A law student uncovers a conspiracy, putting herself and others in danger.A law student uncovers a conspiracy, putting herself and others in danger.A law student uncovers a conspiracy, putting herself and others in danger.
- Director
- Writers
- John Grisham(book)
- Alan J. Pakula(screenplay)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- John Grisham(book)
- Alan J. Pakula(screenplay)
- Stars
- Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations
James Sikking
- FBI Director Denton Voyles
- (as James B. Sikking)
- Director
- Writers
- John Grisham(book)
- Alan J. Pakula(screenplay)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFor the scenes inside the White House, the sets created for "Dave (1993)" were used.
- GoofsJustice Jensen is killed by Khamel using a rope to strangle him. It takes him no more than a second to kill him. It seems highly unlikely that one could strangle a person in just one second. However, the strangulation is not shown, but judging by Khamel's quick yank and the sound Jensen made, it seems likely that he successfully dislocated or crushed a vertebra in his neck, which would quickly cause suffocation.
- Quotes
Gray Grantham: Do you want to talk about the brief?
Darby Shaw: Everyone I have told about the brief is dead.
Gray Grantham: I take my chances.
- SoundtracksBlues For Carol
Written and Performed by Clarence Hollimon
Courtesy of Black Top Records
Review
Featured review
Hitchcock would have been pleased
You gotta love Alan Pakula. His Pelican Brief is true to the source material but manages to complement it with artfulness learned from Hitchcock and the events portrayed in All The President's Men (also directed by Pakula).
The result is a thriller which never has to resort to the hackneyed or the obvious. Even the chase scene in a car park manages to be a little different.
He has casted brilliantly (perhaps Fletcher Coal should have been older?) but his masterstroke is commisioning James Horner to provide the score. At times sparse and at others boldly chromatic it jangles the nerves as Julia and Denzel duck and weave their way through a maze of unease.
A great way to spend two hours.
The result is a thriller which never has to resort to the hackneyed or the obvious. Even the chase scene in a car park manages to be a little different.
He has casted brilliantly (perhaps Fletcher Coal should have been older?) but his masterstroke is commisioning James Horner to provide the score. At times sparse and at others boldly chromatic it jangles the nerves as Julia and Denzel duck and weave their way through a maze of unease.
A great way to spend two hours.
helpful•7421
- hylinski
- Mar 23, 2006
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $45,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $100,768,056
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $16,864,404
- Dec 19, 1993
- Gross worldwide
- $195,268,056
- Runtime2 hours 21 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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