An American Crime (2007)

Director:

Tommy O'Haver

Writers (WGA):

Tommy O'Haver (written by) &
Irene Turner (written by)

Release Date:

7 December 2007 (Sweden)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

This has been the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of Indiana

Plot:

The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s.

Plot Keywords:

Teenage Girl | Single Mother | Carnival | 1960s | Basement

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Ellen Page	...	Sylvia Likens
Hayley McFarland	...	Jennie Likens
Nick Searcy	...	Lester Likens
Romy Rosemont	...	Betty Likens
Catherine Keener	...	Gertrude Baniszewski
Ari Graynor	...	Paula Baniszewski
Scout Taylor-Compton	...	Stephanie Baniszewski
Tristan Jarred	...	Johnny Baniszewski
Hannah Leigh	...	Shirley Baniszewski (as Hannah Leigh Dworkin)
Bradley Whitford	...	Prosecutor
Michael O'Keefe	...	Reverend Bill Collier
Carlie Westerman	...	Marie Baniszewski
Michelle Benes	...	Hope Orbach
Patricia Place	...	Mrs. Doyle
Calvin Keet	...	Mr. Doyle
Jeremy Sumpter	...	Coy Hubbard
James Franco	...	Andy
Brian Geraghty	...	Bradley
Channing Nichols	...	Patty
Eliza Dean	...	Mary
Michael Welch	...	Teddy
Evan Peters	...	Ricky Hobbs
Amy Ferguson	...	Sally
Scott Eastwood	...	Eric (as Scott Reeves)
Will Carter	...	Officer Waters (as William Carter)
Edward James Gage	...	Bailiff
Kuma	...	Dog
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Harris	...	Jury Member (uncredited)
James Meehan	...	Defense Attorney (uncredited)
Paul Palo	...	Newspaper Reporter (uncredited)
Isabel Shaw	...	Juror (uncredited)
Gary Sievers	...	Carnie (uncredited)

Directed by
Tommy O'Haver

Writing credits (WGA)
Tommy O'Haver		(written by) &
Irene Turner		(written by)

Produced by
Jocelyn Hayes	....	producer (as Jocelyn Hayes Simpson)
Pamela Koffler	....	executive producer
Hans Ritter	....	co-producer
Katie Roumel	....	producer
Richard Shore	....	executive producer
Kevin Turen	....	producer
Christine Vachon	....	producer
Ruth Vitale	....	executive producer
John Wells	....	executive producer
Henry Winterstern	....	producer

Original Music by
Alan Ari Lazar		(as Alan Lazar)

Cinematography by
Byron Shah		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Melissa Kent

Casting by
Anya Colloff
Judy Cook
Amy McIntyre Britt
Michael V. Nicolo

Production Design by
Nathan Amondson

Art Direction by
Zach Bangma

Set Decoration by
Lisa Alkofer

Costume Design by
Alix Hester

Makeup Department
Mandy Danielle Benton	....	additional makeup artist (as Mandy Benton)
Marc Boyle	....	additional hair stylist
Essie Cha	....	additional makeup artist
Daniel Curet	....	hair department head
Jorjee Douglas	....	makeup department head
Rebecca Perkins	....	special effects makeup
Randa Squillacote	....	key hair stylist
Nancy Stimac	....	additional hair stylist
Liz Webster	....	additional hair stylist (as Elizabeth Webster)

Production Management
Stuart Burkin	....	executive in charge of production
Beau J. Genot	....	post-production supervisor
Jonathan McCoy	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lance W. Lanfear	....	day player first assistant director (as Lance Lanfear)
Chad Rosen	....	first assistant director
Tessa Lyn Stephenson	....	second assistant director
Frank Tignini	....	second second assistant director
Frankie Tignini	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Isaac Amondson	....	set dresser
Rachel Amondson	....	art department production assistant
Bruce Bellamy	....	set dresser
Craig D. Bentley	....	propmaker
Max Bozeman	....	leadman (as Max K. Bozeman)
Nelson Bush	....	leadman
Michael A. Clark	....	propmaker gang boss
Scott Cockerell	....	assistant property master (as Scott C. Cockerell)
Billy Constantine	....	painter
Juliane Crump	....	conceptual researcher
Scott Enge	....	plasterer
David Esparza	....	painter
Eduardo H. Esparza	....	propmaker gang boss (as Eddie Esparza)
Brian Fernandez	....	plasterer
Craig Handschu	....	set dresser
Ken Howland	....	plasterer
Sean D. Jackson	....	set dresser
Roger Kelton	....	construction coordinator
Jina Kim	....	p.a.
Scott Kitchen	....	propmaker foreman (as Scott A. Kitchen)
Chris Larsen	....	set dresser
Robert C. Moore	....	propmaker
Jeffrey M. O'Brien	....	property master
Doreen Parker	....	painter
Chris Patterson	....	set dresser
Paul V. Picerni Jr.	....	on-set property (as Paul V. Picerni)
Kip Sawyer	....	paint foreman
Jamie Silverstein	....	set intern
Dan Thompson	....	set intern
Dennis J. Vannatta	....	set dresser (as Dennis Vannatta)
Helen Wilson	....	swing
Herbert James Winterstern	....	art department intern
Adam C. Woods	....	propmaker

