The Hurricane (1999)

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers (WGA):

Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter (book)
Sam Chaiton (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 January 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Based on the inspirational true story of a champion.

Plot:

The story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a boxer wrongly imprisoned for murder, and the people who aided in his fight to prove his innocence.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | African American | Boxing | Book | Boxer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 7 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Denzel Washington	...	Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter
Vicellous Reon Shannon	...	Lesra Martin
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Lisa Peters
Liev Schreiber	...	Sam Chaiton
John Hannah	...	Terry Swinton
Dan Hedaya	...	Det. Sgt. Della Pesca
Debbi Morgan	...	Mae Thelma Carter
Clancy Brown	...	Lt. Jimmy Williams
David Paymer	...	Myron Bedlock
Harris Yulin	...	Leon Friedman
Rod Steiger	...	Judge Sarokin
Badja Djola	...	Mobutu
Vincent Pastore	...	Alfred Bello
Al Waxman	...	Warden at Rahway Penitentiary
David Lansbury	...	U.S. Court Prosecutor
Garland Whitt	...	John Artis
Chuck Cooper	...	Earl Martin
Brenda Denmark	...	Alma Martin (as Brenda Thomas Denmark)
Marcia Bennett	...	Jean Wahl
Beatrice Winde	...	Louise Cockersham
Mitchell Taylor Jr.	...	Young Rubin Carter
Bill Raymond	...	Judge Anthony Rizzoli
Merwin Goldsmith	...	Judge Larner
John A. MacKay	...	Man at Falls
Donnique Privott	...	Boy at Falls
Moynan King	...	Tina Barbieri
Gary DeWitt Marshall	...	Nite Spot Cabbie
John Christopher Jones	...	Reporter at Bar
Gwendolyn Mulamba	...	Nite Spot Woman
Richard Davidson	...	Detective - Paterson
George T. Odom	...	Big Ed (as George Odom)
Tonye Patano	...	Woman at Prison
Fulvio Cecere	...	Policeman - Paterson
Phillip Jarrett	...	Soldier #1 in U.S.O. Club
Rodney 'Bear' Jackson	...	Soldier #2 in U.S.O. Club (as Rodney M. Jackson)
Judi Embden	...	Woman in U.S.O. Club
Terry Claybon	...	Emile Griffith
Ben Bray	...	Joey Giardello
Michael Justus	...	Joey Cooper
Kenneth McGregor	...	Detective at Hospital
Frank Proctor	...	Ring Announcer - Pittsburgh
Peter Wylie	...	Referee - Pittsburgh
David Gray	...	TV Announcer - Pittsburgh
Joe Matheson	...	Ring Announcer - Philadelphia
Bill Lake	...	TV Announcer - Philadelphia
Robin Ward	...	TV Announcer - Reading, PA
Harry Davis	...	Referee - Reading, PA
Pippa Pearthree	...	Patty Valentine
Jean Daigle	...	Detective
Rob Evans	...	Detective at Paterson Bar (as Robert Evans)
Scott Gibson	...	Reporter at Banquet
Ann Holloway	...	Cashier
Bruce McFee	...	Prison Guard
Conrad Bergschneider	...	Prison Guard
Satori Shakoor	...	Prison Guard
Zoran Radusinovic	...	Prison Guard
Stephen Lee Wright	...	Prison Guard
Michael Bodnar	...	Prison Guard
Carson Manning	...	Prison Guard
Debrah Ellen Waller	...	Prison Guard
Richard Litt	...	Prison Guard
Adam Large	...	Prison Guard
Peter Graham	...	Prisoner with Camera
George Masswohl	...	Mechanic
Lawrence Sacco	...	Policeman - New Jersey
David Frisch	...	Policeman - New Jersey
Ralph Brown	...	Federal Court Assistant Prosecutor
Dyron Holmes	...	Reporter
Ryan Williams	...	Elstan Martin (as Ryann Williams)
Bruce Vavrina	...	St. Joseph's Doctor
Brenda Braxton	...	Dancer with John Artis
Christopher Riordan	...	Jury Foreman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Guy Ale	...	Arthur Bradley (uncredited)
Muhammad Ali	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Ellen Burstyn	...	Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bob Dylan	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joe Frazier	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Matt Graver	...	Ringside Reporter (uncredited)
Michael Harkins	...	Prison Guard (uncredited)
David Sparrow	...	Cop #2 (DVD only) (uncredited)
Michael Stevens	...	Prison Barber (uncredited)

