The Firm (1993)

A young lawyer joins a prestigious law firm only to discover that it has a sinister dark side.

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

John Grisham (novel), David Rabe (screenplay)

Stars:

Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Cruise	...	Mitch McDeere
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Abby McDeere
Gene Hackman	...	Avery Tolar
Hal Holbrook	...	Oliver Lambert
Terry Kinney	...	Lamar Quinn
Wilford Brimley	...	William Devasher
Ed Harris	...	Wayne Tarrance
Holly Hunter	...	Tammy Hemphill
David Strathairn	...	Ray McDeere
Gary Busey	...	Eddie Lomax
Steven Hill	...	F. Denton Voyles
Tobin Bell	...	The Nordic Man
Barbara Garrick	...	Kay Quinn
Jerry Hardin	...	Royce McKnight
Paul Calderon	...	Thomas Richie

Storyline

Mitch McDeere is a young man with a promising future in Law. About to sit his Bar exam, he is approached by 'The Firm' and made an offer he doesn't refuse. Seduced by the money and gifts showered on him, he is totally oblivious to the more sinister side of his company. Then, two Associates are murdered. The FBI contact him, asking him for information and suddenly his life is ruined. He has a choice - work with the FBI, or stay with the Firm. Either way he will lose his life as he knows it. Mitch figures the only way out is to follow his own plan...

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Plot Keywords:

oral sex | seduction | frame up | law | fbi | 

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Taglines:

They made him an offer he should have refused

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 June 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Firm

Filming Locations:

125 Front Street, Downtown, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$42,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$25,400,000, 4 July 1993, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$158,348,367

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$270,248,367

Company Credits

Production Co:

Davis Entertainment, Mirage Enterprises, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

154 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was one of two adaptations from a John Grisham novel released in 1993, the other being The Pelican Brief (1993).

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Goofs

Abby should have disconnected the phone in Avery's condo. She would have bought some extra time.

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Quotes

Abby McDeere: Somewhere, inside, in the dark, the firm is listening.

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Alternate Versions

In the scene when Mitch is at the Cayman Islands, and is talking to his new client Sonny Capps about tax representation, there is a line that had a strange overdubbing. Mitch's line "You'd feel like you were fucked with a dick big enough for an elephant to feel it" was re-shot for television. In the TV version, the line was replaced with "You'd feel like you had a prostate exam with a beach umbrella to feel it."

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Connections

Referenced in The To Do List (2013)

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Soundtracks

Down De Road
Written & Performed by Andy Narell

User Reviews

Alternate Screenplay

I wanted to get a copy of the screenplay to compare the movie with the dialog and directions, but initially received the FIRST draft by David Rabe. I finally got the shooting script later. All I can say is that it ended with Mc Deere blowing away all the partners in a restaurant with an AK-47. It really made me appreciate the re-write by David Rayfiel and Robert Towne. I have watched this movie many times and enjoy the suspense, romance, and Grusin's solo piano score, which always blows me away. But the one thing that impressed me most with multiple viewing, is how Gene Hackman really makes the movie work. His portrayal of this corrupt, but incredably likeable character is the one thread that holds the movie together for me and goes down as one of his most memorable acting performances.