American History X (1998)

Director:

Tony Kaye

Writer (WGA):

David McKenna (written by)

Release Date:

12 February 1999 (Denmark)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

His father taught him to hate. His friends taught him rage. His enemies gave him hope.

Plot:

A former neo-nazi skinhead tries to prevent his younger brother from going down the same wrong path that he did.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Skinhead | Neo Nazi | Gang | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Edward Norton	...	Derek Vinyard
Edward Furlong	...	Danny Vinyard
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Doris Vinyard
Jennifer Lien	...	Davina Vinyard
Ethan Suplee	...	Seth Ryan
Fairuza Balk	...	Stacey
Avery Brooks	...	Dr. Bob Sweeney
Elliott Gould	...	Murray
Stacy Keach	...	Cameron Alexander
William Russ	...	Dennis Vinyard
Guy Torry	...	Lamont
Joe Cortese	...	Rasmussen
Jason Bose Smith	...	Little Henry (as Jason Bose-Smith)
Antonio David Lyons	...	Lawrence
Alex Sol	...	Mitch McCormick
Keram Malicki-Sánchez	...	Chris (as Keram Malicki-Sanchez)
Giuseppe Andrews	...	Jason
Cleo Adell	...	Lizzy (as Michelle Christine White)
Jonathan Fowler Jr.	...	Jerome
Christopher Masterson	...	Daryl Dawson (as Chris Masterson)
Nicholas R. Oleson	...	Huge Aryan
Jordan Marder	...	Curtis
Paul Le Mat	...	McMahon
Thomas L. Bellissimo	...	Cop #2 (as Tommy L. Bellissimo)
Cherish Lee	...	Kammi
Sam Vlahos	...	Dr. Aguilar
Tara Blanchard	...	Ally Vinyard
Anne Lambton	...	Cassandra
Steve Wolford	...	Reporter
Richard Noyce	...	Desk Sergeant
Danso Gordon	...	Buddy #1
Jim Norton	...	Randy
David Basulto	...	Guard
Alexis Rose Coen	...	Young Ally Vinyard
Kiante Elam	...	Lawrence's Partner (as Kiant Elam)
Paul Hopkins	...	Student
Keith Odett	...	Random Skinhead
Paul E. Short	...	Stocky Buddy (as Paul Short)
Nigel Miguel	...	Basketball Player
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Darrell Britt	...	White Supremicist (uncredited)
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter	...	Skinhead (uncredited)
Sydney 'Big Dawg' Colston	...	Prison Gang Leader (uncredited)
Hans Cozzens	...	Police officer #2 (uncredited)
John Embry	...	Parking Lot Skinhead (uncredited)
Maximillian Kesmodel	...	Young Danny Vinyard (uncredited)
Barbie Marie	...	Student (uncredited)
Allie Moss	...	Skinhead Girlfriend (uncredited)
Denney Pierce	...	Arresting Officer (uncredited)
Glendon Rich	...	Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
Louis E. Rosas	...	Jail Inmate (uncredited)
Sam Sarpong	...	Jail Inmate (uncredited)
Mark Swanson	...	Skinhead in Store (uncredited)
Jeremy Sweet	...	Skinhead (uncredited)
Selwyn Ward	...	High School Student Leaving Bathroom (uncredited)

Directed by
Tony Kaye

Writing credits (WGA)
David McKenna		(written by)

Produced by
Bill Carraro	....	executive producer
Michael De Luca	....	co-executive producer
Jon Hess	....	co-producer
David McKenna	....	co-producer
John Morrissey	....	producer
Kearie Peak	....	executive producer
Steve Tisch	....	executive producer
Lawrence Turman	....	executive producer
Brian Witten	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Anne Dudley

Cinematography by
Tony Kaye

Film Editing by
Gerald B. Greenberg		(as Jerry Greenberg)
Alan Heim

Casting by
Valerie McCaffrey

Production Design by
Jon Gary Steele

Art Direction by
J. Kyler Black		(as James Kyler Black)
Dan Olexiewicz

Set Decoration by
Tessa Posnansky

Costume Design by
Doug Hall

Makeup Department
Judith A. Cory	....	supervising key hair (as Judith Alexander-Cory)
Bill Fletcher	....	wig maker
Heather Fraker	....	makeup artist
Karyn Huston	....	hair stylist
John E. Jackson	....	supervising key makeup
Matthew W. Mungle	....	special effects makeup artist
Gina Rylander	....	body makeup artist
Christina Smith	....	supervising key makeup