Directed by
Norman Jewison

Writing credits (WGA)
Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter		(book "The 16th Round")
Sam Chaiton		(book "Lazarus and the Hurricane") and
Terry Swinton		(book "Lazarus and the Hurricane")
Armyan Bernstein		(screenplay) and
Dan Gordon		(screenplay)

Produced by
Marc Abraham	....	executive producer
Irving Azoff	....	executive producer
Armyan Bernstein	....	producer
Thomas A. Bliss	....	executive producer
Suzann Ellis	....	co-producer
Jon Jashni	....	co-producer
Michael Jewison	....	co-producer
Norman Jewison	....	producer
John Ketcham	....	producer
Rudy Langlais	....	executive producer
Tom Rosenberg	....	executive producer
William Teitler	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Christopher Young

Cinematography by
Roger Deakins		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stephen E. Rivkin		(as Stephen Rivkin)

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Philip Rosenberg

Art Direction by
Dennis Davenport

Set Decoration by
Gordon Sim

Costume Design by
Aggie Guerard Rodgers

Makeup Department
John Caglione Jr.	....	makeup department head
Raul Hernandez	....	hair stylist
Irene Kent	....	key makeup artist
Nina Port	....	makeup artist
Mary Cooke	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Carol Cuddy	....	unit production manager: New York
Mathew Hart	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeff J.J. Authors	....	first assistant director (as J.J. Authors)
Chris Baillie	....	trainee assistant director
Paul F. Bernard	....	second assistant director: New York
Julie Brazeau	....	trainee assistant director
Darrin Brown	....	third assistant director
Terry Ham	....	second second assistant director: New York
Paul Hogan	....	dga trainee
Sarah Jarvis	....	assistant director
Keith J. Knight	....	assistant director
Lisa Mercurio	....	assistant director production assistant
Douglas Plasse	....	second second assistant director: New York (as Doug Plass)
Eric S. Potechin	....	second assistant director (as Eric Potechin)
Christopher Surgent	....	second assistant director: New York (as Chris Surgent)
Janet Zdyb	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Deryck Blake	....	assistant property master
Kelly Brine	....	storyboard artist
Ellen Christiansen	....	set decorator: New York
J.P. Dame	....	set dresser
David DeMarinis	....	second assistant decorator
Dawn H. Fisher	....	art department apprentice
Paul Greenberg	....	graphic designer
Marcel Laporte	....	assistant head carpenter
Jae Pak	....	assistant art director
Karl Schneider	....	head painter
Michael Shocrylas	....	set designer
Robert S. Smith	....	carpenter
Victoria Vanasco	....	set dresser
Patricia Walker	....	charge scenic
Holly Watson	....	art department coordinator: New York
Christopher Geggie	....	property master (uncredited)
Alexandra Mazur	....	assistant set decorator: New York (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ross Carter	....	assistant sound editor
Bruce Carwardine	....	production sound mixer
Jeanne Gilliland	....	boom operator: New York
Mark Gingras	....	sound effects editor
Wayne Griffin	....	supervising sound editor
Andy Koyama	....	sound re-recording mixer
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
John Laing	....	dialogue editor
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Peter Melnychuk	....	boom operator
Tim O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael O'Farrell	....	supervising sound editor
Brad Thornton	....	sound re-recording mixer
Don White	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rebecca Wright	....	foley recording assistant
Gren-Erich Zwicker	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Jason Board	....	special effects key
Kaz Kobielski	....	special effects coordinator
Peter Kunz	....	special effects coordinator: New York
Dean Stewart	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Lane Glisson	....	computer graphics
Jamie Hallett	....	digital compositor
Mark Tureski	....	optical effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Brittney Banks	....	stunt double
Peter Bucossi	....	stunt coordinator: New York
Shelley Cook	....	stunt performer
Mike Justus	....	utility stunts
Steve Lucescu	....	stunt driver
Jalil Jay Lynch	....	stunts
Branko Racki	....	stunt double
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt coordinator (as John A. Stoneham Jr.)
Timothy Klein	....	stunt player (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Terrence Laron Burke	....	grip
Angelo Colavecchia	....	additional camera operator
Candide Franklyn	....	camera operator
Duane Gullison	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Bruce Hamme	....	dolly grip
Jeremy Knaster	....	electrician
George Kraychyk	....	still photographer
Jim MacCammon	....	lighting technician
Mark Manchester	....	key grip
Charlie Marroquin	....	key grip
Malcolm Nefsky	....	best boy grip
Kevin Neshevich	....	assistant camera
David Niven	....	additional assistant camera
Beth Nobes	....	assistant camera
Bill O'Leary	....	gaffer: New York
Derek Parkes	....	grip
Marc Purdy	....	grip
Patrick Quinn	....	additional camera operator
Darren Ryan	....	24 frame video operator
Abe Schrager	....	camera operator: second unit
Dean Stinchcombe	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Craig Vaccaro	....	key rigging grip