Sound Department
Albert Aquino	....	boom operator
Vince Balunas	....	adr & dialogue editor
Jeff K. Brunello	....	sound effects editor
Dennis Carlin	....	sound utility
Daniel Colman	....	sound effects editor
Mick Davies	....	boom operator
Bill Devine	....	adr recordist
Michael J. Fox	....	adr mixer
David Holmes	....	sound utility
Marti D. Humphrey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris M. Jacobson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jack Levy	....	supervising sound editor
Doug Madick	....	foley artist
Richard Partlow	....	foley artist (as Rick Partlow)
Scott Stolz	....	sound mixer
Steve Weiss	....	sound mixer
Ronald L. Wright	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
David Waine	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Travis Baumann	....	Flame artist
Kristin Johnson	....	digital compositor
Kristin Johnson	....	visual effects supervisor
Albert Mason	....	visual effects producer
Christopher Stack	....	imaging supervisor: Digiscope

Stunts
Ed McDermott II	....	precision driver
Lou Simon	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Jeb Banegas	....	camera intern
Amy Bojanowski	....	additional loader
Cris Borgnine	....	additional electrician
Richard W. Botchlet	....	additional best boy electric
Patrick Brennan	....	lighting board operator
Nathaniel R. Brown	....	additional electrician (as Nate Brown)
Danielle C. Carroll	....	additional loader
Brian Christie	....	dolly grip
Jeff Clark	....	Steadicam operator
Kelly Cummins	....	second assistant camera
Jeanne Dear	....	additional company grip
Guido Egger	....	additional company grip
Eric Forand	....	additional gaffer
Michael Francisco	....	additional electrician (as Michael A. Francisco)
Samuel Buddy Fries	....	camera operator (as Bud Fries)
Stephen Furry	....	best boy rigging grip
Kevin C. Goff	....	additional second assistant camera: "b" camera
Erik Gonzales	....	additional set electrician
Jilliane Grodecki	....	camera intern
Timothy Hedgecock	....	electrician (as Tim Hedgecock)
Mike Horan	....	best boy grip (as Mike 'Mega' Horan)
Paul Janossy	....	first assistant camera
Hunter Laizure	....	electrician
Heather Lea	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Heather Leroy)
Eric Lee	....	still photographer
Sabyn Mayfield	....	key grip
Wes Meilandt	....	additional electrician
Gerald Mermian	....	additional company grip
Daniel Miller	....	additional company grip
Cris Moris	....	additional electrician (as Chrisobal Moris)
Michael M. Mosley	....	additional electrician (as Mike Moseley)
Kevin Mucha	....	additional electrician
David Newbert	....	grip
Elmer S. Osorio	....	generator operator (as Elmer Osorio)
Rich Paisley	....	gaffer (as Richard Paisley)
Matt Perry	....	rigging best boy
Michelle Pizanis	....	loader: "b" camera
Michelle Pizanis	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Michele Pizanis)
Kelly Price	....	additional company grip (as Kelly Prize)
Avi Roffman	....	additional electrician
Michael Roy	....	rigging gaffer (as Michael Victor Roy)
Aaron Schulte	....	best boy electric
Kevin Sheedy	....	additional company grip
Michael Silva	....	additional electrician (as Mike Silva)
Erik Solorio	....	additional company grip
Travis Stewart	....	electrician
Daniel Taylor	....	second assistant camera
Maxwell Thorpe	....	grip intern
Rick Tschudin	....	additional first assistant camera: "b" camera
Kenny Tucker	....	additional electrician
Jim West	....	additional company grip
Matt Whitted	....	grip (as Matthew Whitted)
Chad Wilson	....	Steadicam operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tiana Aiello	....	costumer
Lori Ayala-Read	....	costume supervisor (as Lori Reed)
Molly O'Haver	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Stacy Katzman	....	assistant editor
Mato	....	color timer

Music Department
Spring Aspers	....	music supervisor
Ryan Gaines	....	music coordinator
Petra Haden	....	vocalist
David Low	....	orchestra contractor
Dean Menta	....	music editor
Mike Nowak	....	orchestrator (as Michael Nowak)
Larry Rench	....	orchestrator
Casey Stone	....	music scoring mixer
Ashley Waldron	....	executive in charge of music (as Ashley Miller)

