The Usual Suspects (1995)

Director:

Bryan Singer

Writer:

Christopher McQuarrie (written by)

Release Date:

16 August 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn't exist

Plot:

A boat has been destroyed, criminals are dead, and the key to this mystery lies with the only survivor and his twisted, convoluted story beginning with five career crooks in a seemingly random police lineup.

Plot Keywords:

Criminal | Suspect | Revenge | Explosion | Hijacking

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 29 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Stephen Baldwin	...	Michael McManus
Gabriel Byrne	...	Dean Keaton
Benicio Del Toro	...	Fred Fenster
Kevin Pollak	...	Todd Hockney
Kevin Spacey	...	Roger 'Verbal' Kint
Chazz Palminteri	...	Dave Kujan, US Customs
Pete Postlethwaite	...	Kobayashi
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Jack Baer, FBI
Suzy Amis	...	Edie Finneran
Dan Hedaya	...	Sgt. Jeffrey 'Jeff' Rabin
Paul Bartel	...	Smuggler
Carl Bressler	...	Saul Berg
Phillipe Simon	...	Fortier
Jack Shearer	...	Renault
Christine Estabrook	...	Dr. Plummer
Clark Gregg	...	Dr. Walters
Morgan Hunter	...	Arkosh Kovash
Ken Daly	...	Translator
Michelle Clunie	...	Sketch Artist
Louis Lombardi	...	Strausz
Frank Medrano	...	Rizzi
Ron Gilbert	...	Daniel Metzheiser, Dept. of Justice
Vito D'Ambrosio	...	Arresting Officer
Gene Lythgow	...	Cop on Pier
Bob Elmore	...	Bodyguard #1
David Powledge	...	Bodyguard #2
Bob Pennetta	...	Bodyguard #3
Billy Bates	...	Bodyguard #4 (as Bill Bates)
Smadar Hanson	...	Keyser's Wife
Castulo Guerra	...	Arturro Marquez
Peter Rocca	...	Jaime, Arturro's Bodyguard
Bert Williams	...	Old Cop in Property
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jaime H. Campos	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
John Gillespie	...	(uncredited)
Peter Greene	...	Redfoot the Fence (uncredited)
Michael McKay	...	Cop in Hallway (uncredited)
Christopher McQuarrie	...	Interrogation Cop (uncredited)
Scott B. Morgan	...	Keyser Söze (in flashback) (uncredited)
Michael Robert Nyman	...	N.Y. Uniform Cop (uncredited)
Grace Sinden	...	Nurse (uncredited)

Directed by
Bryan Singer

Writing credits
Christopher McQuarrie		(written by)

Produced by
Hans Brockmann	....	executive producer
François Duplat	....	executive producer
Art Horan	....	executive producer
Robert Jones	....	executive producer
Kenneth Kokin	....	co-producer
Michael McDonnell	....	producer
Bryan Singer	....	producer

Original Music by
John Ottman

Cinematography by
Newton Thomas Sigel		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Ottman

Casting by
Francine Maisler

Production Design by
Howard Cummings

Art Direction by
David Lazan

Set Decoration by
Sara Andrews

Costume Design by
Louise Mingenbach

Makeup Department
David P. Barton	....	special makeup designer (as David Barton)
Michelle Barton	....	special makeup effects crew: Modus
Michelle Bühler	....	key makeup artist
Chris Cantley	....	special makeup effects crew: Modus
Raqueli Dahan	....	assistant hair stylist
Raqueli Dahan	....	assistant makeup artist
David Greathouse	....	special makeup effects crew: Modus
Kimberly Greene	....	makeup swing
Richard Maybery	....	special makeup effects crew: Modus
Barbara Olvera	....	key hair stylist
Yolanda Squatpump	....	special makeup effects crew: Modus

