Clerks (1994)

A day in the lives of two convenience clerks named Dante and Randal as they annoy customers, discuss movies, and play hockey on the store roof.

Director:

Kevin Smith

Writer:

Kevin Smith

Stars:

Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti

5 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brian O'Halloran	...	Dante Hicks
Jeff Anderson	...	Randal Graves
Marilyn Ghigliotti	...	Veronica
Lisa Spoonauer	...	Caitlin Bree
Jason Mewes	...	Jay
Kevin Smith	...	Silent Bob
Scott Mosier	...	Willam the Idiot Manchild / Angry Hockey-Playing Customer / Angry Mourner
Scott Schiaffo	...	Chewlies Rep
Al Berkowitz	...	Old Man
Walter Flanagan	...	Woolen Cap Smoker / Egg Man / Offended Customer / Cat-Admiring Bitter Customer (as Walt Flanagan)
Ed Hapstak	...	Sanford / Angry Mourner
Lee Bendick	...	#812 Wynarski
David Klein	...	Hunting Cap Smoking Boy / Low I.Q. Video Customer / Hubcap Searching Customer / Angry Mourner / Angry Crowd at Door
Pattijean Csik	...	Coroner
Ken Clark	...	Administer of Fine / Orderly

Storyline

Dante Hicks is not having a good day. He works as a clerk in a small convenience store and is told to come into work on his day off. Dante thinks life is a series of down endings and this day is proving to no different. He reads in the newspaper that his ex-girlfriend Caitlin is getting married. His present girlfriend reveals to have somewhat more experience with sex that he ever imagined. His principal concerns are the hockey game he has that afternoon and the wake for a friend who died. His buddy Randal Graves works as a clerk in the video store next and he hates his job just about as much as Dante hates his.

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Plot Keywords:

friendship | low budget film | friend | convenience store | promiscuous woman | 

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Taglines:

The passion. The power. The pain. The wages. The movie.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R on appeal for extensive use of extremely explicit sex-related dialogue

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 November 1994 (France)

Also Known As:

cLeRKs

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$27,575 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,665, 12 August 2012, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,151,130

Company Credits

Production Co:

View Askew Productions, Miramax

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 87 min (TV) 102 min (extended)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Mono (original Sundance cut)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first draft of the script was 168 pages.

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Goofs

While playing hockey and arguing with the irate customer Dante is using an Easton model hockey stick. When he takes a faceoff against that customer Dante is then using a Koho brand stick. After the customer loses the hockey ball Dante is then using the Easton stick again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dante Hicks: [phone rings and Dante falls out of a closet] Hello. What? No, I don't work today. I'm playing hockey at two.

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Crazy Credits

Jay (Jason Mewes) is heard at the end of the credits, chanting "Noinch, noinch, noinch, shmokin' weed, shmokin' weed, doin' coke, drinkin' beers...".

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Alternate Versions

Laserdisc edition features 25 minutes of additional footage with seven scenes not included in the original release, including alternate ending in which the clerk is killed during a store hold-up.

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Connections

References Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (1991)

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Soundtracks

Chewbacca
Written by Art Mitchell (as Art), Hayden Thais (as Hank), Dave Collins (as Dave)
Performed by Supernova

User Reviews

"Clerks." - Period.

In 1994, an ambitious filmmaker named Kevin Smith was left nearly dead-broke by his commitment to his low-budget debut feature, "Clerks." Shot in black & white and filmed in and around a New Jersey convenience store, "Clerks." is genius on celluloid despite little change of scenery, wooden acting (none of the actors are professionals), and a shoe-string budget; it's also pretty damn funny. "Just because they serve you, doesn't me they like you" became an immortal tagline for one of the best independent comedies of all time, which also launched the career of its director. There's nothing PC about this debut feature, and the relentlessly explicit sex-related dialogue got the film its original certificate, the dreaded "NC-17" rating, which was later dropped down to an "R" rating on a successful appeal by the filmmakers; the characters harass their customers, leave the store during the day to tend to personal matters, and hang-out with girlfriends - not the stuff of responsible employees - and definitely NOT something you would see in any Hollywood production today. In an era rife with censorship and political-correctness, "Clerks." would undoubtedly receive the scorn and protests of the fundamental religious Right and Left. The film features Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson), two bored New Jersey convenience store employees who are both called in on a Saturday (Dante is especially upset because it's his day off) and the two break every rule in the book as they meander through the day and encounter all sorts of colorful characters. Throughout the day, Dante complains about about his girlfriend Veronica's (Marilyn Ghigliotti) sex life, Randal shirks his convenience store duties by shooting the breeze with Dante, philosophize about their daily predicaments, play hockey on the roof of the store, and observe unruly and bizarre shoppers. There's little plot but it's pure fun all the way to the ending with plenty of laughs too. But if you're the sensitive type, you should stay as far away from "Clerks." as possible, as the dialogue will certainly make you squirm in your seat. "Clerks." also contains many Smith trademarks including "Star Wars" talk, references to Spielberg movies, comic books and hockey, all qualities of which would do Smith good in his so-called "New Jersey Trilogy." P.S.: Watch out for Smith in his iconic role as Silent Bob with sidekick Jay (Jason Mewes) as they loiter outside the store and hassle customers.

10/10