Dead Man Walking (1995)

A nun, while comforting a convicted killer on death row, empathizes with both the killer and his victim's families.

Director:

Tim Robbins

Writers:

Helen Prejean (book) (as Sister Helen Prejean C.S.J.), Tim Robbins

Stars:

Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Robert Prosky

Won 1 Oscar. Another 22 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Susan Sarandon	...	Sister Helen Prejean
Sean Penn	...	Matthew Poncelet
Robert Prosky	...	Hilton Barber
Raymond J. Barry	...	Earl Delacroix
R. Lee Ermey	...	Clyde Percy
Celia Weston	...	Mary Beth Percy
Lois Smith	...	Helen's Mother
Scott Wilson	...	Chaplain Farley
Roberta Maxwell	...	Lucille Poncelet
Margo Martindale	...	Sister Colleen
Barton Heyman	...	Captain Beliveau
Steve Boles	...	Sgt. Neal Trapp
Nesbitt Blaisdell	...	Warden Hartman
Ray Aranha	...	Luis Montoya
Larry Pine	...	Guy Gilardi

Storyline

A convicted murderer on Death Row and the nun who befriends him. Through the portrayal of finely drawn characters and their interactions as the days, hours, and minutes tick down to the condemned man's execution, powerful emotions are unleashed. While Matthew Poncelet and Sister Prejean desperately try to gain a stay of execution from the governor or the courts, scenes are intercut from the brutal crime, gradually revealing the truth about the events that transpired. In addition to her temporal help, the nun also tries to reach out spiritually and assist as a guide to salvation.

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Plot Keywords:

nun | solitary confinement | execution | capital punishment | repentance | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a depiction of a rape and murder

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

La dernière marche

Filming Locations:

Angola, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$118,266, 29 December 1995, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$39,387,284

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$83,088,295

Company Credits

Production Co:

Havoc, Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Scott Wilson (Chaplain Farley) has appeared in two other true crime inspired movies with scenes of capital punishment: In Cold Blood (1967) and Monster (2003). And he has appeared not only in "Dead Man Walking", but also in The Walking Dead (2010).

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Goofs

When Sister Helen is being pulled over for speeding, the camera shows the view through the rear view mirror. In this shot, the cop car behind her is driving on a straight road with a dashed center line. The next shot show's both cars on a curved portion of the road with a solid/dashed (passing) center line.

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Quotes

Matthew Poncelet: I was just fucking chicken.

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Crazy Credits

In the heart-shaped symbol at the end of the credits, the initials EMLA, JHR, MGR, and SS stand for Tim Robbins' family with Susan Sarandon (SS) -- Jack Henry Robbins and Miles Guthrie Robbins (their two sons together) and Eva Maria Livia Amurri (Sarandon's daughter with Franco Amurri).

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Connections

Referenced in Who Do You Think You Are?: Susan Sarandon (2010)

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Soundtracks

Be Not Afraid
Performed by Susan Sarandon
Written by Bob Dufford

User Reviews

Thought provoking film

Tim Robbins did a masterful job directing this film. I say this because he avoided convention and cliché. He also oversaw superb performances from Susan Sarandon (who won an Oscar for her role) and Sean Penn. Even more amazing, Robbins doesn't patronize. He just tells the story and lets the events play on the viewer's mind. This is so effective because it allows the viewer to form his own opinions on the death penalty, one of the most controversial subjects of our time, without being unfairly manipulated in either direction. I can't recommend this film enough, 9/10.