Production Management
Vicky Herman	....	production supervisor
Jane Raab	....	production manager: New York
Michael Tinger	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Athena Alexander	....	second second assistant director
James D. Deck	....	first assistant director (as James Deck)
Kenneth Kokin	....	second unit director
David Marcellino	....	assistant director: New York (as Dave Marcellino)
Alan Steinman	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Angel Acosta	....	assistant property master
William Bastiani	....	set construction laborer
Charles Billen Jr.	....	set construction laborer
Tony Bonaventura	....	property master
Peter Borck	....	lead person
John Coven	....	storyboard artist
Joseph W. Grafmuller	....	swing (as Joseph Grafmuller)
Steven Ingrassia	....	swing
Maria Jaramillo	....	scenic artist
Mark Meloccaro	....	art department coordinator
Celia Parker	....	set construction laborer
R.A. Tony Poland	....	set construction laborer (as Ray Poland)
Thomas Power	....	shopper
Thomas Power	....	swing
Scott Saunders	....	assistant property master
Phillip Schneider	....	lead scenic
Liz Shaner	....	set construction laborer
Diane Taylor	....	set construction laborer
Lorri Wakefield	....	art department production assistant
Caroline Wallner	....	set construction laborer
Francis Whitebloom	....	on-set dresser
Chris Forster	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Behle	....	recordist
George Berndt	....	adr supervisor
Richard Burton	....	sound effects editor
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Claudette Cucci	....	foley artist
John T. Cucci	....	foley artist (as John Cucci)
Robert Deschaine	....	foley mixer (as Robert Deshaine)
Sukey Fontelieu	....	dialogue editor
Leigh French	....	adr coordinator
Don Givens	....	foley recordist
Jack Keller	....	recordist
Jonathan Klein	....	foley editor
Tricia Linklater	....	assistant sound editor
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Robert Litt)
Chuck Michael	....	supervising sound editor
Nash Michael	....	sound effects editor
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Mark Pappas	....	foley supervisor
Paul Parsons	....	assistant sound editor
Geoffrey Patterson	....	sound mixer
Randy Piotroski	....	foley mixer (as Randy Petroski)
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer
Greg P. Russell	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Spence	....	dialogue editor
Greg Steele	....	adr recordist
Donald Sylvester	....	adr editor
Tami Treadwell	....	foley recordist (as Tammy Treadwell)
Elliot Tyson	....	re-recording mixer
Karen G. Wilson	....	sound effects editor (as Karen Wilson)
Craig Woods	....	boom operator
Brydon Baker III	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roy L. Downey	....	special effects coordinator (as Roy Downey)
Greg Hendrickson	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
David B. Long	....	digital playback supervisor

Stunts
Billy Bates	....	stunt player (as William Bates)
Ken Blazer	....	stunt player (as Kenneth Blazer)
Michael Carr	....	stunt player
Ashley Casino	....	stunt player
John Casino	....	stunt player
Fernando Celis	....	stunt player
Max Daniels	....	stunt player
Joe Dunne	....	stunt player
Diamond Farnsworth	....	stunt player
Alex Gaona	....	stunt player
John Gillespie	....	stunt player
Bob Havice	....	stunt player
Ethan Jensen	....	stunt coordinator: second unit
Gary Jensen	....	stunt coordinator
Billy Judkins	....	stunt player (as Bill Judkins)
Pat Millicano	....	stunt player
Ryan Patrick Ross	....	stunt player
Harry Wowchuk	....	stunt player