Transportation Department
Morris Aroesti	....	driver
Michael Perrotti	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Caleb Aldrich	....	production intern
Carlos A. Aragon	....	location manager
Matt Baker	....	key set production assistant (as Matthew Baker)
Greg Bernstein	....	legal services
MaryEllen Blair	....	assistant: Mr. Winterstern
Meghan Burchfield	....	production assistant
Yee Yeo Chang	....	assistant: Ms. Vachon
Marjorie Chodorov	....	production accountant
Sarah Clifford	....	head animal trainer
John Patrick L. Crum	....	production assistant
Gloria De Leon	....	production intern
Chris Disher	....	assistant: Mr. O'Haver (as Christopher Disher)
Sean P. Galvin	....	set production assistant
Danny Illouz	....	payroll accountant
Paul Jaconi-Biery	....	production coordinator
Eloy Lara	....	key set medic
Joanna Lara	....	assistant production coordinator
Jan McWilliams	....	script supervisor
Ania Milaszewicz	....	assistant: Mr. O'Haver
Beth Newbauer	....	assistant: Mr. Winterstern
Hans Ritter	....	head of production (as Hans Christian Ritter)
Karen Roberts	....	post-production accountant
Matt Rubin	....	assistant: Mr. Turen
Kristina Santoro	....	key assistant location manager/scout
Lou Simon	....	fight choreographer
Jonathan Stopek	....	assistant: Ms. Hayes-Simpson
Fiona Walsh	....	production assistant

Thanks
Jonathan Bell	....	thanks
Hugh Dancy	....	special thanks
Billy Mulligan	....	special thanks
Kirsten Smith	....	special thanks
John Waters	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• First Look International
• Killer Films
• Showtime Networks

Distributors

• First Look International (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Future Film (2008) (Finland) (theatrical) (2.35: 1)
• Mars Production (2007) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Noble Entertainment (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Peace Arch Releasing (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Albatros Film (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Capelight Pictures (2007) (Germany) (all media)
• First Look International (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Future Film (2008) (Finland) (DVD) (cropped to 1.78: 1)
• Hollywood Entertainment (2008) (Greece) (all media)
• Noble Entertainment (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• Showtime Networks (2008) (USA) (TV)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Digiscope (digital effects) (as Digiscope, LLC)

Other Companies

• AnEFX  sound post-production
• Bureau Of Devine Music  vocal recording facility
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Clairmont Camera  camera equipment provided by
• Dub Stage, The  sound re-recording
• Elizabeth Bardsley & Associates  script annotation
• Panavision Remote Systems  cranes
• Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage  score recording facility

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong and disturbing depiction of child abuse and torture

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (Certificate #43082) | Sweden:15 | Germany:16 | Spain:18 | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:16 | Brazil:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:16 | Peru:18

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

First Look International

Trivia:

The film is based largely on actual court transcripts from the case.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the scene where Gertrude and Ricky are smoking together, Gertrude says, "You ain't old enough for smoke". In 1965, it was legal for minors to smoke as there was no legal smoking age.

Quotes:

Ricky Hobbs:[sees her "escaping"] Sylvia.
Sylvia Likens:[sobbing, whimpering and cringing as he comes near her] No, no, please. Please don't, please.
Ricky Hobbs:No, no, no, I'm not gonna hurt you. I swear to God, I promise, I promise. Look, I'm sorry. I didn't know what the hell I was doing, all right? Look, you gotta believe me, please. Please. You wanna get out of here? You wanna go? Let's go.
[helps Sylvia up]
Ricky Hobbs:Come on. You're all right.
[they go to the car and Ricky gets in after helping Sylvia in]
Ricky Hobbs:Where are we going?
Sylvia Likens:[slurred from exhaustion and suffering] I don't know.
Ricky Hobbs:Do you want to go to the police? We can tell them everything.
Sylvia Likens:I gotta get to my mom.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Tell the World About This

The Girl Next Door: An American Crime

First off to anyone that has, will or wants to see this film I would also suggest The Girl Next Door, which is based on the same story but takes liberties as this film does. It is very interesting to see the differences between the two interpretations of the same events. The other interesting thing is, in my opinion these movies are perfect if you put them together, everything one does wrong the other does right and visa versa. An American Crime was great in its more detailed set up to these events along with it's amazing court room scenes that added a much need closer element that The Girl Next Door was desperately lacking. On the other hand The girl Next Door was much better at visualizing the actual events, don't get me wrong what happened to this girl was horrible, but in An American Crime it was just not portrayed as well by Ellen Page. I know that sounds weird for me to say too, but I assume that it was either the directors choice or an attempt at realism, but Ellen Page's character just shut down. Were as in The Girl Next Door, we saw more of a fighter in Blythe Auffarth's portrayal of the same character, someone who was changed by the experience. Also The Girl Next Door did not shy away from the violence as An American Crime did, now for some I'm sure that is a blessing, because I have heard of several people who could not finish watching The Girl Next Door for that very reason, and because these situations all involved young kids it is completely understandable. My overall point is that together these two films would make a wonderful film, but definitely not a film for everyone. Both films still do leave me wondering, what exactly did happen, exactly, so many liberties have been taken that some of the facts are a little fuzzy.