowell	...	Bank Teller
Anne Lange	...	Business Colleague
Thomas Kopache	...	Mr. Simpson
Vincent Ward	...	Businessman #1
Lucinda Jenney	...	Weird Woman
French Stewart	...	Businessman #2
Ed Lauter	...	Mobster #3
Waldemar Kalinowski	...	Mobster #2
Mike Figgis	...	Mobster #1
David Kriegel	...	Hotel Manager
Bill Thompson	...	Midwestern Man at Poolside
Marek Stabrowski	...	Pawn Shop Owner
R. Lee Ermey	...	Conventioneer
Mariska Hargitay	...	Hooker at Bar
Danny Huston	...	Bartender #2
Laurie Metcalf	...	Landlady
David Brisbin	...	Landlord
Shawnee Smith	...	Biker Girl
Paul Quinn	...	Biker Guy
Julian Lennon	...	Bartender #3 in Biker Bar
Tracy Thorne	...	Waitress at Mall
Bob Rafelson	...	Man at Mall
Susan Barnes	...	Desk Clerk
Marc Coppola	...	Dealer
Michael A. Goorjian	...	College Boy #1 (as Michael Goorjian)
Jeremy Jordan	...	College Boy #2
Davidlee Willson	...	College Boy #3
Xander Berkeley	...	Cynical Cabbie
Sergio Premoli	...	Stetson Man at Casino
Gordon Michaels	...	Security Guard
Lou Rawls	...	Concerned Cabbie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Camille King	...	Bank Manager (uncredited)

Directed by
Mike Figgis

Writing credits
John O'Brien		(novel)
Mike Figgis		(screenplay)

Produced by
Lila Cazès	....	producer
Marc S. Fischer	....	line producer
Stuart Regen	....	executive producer
Paige Simpson	....	executive producer
Annie Stewart	....	producer

Original Music by
Mike Figgis

Cinematography by
Declan Quinn		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Smith

Casting by
Carrie Frazier

Production Design by
Waldemar Kalinowski

Art Direction by
Barry Kingston		(as Barry M. Kingston)

Set Decoration by
Florence Fellman

Costume Design by
Laura Goldsmith

Makeup Department
Kathryn Bihr	....	key makeup artist (as Katy Bihr)
Beatrice De Alba	....	key hair stylist (as Beatrice DeAlba)
Linda Hardy	....	hair stylist
Linda Hardy	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Marc S. Fischer	....	unit production manager
Robin Le Chanu	....	production supervisor (as Robin L. Green)
Michael Saxton	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Simone Farber	....	second assistant director
Gary Marcus	....	first assistant director
Joel Chernoff	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Amy H. Abrams	....	on-set dresser
Russell R. Anderson	....	lead man (as Russ Anderson)
Michael R. Blaich	....	lead scenic artist (as Michael Blaich)
Florencio Gelabert	....	artwork
Bob Hawk	....	carpenter
Jason Hedley	....	swing gang (as Jason John Hadley)
Ghislain Mandon	....	swing gang
Anmari Ollsson	....	paintings in Sera's apartment
Charles Page	....	construction foreman
Steve Pfauter	....	swing gang (as Stephen Pfauter)
Charles Phillips	....	construction coordinator (as Chuck Phillips)
Seth Phillips	....	construction grip
Rodrido Pimentel	....	artwork
Gustavo Ramos Rivera	....	artwork
James Scott	....	paintings: L.A. bank
Zeev Tankus	....	property master
Rebecca Young	....	art department coordinator
Anne Mari Ziecker	....	assistant property master
John Sparano	....	assistant property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Andie Derrick	....	foley artist
Henry Dobson	....	dubbing mixer
James Feltham	....	assistant sound editor
Nigel Heath	....	supervising sound editor
Rod Howick	....	foley editor
Mathew Knights	....	dialogue editor
Danny Sheehan	....	assistant dubbing mixer
Julian Slater	....	sound effects editor
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist
Pawel Wdowczak	....	sound mixer
Paul Coogan	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Clifford 'Kip' Gynn	....	sound mixer: video (uncredited)
John Hays	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jules Findley	....	special effects compositor
William D. Harrison	....	special effects supervisor: Special Effects Unlimited, Inc. (as William Harrison)
Al Marangoni	....	special effects: Special Effects Unlimited, Inc. (as Albert Marangoni)
Matthew Pope	....	special effects: Special Effects Unlimited, Inc.

