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The Young Americans

  • 1993
  • R
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
Harvey Keitel in The Young Americans (1993)
Experienced New York Police Detective John Harris is sent to London to help a local task force investigate a series of gangster killings organized by a new player in town, an American. Harris uses a teen wronged by gangsters to get to him.
Play trailer2:12
1 Video
15 Photos
CrimeDrama

Experienced New York Police Detective John Harris is sent to London to help a local task force investigate a series of gangster killings organized by a new player in town, an American. Harri... Read allExperienced New York Police Detective John Harris is sent to London to help a local task force investigate a series of gangster killings organized by a new player in town, an American. Harris uses a teen wronged by gangsters to get to him.Experienced New York Police Detective John Harris is sent to London to help a local task force investigate a series of gangster killings organized by a new player in town, an American. Harris uses a teen wronged by gangsters to get to him.

  • Director
    • Danny Cannon
  • Writers
    • Danny Cannon
    • David Hilton
  • Stars
    • Harvey Keitel
    • Iain Glen
    • John Wood
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    2.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Danny Cannon
    • Writers
      • Danny Cannon
      • David Hilton
    • Stars
      • Harvey Keitel
      • Iain Glen
      • John Wood
    • 22User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
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    Photos15

    Harvey Keitel in The Young Americans (1993)
    Harvey Keitel in The Young Americans (1993)
    Harvey Keitel in The Young Americans (1993)
    Harvey Keitel in Bad Lieutenant (1992)
    Harvey Keitel in The Young Americans (1993)
    Keith Allen, Craig Kelly, and Thandiwe Newton in The Young Americans (1993)
    Craig Kelly and Thandiwe Newton in The Young Americans (1993)
    Craig Kelly and Thandiwe Newton in The Young Americans (1993)
    Harvey Keitel in The Young Americans (1993)
    Craig Kelly and Thandiwe Newton in The Young Americans (1993)
    The Young Americans (1993)
    Craig Kelly in The Young Americans (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Harvey Keitel
    Harvey Keitel
    • John Harris
    Iain Glen
    Iain Glen
    • Edward Foster
    John Wood
    John Wood
    • Richard Donnelly
    Terence Rigby
    Terence Rigby
    • Sidney Callow
    Keith Allen
    Keith Allen
    • Jack Doyle
    Craig Kelly
    Craig Kelly
    • Christian O'Neill
    Thandiwe Newton
    Thandiwe Newton
    • Rachael Stevens
    • (as Thandie Newton)
    Viggo Mortensen
    Viggo Mortensen
    • Carl Frazer
    Dave Duffy
    • Louis Carnegie
    Geoffrey McGivern
    Geoffrey McGivern
    • Brian Carver
    Nigel Clauzel
    • Lionel Stevens
    Huggy Leaver
    • Mark Byrne
    Dig Wayne
    Dig Wayne
    • Gary Washington
    Christopher Adamson
    Christopher Adamson
    • Billy Cohen
    • (as Chris Adamson)
    James Duggan
    James Duggan
    • Dermot O'Neill
    Anna Keaveney
    Anna Keaveney
    • Katie Arnold
    John Forgeham
    John Forgeham
    • Detective Gray
    Clifford Predgen
    • Detective Clark
    • Director
      • Danny Cannon
    • Writers
      • Danny Cannon
      • David Hilton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      During one of the club scenes, a remix of Nine Inch Nails' "Gave Up" is playing. This version has never been released officially or unofficially, and the only known fragments can be heard in this movie. It appears to be an alteration of the remix found on Nine Inch Nails' EP "Fixed".
    • Goofs
      When the Molotov cocktail is thrown through the windshield of the vehicle with the two cops inside, you can easily see, by the way it breaks, that the windshield is not made of safety glass. All vehicle windshields have been made of safety glass for decades.
    • Connections
      Featured in Björk: Play Dead (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Play Dead
      By Björk

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Basic but good direction from Cannon and good performances from many of the cast
    Youth crime and drugs are rife in London. Scotland Yard call in an advisor from the DEA because they believe a new force is in play within the underworld. Harris arrives in London to find nothing different from the LA he just left and begins to make links with Chris who seems to offer the only way into the gangs.

    The story may not be anything to write home about, but this film was a good introduction to the ability (if questionable script judgement) of Danny Cannon. The story makes a lot of leaps as Harris tries to shut down the American influence in the drug game. However many subplots are weak or totally incidental and just seem there to make up the time. The main story itself is a little too glossy and is a times just an excuse for Cannon's direction.

    Cannon directs well here – London looks good, whether it's the dark alleys or the sun setting over the cityscape. He can't really work well with character but he can do visuals pretty well.

    Another reviewer has commented on the `unknown' cast – however there are no more `unknowns' in this than in anything else. Keitel is good despite having the whole family subplot that he clearly doesn't know what to do with and he doesn't do as much with his exploitation of Chris as he could have – but he's always watchable. Kelly is good as the young Chris – but the emotion towards the end is a little beyond him. The rest of the cast is fully of unknowns is it? Thandie Newton? Viggo Mortensen? Keith Allen? A host of faces from British TV and films? All are pretty good although some have more to do than others.

    Overall the plot may not be totally together but a good strong lead by Keitel and a good bit of direction by Cannon makes this feel better than it actually is.
    helpful•17
    2
    • bob the moo
    • Jul 18, 2002

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • October 8, 1993 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Молоді американці
    • Filming locations
      • Jacob Street Studios, Jacob Street, Bermondsey, London, England, UK(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Live Entertainment
      • PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
      • StudioCanal
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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