Get Shorty (1995)

A mobster travels to Hollywood to collect a debt, and discovers that the movie business is much the same as his current job.

Director:

Barry Sonnenfeld

Writers:

Elmore Leonard (novel), Scott Frank (screenplay)

Stars:

Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Travolta	...	Chili Palmer
Gene Hackman	...	Harry Zimm
Rene Russo	...	Karen Flores
Danny DeVito	...	Martin Weir
Dennis Farina	...	Ray 'Bones' Barboni
Delroy Lindo	...	Bo Catlett
James Gandolfini	...	Bear
Jon Gries	...	Ronnie Wingate
Renee Props	...	Nicki
David Paymer	...	Leo Devoe
Martin Ferrero	...	Tommy Carlo
Miguel Sandoval	...	Mr. Escobar
Jacob Vargas	...	Yayo Portillo
Linda Hart	...	Fay Devoe
Bobby Slayton	...	Dick Allen

Storyline

Some guys get all the luck, whether they like it or not. Chili Palmer happens to be in Hollywood collecting a gambling debt when he's struck by lightning (not literally). Called a natural for the movie business, he's snagged up by a producer. The rest is history.

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Plot Keywords:

movie business | loan shark | debt | mobster | producer | 

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Taglines:

The Mob Is Tough. But It's Nothing Like Show Business.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the book, Harry Zimm tells Chili Palmer that he wanted to cast Gene Hackman as the lead in his new film. Hackman portrayed Harry Zimm in this movie.

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Goofs

It is not stated how the money and drugs got into the locker under the watch of the DEA, or how the DEA found out they were in there if they didn't observe it.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Tommy Carlo: It's fucking cold outside.

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Alternate Versions

The laserdisc and 2005 expanded DVD version (on disc 2) features a deleted scene. It takes place on the set of one of Harry's films. Ben Stiller plays the director.

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Connections

Referenced in Lilyhammer: Ghosts (2013)

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Soundtracks

Comin' Home Baby
Written by Ben Tucker and Bob Dorough
Performed by Booker T. & the M.G.s (as Booker T. & The MG's)
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corporation
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

One of the best Elmore Leonard adaptations; vintage Travolta and game cast = fun & funny

GET SHORTY (1995) ***1/2 John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny De Vito, Delroy Lindo, Dennis Farina, James Gandolfini, David Paymer, Martin Ferrero, Bette Midler, Linda Hart, Bobby Slayton, Harvey Keitel (cameo), Penny Marshall (cameo). Funny and entertaining adaptation of Elmore Leonard's crime novel about Chili Palmer (Travolta, perfectly charming) a loan shark from Miami who heads out to LA after a pay cheat and winds up in Hollywood teaming up with horror schlock producer Hackman and B-film screamer Russo pitching a story and avoiding some not-so-pleasant criminal types along the way. Great satire and excellently keen in keeping Leonard's dialogue intact with some dead-on spoofing of Tinsel Town in particular De Vito as a Method actor run amok. Look for director Barry Sonnenfeld as a parking valet and also the real Chili Palmer as one of Farina's dinner companions at the film's pre-credit sequence prior to Travolta punching out Farina.

Details

Official Sites:

HenryB.net MGM Studios [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Get Shorty

Filming Locations:

The Vista Theatre - 4473 Sunset Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,250,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,700,007, 22 October 1995

Gross USA:

$72,101,622

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$115,101,622

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Jersey Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1