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:

Neo Noir | Adultery | Bar Scene | Beach House | Boyfriend Girlfriend Relationship

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)
Bill Larson	...	Parking Lot Man
T.W. Terry	...	Prison Guard (as Tim W. Terry)
Jim Janey	...	Policeman
Brett Rice	...	Crash Site Cop
Vince Cecere	...	Tow Truck Driver
Don Bright	...	Crime Scene Cop
Ernie Garrett	...	TV Anchor
Karin J. Ivester	...	Forensic Detective
Marcus Thomas	...	Courtroom Photographer
Douglas Mann	...	Courtroom Reporter (as Douglas J. Mann II)
Jim R. Coleman	...	Reporter #1 (as Jim Coleman)
Victoria Tan	...	Reporter #2
Stephen McGruder	...	Convict
Annabelle Weenick	...	Ted
Wil Kilmer	...	Bungalow Cop
Ginger King	...	The Real Rhea
Cory Blevins	...	Hotel Clerk
Duncan Chamberlain	...	Gallery Maitre D'
Peggy Sheffield	...	Woman Customer
Karen E. Fraction	...	Plainclothes Cop (as Karen Fraction)
Gary Lowe	...	Boathouse Cop
Kenneth L. Bright	...	Boathouse Cop
Jay Ridings	...	Boathouse Cop
Graig Himes	...	Boathouse Cop
James Gaunt	...	Boathouse Cop
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeff Blazy	...	Himself - 107.9 YNF Radio DJ (uncredited)
Gail Borges	...	Art Buyer (uncredited)
James Martin Kelly	...	Homicide Detective (uncredited)
Laird Stuart	...	Bank Manager (uncredited)

Directed by
Volker Schlöndorff		(as Volker Schlondorff)

Writing credits (WGA)
James Hadley Chase		(novel "Just Another Sucker")
E. Max Frye		(screenplay)

Produced by
Al Corley	....	executive producer
Nick G. Miller	....	consulting producer
Eugene Musso	....	executive producer
Bart Rosenblatt	....	executive producer
Matthias Wendlandt	....	producer

Original Music by
Klaus Doldinger

Cinematography by
Thomas Kloss

Film Editing by
Peter Przygodda

Casting by
Dianne Crittenden

Production Design by
Claire Jenora Bowin

Set Decoration by
Jane B. Johnson

Costume Design by
Terry Dresbach

Makeup Department
Lynn Barber	....	makeup artist
Laurent DuFourg	....	hair stylist: Ms. Shue (as Laurent D For Prive)
Kimberly Greene	....	key makeup artist
Desne J. Holland	....	makeup artist: Ms. Shue (as Desne Holland)
Melissa A. Yonkey	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Gerard DiNardi	....	production supervisor (as Gerard Dinardi)
Bart Rosenblatt	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lisa J. Bloch	....	second second assistant director (as Lisa Joi Bloch)
T. Sean Ferguson	....	second assistant director
John E. Gallagher	....	first assistant director
Richard Clabaugh	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Robert Baker	....	set dresser
Michael Calabrese	....	lead man
Peter Carey	....	stand-by scenic
Gare Cline	....	art department coordinator
R.S. Cotner	....	painter
Stephen P. Durante	....	swing
Ron Erdberg	....	set dresser
David Ferguson	....	construction foreman
Dan Grant	....	painter
Justin Leach	....	storyboard artist
Vic Meyrich	....	construction coordinator
David Mosall	....	propmaker
Jerry Pirkl	....	propmaker
Vicky Randall	....	sculptor
Philip Schneider	....	property master (as Philip G. Schneider)
Manny Serrano	....	greensman
C. Ryan Taylor	....	storyboard artist
Karen Virgin	....	art department buyer
Jo Ann E. Waters-Atkins	....	charge scenic artist
Cary Whittaker	....	set dresser (as Cary Whitaker)
Joel R. Wilhelmi	....	property assistant
Paul C. Wright	....	propmaker

