Poster

A Kiss Before Dying ()

Reference View | Change View
Jonathan Corliss murders his girlfriend Dorothy and moves onto her twin sister Ellen who grows suspicious of her new lover as he charms his way into their family and impresses their father Thor Carlsson. Based on Ira Levin's novel.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

19 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

Edit
James Bonfanti ...
Young Jonathan
Sarah Keller ...
Lecturer
...
Ellen / Dorothy Carlsson
...
Patricia Farren
Lia Chang ...
Shoe Saleslady
...
Jonathan Corliss
Yvette Edelhart ...
Screaming Lady
...
Thor Carlsson
...
Terry Dieter
...
Reporter
...
Waitress
...
Commissioner Malley
...
Dan Corelli
...
Mrs. Corliss
...
Jay Faraday
...
Mickey (as Freddy Koehler)
...
Cathy (as Joy Lee)
Brett Barth ...
Dave
...
Tommy Roussell
...
Landlady
Galaxy Craze ...
Susie
...
Chico
Kristy Graves ...
Rose
Billie Neal ...
Nurse
P. Jay Sidney ...
Bellman
...
Detective Michaelson
Lynn Frazen-Cohen ...
Elderly Woman
Leslie Lyles ...
Mrs. Roussell
Mark Potter Jr. ...
Mr. Roussell
Nancy Herman ...
Receptionist
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
...
Bell boy (voice)
Charles Bodycomb ...
Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
...
Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Directed by

Edit
James Dearden

Written by

Edit
Ira Levin ... (novel)
 
James Dearden ... (screenplay)

Produced by

Edit
Eric Fellner ... executive producer
Robert Lawrence ... producer
Scott Millaney ... executive producer
Paul Raphael ... associate producer
Chris Thompson ... associate producer

Music by

Edit
Howard Shore

Cinematography by

Edit
Mike Southon ... director of photography

Editing by

Edit
Michael Bradsell

Editorial Department

Edit
Natalie Baker ... assistant editor

Casting By

Edit
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith Crowley

Production Design by

Edit
Jim Clay

Art Direction by

Edit
Kalina Ivanov
Rod McClean
Chris Seagers
Chris Shriver

Set Decoration by

Edit
Catherine Davis

Costume Design by

Edit
Marit Allen

Makeup Department

Edit
Mark Alfrey ... special makeup effects artist
Roy Bryson ... hair stylist
Peter Frampton ... makeup artist
Shaune Harrison ... prosthetics technician
Sarah Love ... hair stylist
Sue Love ... hair stylist
Daniel Parker ... prosthetics
Leslie Puller ... makeup artist
Martin Samuel ... hair stylist
Seth Wolfson ... makeup lab tech
William Forsche ... life casting: Matt Dillon (uncredited)

Production Management

Edit
Mary Richards ... production manager
Donna Smith ... executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Edit
Patrick Clayton ... first assistant director
Tim Lewis ... second assistant director
Julia Waye ... second second assistant director

Art Department

Edit
Paul Bradburn ... props
Steve Cooper ... set designer
Mark Fruin ... dressing props
Robert L. Girard ... lead carpenter
Tarn Harper ... assistant properties
Stephenie McMillan ... set dresser
Brian Read ... property buyer
Mark Reynolds ... chargehand dressing prop
Scott Rosenstock ... leadman
Jean Roman Seyfried ... scenic artist
Jonathan Tessler ... assistant property master
Mark S. Turner ... head paint foreman
Keith Wall ... set dresser
Betty Williams ... assistant properties

Sound Department

Edit
Ross Adams ... sound editor
Campbell Askew ... sound re-recording
John Hayward ... re-recording mixer
Nicolas Le Messurier ... re-recording mixer
Gerard McCann ... assistant sound editor
Simon Okin ... sound mixer
Frank Stettner ... sound mixer
Lionel Strutt ... adr mixer
Sandy Buchanan ... post-production sound assistant (uncredited)

Special Effects by

Edit
B.K. Coposky ... special effects assistant
John Dods ... dummy constructor: Matt Dillon dummies
Ricky Farns ... special effects
Martin Gutteridge ... special effects supervisor
Garth Inns ... special effects
Sean Robinson ... prop builder
David Shaw ... special effects
Josh Turi ... special effects: dummy fabrication
Brian Warner ... special effects
Simon Cockren ... special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

Edit
Angus Bickerton ... motion control supervisor: plate supervisor
Alan Church ... optical effects
Andy Stevens ... optical camera assistant: Magic Camera Co
Doug Ferris ... matte artist (uncredited)