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Amerian	....	gaffer: second unit
Ken Beymer	....	grip
Robert Bonilla	....	electrician
Arthur Borquez	....	electrician
Craig A. Brink	....	electrician (as Craig Brink)
Caroline Burton	....	still photographer
Robert C. Carlson	....	first assistant camera (as Robert Carlson)
Jad Carmona	....	camera loader
Linda R. Chen	....	still photographer (as Linda Chen)
Kevin Dean	....	grip
Paul DeMarte	....	camera loader
Joseph Dianda	....	key grip (as Joey Dianda)
Andrea Dorman	....	first assistant camera: New York
Shawn Ensign	....	company grip
Michael A. FauntLeRoy	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Mike Fauntleroy)
Gergely Fonyó	....	first assistant camera: steadycam
Gregory Franklin	....	grip
Jim Frohna	....	electrician
David Gamerman	....	best boy
Eric J. Goldstein	....	director of photography: second unit (as Eric Goldstein)
Ross Guidici	....	grip
Bruce Hamme	....	dolly grip
Amy Hergoth	....	camera loader
Matt Jackson	....	grip
Bruce Douglas Johnson	....	additional photographer
John Johnson	....	still photographer
Greg Kidd	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Gregg Kidd)
Steve Lynch	....	key grip: New York
Michael Stewart Maahs	....	electrician (as Michael Maahs)
Jerry L. Mandley	....	electrician (as Jerry Mandley)
Richard Maxey	....	grip
William J. McDevitt	....	grip (as William McDevitt)
Daniel McMahon	....	grip
Mike Parsons	....	electrician (as Michael Parsons)
Scott Patten	....	best boy grip
Linda Perry	....	grip
Reinhart 'Rayteam' Peschke	....	gaffer
Lockwood J. Pierson	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Darrin Pulford	....	electrician (as Darrin Pullford)
Shawn Rhodes	....	electrician
Lance Rieck	....	second assistant camera: New York
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	Steadicam operator (as Scott Sakamoto)
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	director of photography: second unit (as Scott Sakamoto)
Richard Sobin	....	second assistant camera
Chris Squires	....	Steadicam operator
Mary F. Stankiewicz	....	electrician: second unit (as Mary Stankiewicz)
Baird Steptoe	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
James M. Teiper	....	electrician (as James Teiper)
Paul Janossy	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kathy Driscoll	....	casting associate
Judie Fixler	....	extras casting: New York
Lisa Miller Katz	....	casting associate (as Lisa Miller)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Erin Beck	....	additional costumer
Lori Eskowitz-Carter	....	costume supervisor (as Lori Eskowitz)
Prudence Moriarty	....	wardrobe supervisor: New York
Caitlin Shamberg	....	costume assistant
Tara Spurlock	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Roger Fenton	....	assistant editor
Jennifer Flynn	....	post-production coordinator
Andrew Gorry	....	apprentice editor
Gloria Kaiser	....	color timer
Kelley Pate	....	apprentice editor
Mary Beth Smith	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Dan Abernathy	....	music mixer
Dan Abernathy	....	music recording engineer
Larry Groupé	....	conductor (as Larry Groupe)
Larry Groupé	....	orchestra contractor
Larry Groupé	....	orchestrator (as Larry Groupe)
Darrell Harvey	....	music mixer
Darrell Harvey	....	music recording engineer
Lia Vollack	....	music editor
Lawrence Czoka	....	music preparation (uncredited)
John Ottman	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Dan Siegel	....	session musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Joseph Aroesti	....	transportation co-captain
Michael Banlowe	....	driver
Jody Bingenheimer	....	driver
Robin D. Bishop	....	driver
Joe Cosentino	....	driver
Joe Cosentino	....	transportation captain
Pat Cosentino	....	driver
Sherri Cosentino	....	driver
Frances Culp	....	driver
Angel Desanti	....	driver
Sean Dugen	....	driver
Eugene Farrington	....	driver
Antonio Franchi	....	driver
Johnathon Gorman	....	driver
Geno Hart	....	transportation coordinator
Glenn Knowlton	....	driver
Mark McDermitt	....	driver
Jeffrey L. Moore	....	driver (as Jeff Moore)
Steve Nickolai	....	driver (as Steve Nikolai)
Ken Plumlee	....	transportation captain
Ron Pope	....	transportation operations manager
William Smallwood	....	driver
Jerry Snaiczuk	....	driver
Randy Tenhaeff	....	driver
Mike Welch	....	driver
David D.B. Wilson	....	driver (as David Wilson)
Brian Apt	....	transportation office (uncredited)
William R. Peck	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Thomas D. Adelman	....	production coordinator (as Tom Adelman)
John Alvarez	....	security officer
Rachel Arno	....	office production coordinator
Michael Bentley	....	stand-in
Luke Bittel	....	intern
Yvette Brestyanszky	....	assistant to producers
Brad Carroll	....	production assistant: New York
Wendy Dallas	....	script supervisor
Robert Dawson	....	title designer
Tony Estrado	....	security officer
Matthew R. Eyraud	....	key set production assistant (as Matthew Eyraud)
Jennifer Flynn	....	assistant to producers and director
Ellen Francisco	....	craft service
Ashley R. Friedman	....	location manager (as Ashley Friedman)
Andrew Gorry	....	assistant: Mr. Singer
John Herget	....	first aid
Lynn Hockin	....	assistant accountant
Damon Intrabartolo	....	assistant: Mr. Ottman
Josh R. Jaggars	....	production assistant (as Josh Jaggars)
Jun C. Lin	....	location assistant (as Jun Lin)
Jana Ludwigova	....	script supervisor: second unit
David Markland	....	office production coordinator
Mike James Masumoto	....	set production assistant (as Michael Masumoto)
Haley McLane	....	additional script supervisor
Douglas Morton	....	assistant production coordinator
David Pollack	....	unit publicist (as David Pollick)
Andrea Celandine Rice	....	office production coordinator
Chanel Salzer	....	location manager
Greg Schnabel	....	location manager: New York
Alexandra Schultze	....	assistant to producers
George Sheanshang	....	finance and distribution counsel
Deborah Tabak	....	set production assistant
Johnny Tonini	....	stand-in
Brian A. Williams	....	production accountant
Petra Jorgensen	....	script supervisor: second unit (uncredited)
Bertram McCann	....	marine coordinator (uncredited)
Carsten Meyer-Grohbrügge	....	assistant: Francois Duplant (uncredited)
Scott B. Morgan	....	intern (uncredited)
Abigail Sheiner	....	first assistant accountant: preparation (uncredited)