Sound Department
Manfred Arbter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Anja Bau	....	foley recordist
André Bendocchi-Alves	....	sound effects supervisor (as Andre Bendocchi Alves)
Dominik Bollen	....	adr editor
Dominik Bollen	....	dialogue editor
Jeff Cannon	....	additional boom operator
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator
Ryan Dumford	....	sound production assistant
Claudia Froehlich	....	foley editor (as Claudia Frolich)
Claudia Froehlich	....	sound effects editor (as Claudia Frohlich)
Margot Godow	....	sound recordist
Tommy Klemt	....	sound engineer
Hans-Walter Kramski	....	foley artist
Jörn Poetzl	....	foley artist (as Joern Poetzl)
Brigitte Pradel	....	sound recordist
James Troutman	....	adr supervisor: Los Angeles (as Jim Troutman)
Rick Waddell	....	additional sound mixer (as Richard Waddell)
Mark Weingarten	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Ken Gorrell	....	assistant special effects coordinator
Richard Lee Jones	....	special effects coordinator
Kevin Sturgill	....	special effects technician
David Tyrrell	....	special effects technician (as David S. Tyrrell)

Visual Effects by
Michael Hosenfeld	....	additional digital effects (uncredited)
Thomas Mulack	....	digital effects producer: c.o.r.e. digital pictures GmbH (uncredited)

Stunts
Michael Justus	....	stunts
Mic Rodgers	....	stunts (as Mac Rodgers)
Tim Trella	....	stunt coordinator
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Geoff Bailer	....	rigging grip
Robert Baker	....	rigging grip
Sidney Ray Baldwin	....	still photographer (as Sidney Baldwin)
T.J. Beatty	....	gaffer: second unit
Rusty Burrell	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Jeff Caples	....	second assistant camera (as Jeff S. Caples)
Richard Clabaugh	....	director of photography: second unit
Todd A. Decker	....	camera production assistant (as Todd Decker)
Paul Doucet	....	grip
Tom Durkin	....	best boy grip
Peter Farber	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jamie Felz	....	first assistant camera
Paul Hamacher	....	dolly grip (as Pual Hamacher)
Bruce Hansen	....	video playback technician
Norm Harris	....	lighting specialist
Ira R. Hartig	....	rigging grip
Joe Humphreys	....	rigging gaffer (as Joseph Humphreys Jr.)
William J. Lawler	....	rigging grip
Patrick Longman	....	aerial photographer: second unit
Jimmi Lyon	....	best boy electric
David McColley	....	crane operator
Greg Morse	....	video playback technician
John Muliler	....	lamp operator (as John E. Mulier)
Richard Osborn Jr.	....	camera operator (as Richard 'Ozzie' Osborn Jr.)
Rusty Pouch	....	chief lighting technician (as Arnold 'Rusty' Pouch)
Robert Reedy Jr.	....	lamp operator (as Robert Reedy)
Robert M. Sagaser	....	camera loader
Eduardo D. Salinas	....	lamp operator
Scott Short	....	key rigging grip
Todd M. Short	....	key grip
Gregg M. Wolf	....	rigging grip

Casting Department
Kathy Laughlin	....	extras casting: Florida
Ken Lazer	....	casting associate: Florida
Lori Wyman	....	casting: Florida (as Lory S. Wyman)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Melody Haines	....	set costumer
Leslie Herman	....	set costume supervisor
Askia Won-Ling Jacob	....	dresser: Mr. Harrelson
Stacy Seeds	....	costume supervisor: Los Angeles (as Stacey Seeds)
Rory Valentine	....	costumer: Los Angeles

Editorial Department
Linda DeMarco	....	color timer (as Linda Demarco)
Udo Happel	....	post-production coordinator
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Oli Weiss	....	assistant editor (as Oliver Weiss)

Music Department
Deva Anderson	....	music supervisor
Klaus Doldinger	....	orchestrator
Peter O'Mara	....	musician: additional guitar

Transportation Department
Nelson Antinori	....	transportation co-captain
Johnny A. Baio	....	driver
Wanda Boy	....	driver
Pat Daly	....	driver
Richard F. Diez	....	transportation co-captain (as Rick 'Chi Chi' Diez)
Gary Duncan	....	driver: insert car
Olivero Gonzolez	....	driver
Robert Jordan	....	driver (as Robert 'Budda' Jordan)
Juli Kestner	....	driver
Ken Kirkpatrick	....	driver
J. Wayne Lawson	....	driver
Joe Lewis	....	driver
Carmelo Olivero	....	driver
Jay Palomino	....	driver
Bill Paser	....	driver
Randy Peeks	....	driver
H. Alan Powell	....	transportation assistant: Mr. Hoppe
Ted Robinson	....	driver
Roy Roundtree	....	driver
Myron P. Shepherd	....	transportation coordinator
Donald Smith	....	driver
Robert Smith	....	driver (as Robert E. Smith)
Steve Valdez	....	driver
John R. Valentino	....	driver
Don Wolsefer	....	driver
Marsha Lawson Young	....	transportation office coordinator