Stunts

Edit
G.A. Aguilar ... stunts
Helen Caldwell ... stunts
Graeme Crowther ... stunts
Cliff Cudney ... stunts
Tracey Eddon ... stunts
Donna Evans ... stunts
Martin Grace ... stunt coordinator: UK / stunts
Jery Hewitt ... stunt coordinator: US / stunts
Hugh Aodh O'Brien ... stunts (as Hugh A. O'Brien)
Mike Potter ... stunts
Eddie Powell ... stunts
Greg Powell ... stunts

Camera and Electrical Department

Edit
Micky Brown ... gaffer
Pete Cavaciuti ... steadicam operator
Bill Gula ... camera production associate
Ian Jackson ... assistant camera
Michael Leonard ... additional steadicam assistant
Mark Milson ... assistant camera
Mark Moormann ... second assistant camera
William D. Moran ... grip
Malcolm Sheehan ... camera grip
Philip Sindall ... camera operator
Bill Thornhill ... best boy
Scott Williams ... gaffer
Jimmy Worley ... electrician

Casting Department

Edit
Billy Hopkins ... casting: USA

Costume and Wardrobe Department

Edit
Jo Korer ... costumer
Hilary Watson ... assistant costume designer
Janet Tebrooke ... wardrobe: UK (uncredited)

Location Management

Edit
Bill Darby ... assistant location manager
Joseph E. Iberti ... location manager (as Joe Iberti)
Guy Tannahill ... location manager

Music Department

Edit
Howard Shore ... conductor
Graham Sutton ... music editor

Script and Continuity Department

Edit
Julie Robinson ... script supervisor

Additional Crew

Edit
Virginia Allan ... assistant to executive producer
Brett Barth ... assistant to producer
John Bertolli ... assistant to producer
Elisar Cabrera ... production assistant
Joe Cacciotti ... production assistant
Bryan Cardinale-Powell ... production assistant (as Bryan Powell)
Geoff Dibben ... production assistant
Joy Frelinghuysen ... production assistant
Susan Gee ... production financing
Anthony Harbour ... paramedic
Bobbie Johnson ... production accountant
Solomon J. LeFlore ... production financing
Dominic Marcus ... adr supporting artist
Anthony Kirk Poore ... production assistant
Sam Sullivan ... production assistant (as Samuel W. Sullivan)
Natascha Wharton ... assistant to executive producer
Daniel Wheatcroft ... studio executive
Chris Wood ... title design
Chris Warren ... video effects (uncredited)

Production Companies

Edit

Distributors

Edit

Special Effects

Edit

Other Companies

Edit

Storyline

Edit
Plot Summary

Realising his secret girlfriend Dorothy's pregnancy will sour her relations with her ultra-rich father, career-minded Philadelphia student Jonathan Corliss coolly murders her, making it look like suicide. He then moves to New York to woo her twin sister Ellen. All seems to go well for him, although Ellen's continued investigations into what she is convinced was not a suicide forces him to kill again. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26}

Plot Keywords
Taglines From the Creators of FATAL ATTRACTION See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

Edit
Also Known As
  • Un beso antes de morir (United States, Spanish title)
  • Un baiser avant de mourir (France)
  • Der Kuß vor dem Tode (Germany)
  • Bésame antes de morir (Spain)
  • 死前之吻 (China, Mandarin title)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 94 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $15,000,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

Edit
Trivia Matt Dillon was actually James Dearden's third choice to play the lead role. Originally Dearden wanted River Phoenix to play Jonathan, but Phoenix didn't relate to the material saying he couldn't play someone so evil. Then Dearden approached Kiefer Sutherland who turned down the offer due to scheduling conflicts. Finally Dillon got the role and Dearden was so impressed with his performance that he later said Dillon should've been his first choice all along. See more »
Goofs When Ellen and Jonathan take the injured homeless woman to the hospital, Ellen talks to a nurse and offers to pay the bill. First, the nurse is wearing a stiff white cap and uniform. Most nurses, especially in the ER, had stopped wearing this type of uniform by the time the film was set. Also, she gives the nurse the money for the bill. Nurses do not handle billing and collection in hospitals. Plus, she didn't seem to know how much the bill was. And no receipt? See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Mortal Thoughts/Impromptu/Out for Justice/Journey of Hope (1991). See more »
Soundtracks Dangerous Love See more »
Quotes Nurse: She's got two broken ribs, a broken jaw, and a bad concussion. We're going to keep her overnight for observation.
See more »
Getting Started | Contributor Zone »

Contribute to This Page


Clear your history

Recently Viewed