Casting Department
Riccardo Bertoni	....	extras casting
Beth Bowling	....	casting associate
Robin D. Cook	....	casting: Canada
Aric Dupere	....	extras casting assistant
Donna Dupere	....	extras casting
Brad Gerstl	....	extras casting representative
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting
Julie Lichter	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marta Font	....	set costumer
Ann Henshaw	....	costume supervisor
Lauren Press	....	assistant costume designer
Marcia Scott	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Clare Bambrough	....	assistant editor
Mike Bellamy	....	final colorist
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Kathy LaCommare	....	assistant editor
Mike Milliken	....	color timer (as Michael Milliken)
Dawn M. Stoliar	....	first assistant editor
Paul Whitehead	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Pete Anthony	....	conductor
Pete Anthony	....	orchestrator
Kenneth Burgomaster	....	score coordinator
Anita Camarata	....	executive music consultant
Kostas Christides	....	score producer (as Konstantinos Christides)
Todd Cochran	....	additional music arranger
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Jim Dunbar	....	music consultant
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
Thomas Golubic	....	music coordinator
Tanya Noel Hill	....	music editor
Danny Holloway	....	music consultant
Jon Kull	....	orchestrator
Yvonne McDonald	....	music coordinator (as Yvonne S. McDonald)
Thomas Milano	....	supervising music editor
Flavio Motalla	....	score producer
Sujin Nam	....	score coordinator
Christopher S. Parker	....	music clearances
Jasper Randall	....	scoring coordinator: Christopher Young
David Reynolds	....	score coordinator
John Rodd	....	orchestral scoring recordist
G. Marq Roswell	....	music supervisor
Dennis Sager	....	scoring engineer
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Melodee Sutton	....	music coordinator
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn
Gernot Wolfgang	....	score coordinator
Gernot Wolfgang	....	scoring assistant
Christopher Young	....	orchestrator
Jeanette Surga	....	additional music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Ron Annabelle	....	picture cars
Patrick Hogan	....	driver
Stuart Mitchell	....	transportation captain
Dave Staples	....	transportation coordinator
Mitchel Stewart	....	driver captain

Other crew
Janine Anderton	....	production coordinator
Samantha Armstrong	....	script supervisor
Mark Barclay	....	assistant: Thomas A. Bliss
Angela Bellisio	....	assistant: William Teitler
Michael Blecher	....	location scout
Jeremy Boxen	....	production assistant
Kenneth Burgomaster	....	synthesizer programmer
Terry Claybon	....	boxing trainer: Mr. Washington
Christopher Comrie	....	payroll accountant
Jan Cosby	....	second assistant accountant
G. Michael Currie	....	production assistant
Shirley Davis	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Richard Devinki	....	production coordinator: Beacon
Katherine Dorrer	....	location scout: Baltimore
Greg Eby	....	first assistant accountant
Rich Fellegara	....	set medic
Lynn Foster	....	production assistant
Bill Garvey	....	location scout
Chris George	....	production assistant
Misty Green	....	assistant: Marc Abraham
Dianne Hatlestad	....	assistant to director
Mark Kamine	....	location manager
John Kenyon	....	location scout
Alex Kontsalakis	....	second assistant accountant
Keri Lederman	....	assistant production coordinator: New York
Sophia Lofters	....	assistant coordinator
Michael Mendelsohn	....	financial consultant
Michael Moniaros	....	location assistant
Kimberlee Morley	....	production secretary
Keith Park	....	location production assistant
Dawn Murphy Riley	....	production coordinator: New York
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator
David Smukler	....	dialect coach
Ron Stein	....	coordinator: boxing sequences
Guenevere Taylor	....	production assistant
Elaine Thurston	....	production accountant
Mimi Turner	....	location assistant
Ezra Venetos	....	production assistant
Nadezda Vukicevic	....	production assistant
Michelle Webster	....	production assistant
Elizabeth Zagrany	....	production accountant: second unit
Randee Lynne Jensen	....	creative assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Matthew Baer	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Azoff Entertainment
• Beacon Communications
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Sweden) (2000) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2000) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2000) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2000) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Pinema (2000) (Turkey) (all media)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Touchstone Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Fox Network (2003) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Buena Vista International (non-USA)
• GAGA Humax
• GAGA
• Metropolitan Filmexport (France)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• Roadshow Entertainment (Greece)
• Toho-Towa
• Universal Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (Greece)