Production Companies

• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (presents)
• Spelling Films International (presents)
• Blue Parrot
• Bad Hat Harry Productions (as Bad Hat Harry)
• Rosco Film GmbH

Distributors

• Gramercy Pictures (I) (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (1995-1996) (worldwide) (theatrical) (Non-USA) (Canada / France / UK / Benelux)
• Spelling Films International (1995-1996) (worldwide) (theatrical) (except Canada / France / UK / Benelux)
• ELKE (1995) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (1995) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Nea Kinisi (1995) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Pan Européenne Distribution (1995) (France) (theatrical)
• Rank Film Distributors (1995) (UK) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1995) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Ufilms (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (1996) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Lider Films (1996) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Distribution (1996) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• REP Distribution (1996) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Nea Kinisi Video (1996) (Greece) (VHS)
• PolyGram Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• PolyGram Video (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1996) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• PolyGram Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• PolyGram Video (1997) (USA) (VHS) (collector's letterbox edition)
• PolyGram Video (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2002) (UK) (DVD) (2-disc special edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (Canada) (VHS) (French version)
• Filmax Home Video (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• LW Editora (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2006) (Brazil) (DVD) (reissue)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (collector's edition)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (199?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (199?) (Germany) (VHS)
• PolyGram Video (199?) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Acme Soundworks Studio  sound editing (as Acme Soundworks)
• Alexander, Halloran, Nau & Rose  production counsel (as Alexander, Halloran, Nau and Rose)
• Avon Studio Transport  transportation
• Baker Winokur Ryder Public Relations (BWR)  publicity (as Baker Winokur Ryder)
• Bank of America  production financing
• Buena Vista Imaging  titles and opticals
• C.A.S.T. Security  security
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Charter Connection  marine coordination (as The Charter Connection)
• Film Finances  completion bond services
• Mario's Catering  caterer
• Milan Records  soundtrack published by
• Newmarket Capital Group  production financing
• Picture Cars Inc.  transportation: New York
• R.E.D. Productions  title design
• RHH/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  production insurance (as RHH/Albert G. Ruben)
• Rancho West  music mixed at
• Rancho West  music recorded at
• Screenplay Systems  budgeting
• Screenplay Systems  scheduling
• Studio West  music recording and mixing
• TBS Casting  extras casting
• Warner Hollywood Studios  re-recording facility

Also Known As:

"Usual Suspects" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and a substantial amount of strong language

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | Hungarian | Spanish | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | Chile:18 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:16 | Ireland:18 | Italy:T | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (No. 33466) | Iceland:16 | Philippines:R-18 | India:A | Netherlands:12 (TV rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

City Hall - 200 N. Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

Trivia:

All the actors worked for less than their usual fees.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When the police taxi service picked up the smuggler, after they were shown crossing the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, the smuggler handed the police the envelope of cash and asked if it was enough to get him to Staten Island. Having crossed the bridge, they would have already been in Staten Island. If they came from Newark Airport, they would have already been on and left Staten Island, but this wouldn't be the case as the New York City police would not have picked him up in Newark, New Jersey.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Keyser Soze:How you doing Keaton?
Keaton:I can't feel my legs... Keyser.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Two's a Mob (1998)

Soundtrack:

Le sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir

I'm Glad I Finally Got a Chance to See It

I don't know what the problem is. I had heard that this is an incomprehensible film. That when it ends we don't know what exactly happened. I thought that throughout the film we were in the loop, and even if we have an unreliable narrator, I suspected that from the start. Anyway, it's been a long time since I've been taken for such a joyride with such interesting characters, even if they are murderers and felons. The plot is woven so delicately and the threat is so interesting, that I was involved from the first minute. I always wondered how Kevin Spacey, a rather ordinary looking guy with a receding hairline, got to be so well known. Obviously, this is the reason. His performance is right on and he dominates the screen, even though he is a "gimp." There are so many layers in this film, but I don't think the screenwriter ever plays unfairly with it and it is quite satisfying.