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:

It Delivers.

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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

Of the 50 actors credited, only two had at least one film credit before appearing in this movie (Gary Stern and Mitch Cohen). The other 48 made their first on screen appearance in this movie, most of them would become regular faces in many 'Kevin Smith' (I) films while others would only make this film.

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Goofs

Jay's costume is different in nearly every scene in the movie because the jacket he wore on the first day of shooting was his girlfriend's and he had a hard time borrowing it for the entire length of the shooting.

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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

In the Australian Video Version after the Credits a Dolby Sign is shown and then the Tape goes blank. If you wait, after about 20 seconds into the Blank, there is the Trailer for "Clerks." ending with the statement "OPEN FOR BUSINESS THIS OCTOBER".

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Alternate Versions

The DVD version also includes an alternate set of closing credits. Instead of music, the credits are shown over cash register sound effects. At the very end of the credits there's also a brief scene showing a customer (played by director Kevin Smith) entering the store. Seeing that nobody is behind the counter (Dante has been shot during the hold-up) he steals a pack of cigarettes and leaves.

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Connections

References The Last Boy Scout (1991)

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Soundtracks

Big Poblems
Written by Reed Mullin (as R. Mullin) and Woody Weatherman (as W. Weatherman)
Performed by Corrosion of Conformity
Courtesy of Sony Music

User Reviews

Life-savior

Why claim ultra-budget movies as being the "best film ever" when you can see some guys with almost no scenary and a very low budget make a great movie that is intelligent, funny, has a good soundtrack AND is well done at the same time? Not to mention the autoral thing. It's the kind of movie that makes me think "hey, I wish I'd made this movie... and I could!" : ) --- PS: I call it life savior cause I quit my job as a clerk on the most chic CD store in my town, and couldn't figure out why. When I saw this movie I found out and recovered the trust in my self.