Production Management
Bill Carraro	....	unit production manager
Carla Fry	....	executive in charge of production
Diana Kaufman	....	post-production supervisor
Michael Mandaville	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Cotone	....	first assistant director
Michael Keller	....	second second assistant director
David Larson	....	second assistant director
Rusty Mahmood	....	dga trainee
Scott Harris	....	first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Curtis Baruth	....	construction coordinator (as Curtis W. Baruth)
Sharleen Bright	....	head scenic artist
Clovis Chamberet	....	lead man (as Clovis Chambaret)
Michael Cudlitz	....	construction coordinator
Franco Esile	....	set dresser
Steven E. Eyrse	....	scenic artist
Brandon S. Gilgen	....	scenic painter
Chris Griffiths	....	set dresser
Vincent M. Jackson	....	scenic painter
Pete Josephs	....	construction foreman (as Peter Josephs)
Ian Kay	....	prop assistant
Craig Lafferty	....	on-set dresser
Lynda Reiss	....	property master
Lisa Roman	....	set dresser
Parker Swanson	....	assistant property master
Le'Von Webb	....	set dresser (as Lévon Webb)

Sound Department
Joe Barnett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Javier Bennassar	....	sound effects editor
Dorian Cheah	....	sound effects editor
Benjamin L. Cook	....	background sound editor (as Benjamin Cook)
Suzanne Davis	....	utility cable
Jed M. Dodge	....	dialogue editor (as Jed Dodge)
Roger Dudley	....	additional sound engineer
Mary Erstad	....	foley mixer
David Lee Fein	....	foley artist (as David Lee Fine)
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Cormac Funge	....	sound effects editor
Robert Getty	....	assistant sound editor
Kurt Godel	....	transfer engineer
David Grant	....	dialogue editor
Tom Hartig	....	boom operator (as Thomas W. Hartig)
Frederick Howard	....	sound designer
Frederick Howard	....	supervising sound editor
Craig Jurkiewicz	....	foley editor
Ossama Khuluki	....	foley artist (as Ossame Khuluki)
David Mann	....	foley editor
Diane Marshall	....	foley artist
Bob McNabb	....	dialogue editor (as Robert McNabb)
Michael Mullane	....	background sound editor
Steve Nelson	....	production sound mixer
Sarah Peterson	....	dialogue assistant
Yuri Reese	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Ross	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Scoville	....	dialogue editor
Susan Shin	....	adr supervisor
Anne Slack	....	transfer engineer
William Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bill Smith)
Walter Spencer	....	dialogue editor
Lucy Sustar	....	foley mixer
Roland N. Thai	....	sound effects editor (as Roland Thai)
Paul Coogan	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Michael Ferdie	....	production sound editor (uncredited)
Jason George	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Cameron Hamza	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Dean Hovey	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Robert Jackson	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Scott Jones	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Thomas Jones	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Paul Vik Marshall	....	pickups sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)
Paul Vik Marshall	....	sound mixer (uncredited)
Aletha Rodgers	....	sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)
Walter Spencer	....	production sound editor (uncredited)
Kelly Vandever	....	additional sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Charles Belardinelli	....	special effects (as Charlie Belardinelli)
Thomas L. Bellissimo	....	special effects supervisor (as Tom Bellissimo)
Jerry Donegan	....	special effects
Christy Sumner	....	special effects
Malia Thompson	....	special effects
Shannon J. Thompson	....	special effects (as Shannon Thompson)

Visual Effects by
Stephen Jennings	....	visual effects production assistant (uncredited)

Stunts
Charles Belardinelli	....	stunts
Chris Carnel	....	stunts
Eugene Collier	....	stunts
Kevin LaRosa	....	stunts
Chai Lee	....	stunts
Dwayne McGee	....	stunts
Francine Morris	....	stunts
Ernie F. Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator (as Ernie Orsatti)
Noon Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator
Mark Orson	....	stunts
Jimmy Ortega	....	stunts
Courtney Pakiz	....	stunt double
Eddie Perez	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunt coordinator
Paul Sherrod	....	stunts
Paul E. Short	....	stunt coordinator (as Paul Short)
Russell Solberg	....	stunts
Sammy Thurman	....	stunts
Frank Torres	....	stunts
Mark Aaron Wagner	....	stunts (as Mark Ron Wagner)
Eddie Wong	....	stunts
Merritt Yohnka	....	stunts (as Merritt Yohnke)