Special Effects

• Global Effects Inc.

Other Companies

• All Star Motion Picture Catering  catering
• CBS News Archives  news footage courtesy of
• Canada Film Capital  tax incentive consulting services
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color (as Deluxe)
• DeLuxe Toronto  sound re-recording (as Deluxe Toronto)
• Deluxe Post-Production  post-production facilities
• Film Effects  titles and opticals
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as Jo Anne Kane)
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• NBC News Archives  news footage courtesy of
• Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox Studios, The  music recorded at (as The Newman Scoring Stage)
• Otto Nemenz International  camera equipment provided by
• Otto Nemenz International  cameras supplied by
• Producer's Library Service  archival stock footage provided by (as Producers Library Service)
• Toronto Film Studios  movie studio
• Village Recorder, The  music mixed at
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment
• World Boxing Council  endorsed by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence

Runtime:

146 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Singapore:PG (cut) | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:R (certificate #36908) | South Korea:12 | Peru:PT

Filming Locations:

East Jersey State Prison, Rahway, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Azoff Entertainment

Trivia:

The real Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter is only 5'8" and 155 pounds, being about 4 inches shorter and nearly 40 pounds lighter than Denzel Washington (even when the actor slimmed down to play Hurricane). In actuality, Washington (and the actors who play his opponents in the ring) classify as heavyweights.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lezra visits Rubin in prison and they are talking at the table, Rubin is shown holding a photo in his hands. The reverse shot shows Rubin with his hands clasped and the photo sitting on the table.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Announcer:Ladies and gentlemen, this fine young fighter will be right here in Pittsburg on the boxing cog, this Monday night.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Spotlight on Location: Hurricane (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

Hard Times No One Knows

Unexpectedly Great Movie

I wasn't going to comment, but after reading some of the negative comments, I felt I must. I "waited for the video" for this movie because a movie about boxing didn't seem interesting. But that's just the thing. It's not about boxing. So if you're thinking you're going to see Raging Bull, you're not. There are a few boxing scenes, but they only serve to move the story along.

I have seen this movie more than once. The first time I was touched by the underlying theme of the movie, which was in my opinion, love conquering hate and injustice. Then I watched it again. I realized Denzel did a superb job. It WAS NOT a "typical Denzel role." He convincingly played Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, raised full of hate for and distrust of white people. When he goes to prison for the murder, he does an excellent performance showing the different personalities in his head, as well as showing how his inner spiritual journey transformed him. Any good movie shows the hero growing and changing. And Denzel again does this well towards the end of the movie, after befriending Lazarus and the Canadians. My favorite line which to me sums up the entire movie is when they're waiting to hear the judge's verdict and Rubin tells Lazarus, "Hate got me in here. But love's gonna bust me out."

I don't know much about the real Rubin Carter or the details of the case. What I found compelling about the movie was the fact that some people - be they white or black - can harbor such hatred for another person (I'm referring to Della Pesca's hatred toward Rubin). Another thing that got me was the friendship and love between Rubin and Lesra and the whole message of examining the higher principle of truth for which the law was meant to serve. It's just one of those movies that makes you think. Yeah, some of the writing is "just OK" in places, but the theme of the movie is wonderful and I think Denzel gave an Oscar worthy performance.

I gave this a 9 out of 10.