Cassavetes' jazz-scored improvisational film explores interracial friendships and relationships in Beat-Era (1950s) New York City.
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Title: Shadows (1958)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Ben Carruthers | ... | Ben | |
| Lelia Goldoni | ... | Lelia | |
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Hugh Hurd | ... | Hugh |
| Anthony Ray | ... | Tony | |
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Dennis Sallas | ... | Dennis |
| Tom Reese | ... | Tom (as Tom Allen) | |
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David Pokitillow | ... | David |
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Rupert Crosse | ... | Rupert |
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David Jones | ... | Davey (as Davey Jones) |
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Pir Marini | ... | Pir the Piano Player |
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Victoria Vargas | ... | Vickie |
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Jack Ackerman | ... | Jack, Director of Dance Studio |
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Jacqueline Walcott | ... | Jacqueline |
| Cliff Carnell | |||
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Jay Crecco | ||
Edit
Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
Benny's a hipster, moving in and out of Manhattan's beat scene, aimless, maybe close to trouble. His sister Lelia, who looks less African-American than White, is vulnerable and about to fall in love. Hugh, their older brother, is a struggling singer whose agent, Rupert, may be the only person with faith in his talent. The story moves back and forth, like jazz, among the three of them and what seems at first to be separate lives. Lelia meets Tony, and lets herself hope this is true love. Then he meets Hugh and prejudice gives Tony an excuse to cut and run. Can family and friendship bring solace for her hurt, purpose for Benny, and belief in Hugh? Is life more than shadows? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Parents Guide:
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
14 October 1960 (UK) See more »Also Known As:
Sombras See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
David: You can't get it, Elaine's not in.
Rupert: Where is she?
David: She's dealing with the raccoons, man.
See more »
(uncredited)
Written by Carrie Jacobs Bond
Performed by Unknown
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The picture's restoration version features the following pre-film statement: "SHADOWS (Cassavetes' release version, 1959) has been restored from the original 16mm negative, a 35mm duplicate negative, and a 35mm positive print. The original elements are in extremely poor condition. This print integrates selected sequences utilizing digital picture restoration tools. An alternate version has been made using soley analog picture restoration methods". See more »Quotes
Tony: I need the key for 042!David: You can't get it, Elaine's not in.
Rupert: Where is she?
David: She's dealing with the raccoons, man.
See more »
Alternate Versions
Cassavetes screened a finished version of Shadows in 1957 and 1958 that ran 78 minutes. Part of the original negative of this version was used for the 1959 version, which was completely reshot with new actors. In 2002, Prof. Ray Carney of Boston University discovered the only remaining 16mm copy of this earlier version. See more »Soundtracks
I Love You Truly(uncredited)
Written by Carrie Jacobs Bond
Performed by Unknown
See more »
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This is a great movie. Like it was made yesterday. Punk, beat in sensibility. About young people struggling on the fringes.
But I am mainly writing to mention that a guy named Ray Carney just wrote an astonishing book about the movie that has incredible behind the scenes details that no one ever knew before. I HIGHLY recommend it.
Cassavetes revealed things to Carney before he died in a Rosebud conversation that he had never told anyone about the film--like the fact that most of it was scripted and not improvised as the final title indicates. The book is titled Shadows and is available in any well stocked store. Carney is also the author of another WONDERFUL book titled Cassavetes on Cassavetes. Carney also has a web site that you should check out with lots of other Cassavetes material. The site is accessible from any search engine--if you type in Cassavetes' name--if you want to read even more behind the scenes stories about how Shadows and the other films were made.