Camera and Electrical Department
James Alden	....	grip
Curtis A. Andrews Jr.	....	lamp operator
Curtis A. Andrews Jr.	....	rigging gaffer
Tim Angelo	....	best boy grip
Mark Bolin	....	dolly grip
Rick Drapkin	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
David Elmore	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Scott England	....	lamp operator
Warren Feldman	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
David Jarrell	....	chief lighting technician
John T. Martin	....	key grip
John McCoy	....	video playback operator
Sean Hunter Moe	....	camera loader
Charles Papert	....	Steadicam operator
Charles Papert	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Rico Priem	....	grip
James Scott	....	best boy electric
John Sekula	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
Fred Talmadge	....	24 frame video operator
Barry Berona	....	first assistant camera: additional photography (uncredited)
Joe Crouch	....	electrician (uncredited)
Isaac Friedman	....	film loader: second unit (uncredited)
Eric J. Goldstein	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Barry Gross	....	electrician (uncredited)
Leyla Monique Guzman	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Barry Idoine	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Tony Kaye	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Gaston Langer	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Dale Obert	....	electrician (uncredited)
Dale Obert	....	gaffer: additional unit (uncredited)
Christopher C. Pearson	....	first assistant camera: additional photography (uncredited)
Bradley Richard	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
William Robinson	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Joe Adams	....	casting assistant (as Joseph Adams)
Bill Dance	....	extras casting
Terrence Harris	....	extras casting assistant (as Terence Harris)
Mark Williamson	....	extras casting assistant
Terrence Harris	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marisa Aboitiz	....	costume supervisor
Yvette Ammon	....	additional set costumer
Ulker Irazat	....	seamstress
Ángela Núñez	....	costumer (as Angela Nunez)
Lisa Parmet	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Glenn Cocco	....	first assistant editor
Kim Ettinger	....	assistant editor
Joe Fineman	....	executive in charge of post-production
Bob McMillian	....	color timer
Danny Miller	....	first assistant editor (as Dan Miller)
Brandon Smith	....	post-production coordinator
Ron Stanik	....	assistant editor
Stephanie Olah	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)

Music Department
Paul Broucek	....	music executive
Paul Broucek	....	music supervisor
Bulge	....	music performers: score
Marc Cancel	....	musician: Bulge member
Karen Elliott	....	music coordinator: Air-Edel
Richard Ford	....	music editor
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestral contractor
Paul Hulme	....	scoring mixer
Stanley Mueller	....	musician: Bulge member
Christopher Rensink	....	musician: Bulge member
Lori Silfen	....	music business affairs
Keith Swan	....	musician: Bulge member
Gavyn Wright	....	orchestra leader
Peter Davies	....	musician (uncredited)
Woody Jackson	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Joseph Aroesti	....	driver
Tony Barattini	....	driver
Robin D. Bishop	....	driver (as Robin Bishop)
Joe Cosentino	....	transportation captain
Pat Cosentino	....	driver
Angel Desanti	....	driver (as Angel De Santi)
Ed Evans	....	driver
Dash Hart	....	driver
Geno Hart	....	transportation coordinator
Alvin Hurd	....	driver: honeywagon
Glenn Knowlton	....	driver
Glen Mathias	....	driver (as Glenn Mathias)
Bill Needham	....	driver
John Pellegrino	....	driver: production van
Adam Pinkstaff	....	transportation co-captain
Leo Stefanos	....	general manager: transportation
Leo Stefanos	....	transportation dispatcher
Tom Stillman	....	driver
Steven Luke Weible	....	driver: honeywagon (as Steve Weible)
Michael Burnette	....	transportation (uncredited)
Hardy Ophuls	....	driver: cast (uncredited)

Other crew
George Alonso	....	on-set medic
Matt Baird	....	set production assistant
Peter Barnett	....	first assistant production accountant (as Peter J. Barnett)
Lisa Behlendorf	....	post-production accountant
Paul Belenardo	....	production accountant
Olivette Brown	....	office staff production assistant
Rex Camphuis	....	set production assistant
Anthony Cortés	....	personal trainer: Edward Norton (as Anthony Cortes)
Wendy Cox	....	production coordinator
Avy Eschenasy	....	production attorney
Michael Estrella	....	set production assistant
April Fawcett	....	set production assistant
Nancy A. Flint	....	studio teacher (as Nancy Flint)
Emily Glatter	....	in-house coordinator
Keeley Gould	....	assistant: Mr. Kaye
Susan Hart	....	production associate
Phil Hickerson	....	set production assistant (as Phil S. Hickerson)
Erik Holmberg	....	production executive
Ira Hurvitz	....	script supervisor
Karen Jarnecke	....	assistant production coordinator
Brian R. Keathley	....	craft service
Kevin LaRosa	....	helicopter pilot
Andrew Lipschultz	....	unit publicist
Patti J. McDaniel	....	assistant: Mr. Carraro
Nick Mestrundrea	....	craft service (as Nick Mestrandrea)
Matthew Mizel	....	assistant: Mr. Kaye
Jeff Myers	....	set production assistant
John Nisbet	....	set production assistant
Johanna Parker	....	set production assistant
Paul Prokop	....	production controller
Joshua Ravetch	....	production resources
Marc Rindner	....	production attorney
Oscar Luis Rodriguez	....	additional best boy (as Oscar Rodriguez)
Silvie Rodriguez	....	animal trainer
Marc E. Spiegel	....	location manager (as Marc Spiegel)
Sihu Suhr	....	accounting clerk
Tim Swan	....	location scout (as Tim Swann)
Sonya Thompsen	....	contract administrator
Paul Tompkins	....	assistant location manager (as Paul Tompkins)
Omar Torres	....	office staff production assistant
Eric Troop	....	set production assistant (as Eric Topp)
Natalie Trussell	....	production secretary
Timothy P. Tundel	....	payroll accountant (as Tim Tundel)
Ryan Wallace	....	office staff production assistant
Chris Warren	....	caterer
Chris Warren	....	chef
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter	....	choreographer: slam pit (uncredited)
Sean Jordan	....	interactive media (uncredited)
Peter Menich	....	title designer (uncredited)
Kelli Sample	....	dialogue research (uncredited)
Chase White	....	personal assistant: Tony Kaye (uncredited)