Other crew
Jeff Blazy	....	local radio backgrounds
Annet Boxheimer	....	assistant to executive producer
Mark Brown	....	assistant: Mr. Wendlant
Brigitte Burdine	....	adr loop group
Max Burke-Phillips	....	intern
Robert Cahoon	....	assistant production coordinator
Jennifer Capo	....	stand-in
Dan Carter	....	projectionist
Elayne Barbara Ceder	....	title designer (as Elayne Ceder)
Jeff Clarey	....	intern
Denis Doyle	....	set production assistant
Brian Doyle-Murray	....	adr loop group
Claudia Dunn	....	adr loop group
Hector Elias	....	adr loop group
Wayne Forman	....	caterer
Robert S. Gray	....	laboratory assistant
Al Guthery	....	helicopter pilot: second unit (as Al Guthrie)
Frank Gyori	....	caterer
Mark Halloran	....	production attorney
Tracy Harshman	....	production executive: Mr. Harrelson
Monika Helmer	....	production accountant
Gus Holzer	....	location manager
K.C. Irick	....	location manager: Fort Myers (as Kirkston C. Irick)
Karin J. Ivester	....	stand-in (as Karin Ivester)
Claudio Jacobells	....	set production assistant
James Martin Kelly	....	stand-in (as Jim Kelly)
Michael Klastorin	....	unit publicist (as Michael E. Klastorin)
James Land	....	stand-in
Anthony J. Lenzo	....	intern
Jennifer Lloyd	....	intern
Michael Maguire	....	marine coordinator (as Mike Maguire)
Angela Marquis	....	assistant: Berlin
Michael J. McCarthy	....	craft service (as Michael J. 'Mickey' McCarthy)
Matt McCoy	....	adr loop group
Cheri Melchtone	....	stand-in
Shelby Miller	....	intern (as Shelby 'Super Girl' Miller)
James R. Millican	....	assistant to executive producer
Sandra Milliner	....	assistant: Ms. Shue (as Sandy Watters)
Sandra Milliner	....	set production assistant: second unit (as Sandy Watters)
Mamie Mitchell	....	script supervisor
Fred Moyse	....	first aid (as William 'Fred' Moyse)
Melissa Mulloy	....	location assistant
Sandy Newlands	....	adr loop group
Roger Perez	....	caterer
Susan Rhoden	....	set tailor
Deke Rivers	....	wrangler
Burke P. Robinson	....	location assistant
Steven Sands	....	stand-in
Jorge E. Senisse	....	office production assistant
Ronnie Simmons	....	stand-in
Sherrill Smith	....	assistant location manager
Diane Sterling	....	payroll accountant (as Diana Sterling)
Robin Stuart	....	assistant: Mr. Harrelson
Gerry Sullivan	....	caterer
Alison Troy	....	set production assistant
Lisa Vijitchanton	....	intern
Casandra Voltolina	....	production secretary
Sandy Watterson	....	production coordinator
Tess Whelan	....	additional first aid
Erin White	....	intern
Andreas Zachai	....	assistant: Mr. Schlondorff
Jonathan Dana	....	production consultant (uncredited)
Alex V. Hurley	....	location production assistant (uncredited)
J.R. Von Schondorf	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Castle Rock Entertainment
• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Rialto Film

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures
• LK-TEL (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE)
• Tobis Filmkunst (Germany)

Special Effects

• C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures
• Cinema Research
• D. Rez Hollywood

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• Studio Babelsberg  post-production facilities
• Visual Voices  adr loop group

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:G (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:16 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | 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:

Continuity: When Harry is told by the judge that his conviction was overturned, Harry yells at the judge and the judge turns off the feed, leaving the screen black. In the next shot when Harry rushes towards the television, the image of the judge at his desk has returned.

Quotes:

Harry Barber: I tried writing but nothing comes out. There's nothing worse than a writer who has nothing to say.

Surprises at every turn.

Although the characters lack credibility (it seems like every single woman in the history, all of them gorgeous, is dying to get into the underwear of the main male character as a matter of urgency).

Nevertheless the plot is unusual and nothing is what it looks. All seems like a normal thriller in which the roles of everybody are the typical ones but the surprises that unfold in the last minutes make it a watchable twist around a theme many times explored before.

The superb luscious ladies and the unusual plot make it a good watch,