Palmetto (1998)

Director:

Volker Schlöndorff

Writers (WGA):

James Hadley Chase (novel)
E. Max Frye (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 February 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

In a town this bad, it's hard to be good...

Plot:

A recently released ex-con gets involved in a fake kidnapping scheme that turns very real.

Plot Keywords:

Fake Kidnapping | Prison | Scam | Release From Prison | Press Conference

Cast

Woody Harrelson	...	Harry Barber
Elisabeth Shue	...	Mrs. Donnelly / Rhea Malroux
Gina Gershon	...	Nina
Rolf Hoppe	...	Felix Malroux
Michael Rapaport	...	Donnely
Chloë Sevigny	...	Odette (as Chloe Sevigny)
Tom Wright	...	John Renick
Marc Macaulay	...	Miles Meadows
Joe Hickey	...	Lawyer
Ralph Wilcox	...	Judge
Peter Paul DeLeo	...	Bartender (as Peter Paul Deleo)
Hal Jones	...	Ed
Salvador Levy	...	Driver
Richard Booker	...	Billy Holden
Mikki Scanlon	...	Alda renick (as Mikki McKeever)

Also Known As:

Dumme sterben nicht aus
Just Another Sucker (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, language and some violence.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Florida, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the scene where Donnelly is putting Harry in the trunk of the car outside Malroux's house, a hose nozzle providing "rain" can be seen in the upper right corner of the widescreen version. A clip from the same scene with the same mistake is in the trailer included on the DVD.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[palmetto bug chirping over typical prison sounds]
Harry Barber: They're not as bad as you might think. In fact, sometimes they're pretty good company.
[pause]
Harry Barber: And you can get used to just about anything in prison, even a palmetto bug.
[pause]
Harry Barber: I tried writing again. Nothing came out that didn't sound bitter and cynical. And there's nothing worse than a writer who doesn't have anything to say.
[pause]
Harry Barber: Well... that's me, Harry Barber.

THE modern film noir classic

This brilliantly-written film has everything a great film noir movie needs. First and foremost, the femme fatale Rhea Malroux, played with cunning accuracy by Elisabeth Shue, and the sucker who gets screwed over, Harry Barber, played by Woody Harrelson. Another important and necessary element is the sticky, hot Florida climate, that adds to the erotic atmosphere. The money is the object of everyone's desire as well. Because of all this and much more, "Palmetto" achieves what every film noir film shoots for. Thrills, surprises, murder and steam. Trailers and reviews made the film sound like a sex romp, when in reality there isn't one nudity shot in the whole thing. Because "Palmetto" is not about nudity. It's more than that, like any good film noir is. It's about TEASING. About strutting and never showing all the goods. Rhea Malroux struts her stuff alright, but never strips. And that's much better than gratuitous sex and nudity. Much better. The film focuses more on the plot, about a fake kidnapping scheme that is sure to please everyone...if it goes smoothly. And of course, it doesn't. Bodies turn up, and people are not who they seem. Harry Barber quickly realizes he's gotten too deep in something he never should have gotten involved in. But after serving two years of a four-year sentence in an 8X10 jail cell for a crime he didn't commit, he feels someone owes him. So he agrees to participate in a fake kidnapping that will get the wife of rich Felix Malroux 500,000 dollars and Harry a nice whopping 50,000. But because Harry is not naughty by nature, he doesn't do well disguising his innocence and his guilt comes through, sweating profusely when the DA Renick calls him in to act as reporter, Harry can't take the "heat". He attempts to call the whole thing off, but once told the money's already been delivered, he can't help it. He wants back in. E. Max Frye is the brilliance here, for his script says it all. Based on an old pulp novel "Just Another Sucker" by European author James Hadley Chase, the film is directed by Volker Schlondorff, who should also be commended. The acting is first rate, and purposefully over-the-top by brilliant Elisabeth Shue as the best femme fatale I personally have ever seen grace the silver screen. This is not a must rent, it's a must BUY!