Visual Effects by
Aviv Yaron	....	data operator: Cinesite (uncredited)

Stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunts (as Bruce Barbour)
Dick Hancock	....	stunts
Jeff Smolek	....	stunts
Diane Towery	....	stunts
Russell Towery	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Birk	....	best boy electric (as Paul R. Birk)
Bonnie S. Blake	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Bonnie Blake)
Richard Boyle	....	best boy grip (as Rick Boyle)
James Davis	....	electrician
Christian E. Dirkes	....	dolly grip
Bernadette 'B.C.' Echohawk	....	camera loader (as Bernadette Echo Hawk)
Flint Ellsworth	....	electrician
Suzanne Hanover	....	still photographer
Todd Heater	....	electrician
Steve Irwin	....	video playback operator
Toby Irwin	....	gaffer
Sean McKelvey	....	electrician (as Sean Mark McKelvey)
John Joseph Minardi	....	grip
Marie Pedersen	....	camera operator (as Marie Pederson)
Stephen Pizzo	....	first assistant camera
Kevin Smyth	....	key grip
T.J. Tollefson	....	grip
Larry Markart	....	video playback operator (uncredited)
Dylan Rush	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Stacey Rosen	....	casting associate
Chris Gray	....	extras casting (uncredited)
Terrence Harris	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Vickie Brinkford	....	set costumer (as Vickie Brinkkord)
Jean Davis	....	assistant costumer
Leesa Evans	....	costume supervisor
Vivienne Westwood	....	wardrobe: Ms. Shue

Editorial Department
Colin Coull	....	color timer
Jinx Godfrey	....	assembly editor
Paul Knight	....	assistant editor
Dana Padgett	....	post-production coordinator
Annette Williams	....	assistant editor
Vaughn Mullady	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Tony Coe	....	musician: tenor saxophone and clarinet
Ed Deane	....	musician: electric guitar
Gemma Dempsey	....	music supervisor
Mike Figgis	....	musician: trumpet and keyboards
Isobel Griffiths	....	musician's contractor
Dave Hartley	....	musician: piano
Austin Ince	....	original score engineer
Christopher Laurence	....	musician: double bass (as Chris Laurence)
Maggie Nicols	....	featured musician: vocalist
Sting	....	featured vocalist
Ian Thomas	....	musician: drums
Ray Warleigh	....	musician: alto saxophone
Anthony Marinelli	....	musician (uncredited)
Anthony Marinelli	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Jennifer A. Blum	....	driver (as Jennifer Blum)
Steve Earle	....	driver
Don Feeney	....	driver
Scotty Goudreau	....	driver (as Scott Goudreau)
Brian Kahn	....	driver: insert car
Kathy L. MacMillan	....	driver
Seth Phillips	....	driver: construction department
Derek Raser	....	transportation coordinator
Todd Rowland	....	driver: Mr. Cage
J.T. Thayer	....	transportation captain
Earl Thielen	....	driver
Tracy Thielen	....	driver
Mark Willis	....	driver
Paul Burlin	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Kevin Beard	....	set production assistant (as T. Kevin Beard)
Valerie Burnley	....	craft service: Laughlin/Las Vegas
James Capp	....	assistant production coordinator (as James A. Capp)
Richard Davenport	....	documentary team: "The Making of"
Peter Evangelatos	....	craft service
Eddie Fickett	....	set production assistant (as Eddie Ficket)
David Haldiman	....	location manager
George T. Hayum	....	legal services: Armstrong Hirsch Jackoway Tyerman & Werthheimer
Janee Hull	....	script supervisor (as Janee Hull-Page)
Marco Kyris	....	stand-in: Mr. Cage
Martee La Comette	....	stand-in: Ms. Shue
Jeff Levine	....	assistant: Mr. Cage
Mark Anthony Little	....	set production assistant
Harvey Malkin	....	production accountant (as Harve K. Malkin)
Carl Mastromarino	....	assistant production accountant
Adam Moos	....	completion bond: Film Finances
Mark Morgan	....	clearance
Leonard Morpurgo	....	unit publicist
Ty Pennington	....	set production assistant
Shannon E. Reilly	....	office production assistant
L.M. Soble	....	assistant: Mr. Cage
Geoff Teagardin	....	set production assistant (as Geoffrey Teagardin)
Romany Turner	....	documentary team: "The Making of"
Romany Turner	....	set production assistant
Craig W. van Gundy	....	assistant location manager
Jill Naumann	....	location scout (uncredited)
Silenn Thomas	....	intern (uncredited)