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Savoy Pictures
• Turman-Morrissey Company, The

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (1998) (USA) (theatrical) (a Time Warner company)
• Aurum Producciones (1998) (Spain) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (1999) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• H.O.M. Vision (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Amuse Video (2000) (Japan) (DVD)
• Amuse Video (2000) (Japan) (VHS)
• Sandrews (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Amuse Video (2003) (Japan) (DVD)
• AXN (2006) (Japan) (TV)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2006) (United Arab Emirates) (video) (Middle East)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (limited edition steelbook)
• Entertainment in Video (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Bros. Finland (1999) (Finland) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (Hong Kong)
• Herald Film Company (Japan)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (Germany)
• Líder Films (Spain)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (France)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment (Australia)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (1999) (Finland) (VHS)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2000) (Finland) (DVD)
• United Paramount Network (UPN) (2002) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Vitória Filmes (Portugal)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2004) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Air-Edel Associates  music coordination
• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring
• Angel Records  soundtrack available on
• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting (uncredited)
• Cast & Crew Entertainment Services  payroll services (as Cast and Crew Entertainment Services)
• Deluxe Catering  catering
• Digital Sound and Picture  sound post-production
• Good Spot  main titles designed by (as Goodspot)
• Howard Anderson Company, The  opticals (as Howard Anderson Co.)
• L.A. Mad Dogs  loop group
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting
• Rescues Unlimited  medical services
• WPA Film Library  stock footage courtesy of
• Whitfield Street Studios  score recorded and mixed at

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic brutal violence including rape, pervasive language, strong sexuality and nudity

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Belgium:KNT | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Israel:18 | Italy:VM18 | Japan:R | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 (original rating) | USA:R | Greece:K-17 | UK:15 (re-rating) (2012) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Spain:18 | Australia:MA | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:14 | Denmark:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Johnie's Coffee Shop - 6101 Wilshire Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

According to the book Cinematic Century, Tony Kaye's lawsuit against the studio over the use of his name in the credits was for $275 million.

Goofs:

Continuity: Derek has his top button buttoned when the doors open to exit is cell. Once out of the cell, the button is unbuttoned.

Quotes:

Doris Vinyard:I'm ashamed that you came out of my body.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Cameron Diaz/Smashing Pumpkins (#24.1)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Battle Hymn of the Republic

This was probably the best movie I've ever seen

I honestly don't think I have ever seen a better movie than American History X in my entire life! I may only be 14, but I have seen a lot of movies. I am an avid fan of them, and this one just takes the cake. Edward Norton is just unbelievable. He is the most talented actor I've ever laid eyes on. His performance in the movie is phenomenal. He delves so deep into his character that he can convince the whole audience easily of his neo-nazi role. The look on his face as he walks back from killing one man in the first seen is purely horrifying. The entire move was dramatic, intriguing, and powerful. It really is moving and emotional as well as scary. It is so true to life, and provides the viewer with such insight into the life and events that create a monster such as Derek Vinyard. It answers many questions I have long awaited an answer to such as what could possibly make someone act as Derek did in this movie, yet left open-ended many others that people such as myself may have. Almost every single scene in the movie was extremely captivating. I can't even go on to say more about the acting, other than if Edward Norton does not win best actor this year, I will go absolutely nuts. It's bad enough he lost it to Cuba Gooding Jr. when he was in Primal Fear, which was yet another incredible performance by him. Edward Furlong, the little kid from T2 is astounding as the confused brother of Derek. I was stunned walking out of the theater after seeing American History X, and I don't think I will ever have the benefit of seeing another movie as good as this one as long as I live. I recommend anyone with a good tolerance for violent and graphic depictions go see this movie. I am bewildered as to why director Tony Kaye would ever want out of this success. If I were to rate this movie, as I often do for others in reviewing them for school, I would give it an A+ with all of my heart.