Thanks
Claudia Buchanan	....	special thanks
Brigid Buckman	....	special thanks
Miles A. Copeland III	....	special thanks (as Miles Copeland)
Elaine Davis	....	special thanks
Tony Dingman	....	special thanks
Arlen Figgis	....	special thanks
Lois Kay	....	special thanks
Anthony Marinelli	....	special thanks
Simon Osborne	....	special thanks
Randolph Pitts	....	special thanks
Holly Simpson	....	special thanks
Cecilia Skjorten	....	special thanks
Sting	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Lumiere Pictures (presents)
• Lila Cazès Production, A
• Initial Productions

Distributors

• MGM/UA Distribution Company (1995) (USA) (theatrical) (as MGM/UA Distribution Co.)
• Atlantis Entertainment (1997) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Prooptiki (1996) (Greece) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Alta Films (Spain)
• Argentina Video Home (1996) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Atalanta Filmes (Portugal)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Leader Music (2010) (Argentina) (DVD) (as Leader Vision)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (The Nicholas Cage Star Collection)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Panorama Distributions (2010) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paris Filmes (1995) (Brazil) (video)
• Pioneer LDC (2001) (Japan) (DVD)
• Prooptiki Video (1996) (Greece) (VHS)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• United Artists (USA)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2007) (Italy) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Special Effects Unlimited (special effects)

Other Companies

• Arrangment, The  catering
• Axium Payroll Services  payroll services
• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Cine Image Film Opticals  titles and opticals
• Coca-Cola Company, The  special thanks
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Magmasters Sound Studios  sound recorded at
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Tru-Cut  negative cutting

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and language, violence and pervasive alcohol abuse

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Dolby SR

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Chile:18 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/18 (Qualidade) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #33977) | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Singapore:M18 (edited TV version)

Filming Locations:

Bally's Casino Resort - 3645 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Lumiere Pictures

Trivia:

The bartender at the breakfast/biker bar that wipes the blood from Ben's face is played by Julian Lennon, son of John Lennon. The dark-haired prostitute at the casino bar is played by Law and Order SVU's Mariska Hargitay, daughter of Jayne Mansfield. The last cab driver in the movie, who tells Sera she is a "pretty young lady who can get any man she wants," is played by legendary soul singer Lou Rawls. Another bartender is played by Danny Huston of the famous Huston actors family (brother of Anjelica Huston, son of John Huston and grandson of Walter Huston.)

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Ben solicits a prostitute who steals his wedding band. Several scenes later when he is being fired, he is wearing it again. However, the opening scenes of the movie are not in chronological order. In the same scene where you see the ring again, you also see him receiving the severance check that he cashed at the bank in the previous scene.

Quotes:

Ben Sanderson:[when asked who he's speaking to by a woman at the bar] Little brown-nosed gnomes with a sling-shot.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "NCIS: Guilty Pleasure (#7.19)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

I Won't Be Going South (For A While)

The dignity of love and the depths of despair

If Mike Figgis never made another film, and Nick Cage and Elizabeth Shue retired after making Leaving Las Vegas, they would have done so with impunity. Both actors are superb, and bring the excellent screenplay to life with the help of some masterful dramatic cinematography.

Cage plays a suicidal alcoholic who has come to Las Vegas to drink himself to death, and Shue plays the unexpected problem - a prostitute who falls in love with him. The only reason this film did not receive a ten from me is the voice-over technique which was tastefully minimal, but, in my opinion, the only mistake the director made. It does help to provide closure, but I felt that closure was an unnecessary compromise here.

This is not an entertaining film, and in truth, I am surprised by its popularity among typical audiences. It is a serious film, and a work of art, but fun is not to be found here. DO NOT see this film if you dislike feeling emotionally drained and ethically challenged, and DO NOT see it if you are very prone to boredom, or easily offended by sexual violence, substance abuse and the horror of daily life on the street.

This is an intensely sad film about love shared by people who are caught in the gravity of their lives and can not escape. It is also a story of redemption and respect, found in improbable places. It is NOT a fun-filled frolicking romantic comedy, but rather, the opposite, and it achieves a beauty, dignity and power almost unique among films treating such starkly real and disturbing subjects.