Kansas City (1996)

A pair of kidnappings expose the complex power dynamics within the corrupt and unpredictable workings of 1930s Kansas City.

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers:

Robert Altman, Frank Barhydt

Stars:

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Miranda Richardson, Harry Belafonte

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Blondie O'Hara
Miranda Richardson	...	Carolyn Stilton
Harry Belafonte	...	Seldom Seen
Michael Murphy	...	Henry Stilton
Dermot Mulroney	...	Johnny O'Hara
Steve Buscemi	...	Johnny Flynn
Brooke Smith	...	Babe Flynn
Jane Adams	...	Nettie Bolt
Jeff Feringa	...	Addie Parker
A.C. Tony Smith	...	Sheepshan Red (as A.C. Smith)
Martin Martin	...	'Blue' Green
Albert J. Burnes	...	Charlie Parker
Ajia Mignon Johnson	...	Pearl Cummings
Tim Snay	...	Rally Speaker
Tawanna Benbow	...	Rose

Storyline

Robert Altman's jazz-scored film explores themes of love, crime, race, and politics in 1930s Kansas City. When Blondie O'Hara's husband, a petty thief, is captured by Seldom Seen and held at the Hey Hey Club, she launches a desperate plan to release him. She kidnaps the wife of a powerful local politician in an attempt to blackmail him into using his connections to free Johnny. Despite this being election time, he risks exposure by putting the political machine into action to free Johnny and thereby save his wife. Mrs. Stilton, meanwhile, has befriended Blondie and is impressed by her love and devotion to Johnny, especially in contrast to her own loveless marriage.

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Plot Keywords:

1930s | kansas city missouri | female frontal nudity | breasts | scantily clad female | 

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Taglines:

Kansas City, 1934. Anything could happen here. One night it did.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Music | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, and for some violence and drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Kansas City" is partially based on a true incident. In 1933, Mary McElroy, the opium-addicted daughter of Henry McElroy, Kansas City's City Manager, was kidnapped from her home by a group of amateur kidnappers. After a $30,000 ransom was paid, Mary McElroy was released unharmed. Her four kidnappers were later caught and sentenced to life in prison.

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Goofs

After his wife is kidnapped by a robber's wife, Stilton uses a phone to enlist the aid of the governor to free the robber, who is being held by some Kansas City jazz club characters he ripped off. And the governor complies, even though Stilton never identifies the robber by name, the name of the people who were robbed or even the name of the club were the robber is being held captive.

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Quotes

Carolyn Stilton: [after being forced to reveal the pet names she and her husband use] What a terrible invasion of privacy!
Blondie O'Hara: Yeah, ain't it?

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Connections

Featured in Altman (2014)

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Soundtracks

indiana
Written by Ballard MacDonald, James F. Hanley

User Reviews

One of Altman's best

This film is so deceptively constructed that it took me a few

viewings to completely get it. Not the most inviting recommendation for a film, but even at first look, there is much

to enjoy. The music is superb, the performances outlandish and

entertaining, and the take on politics and race relations truly

incisive. For example, kidnapping really was a political tool in

1930's Kansas City; Blondie's (Jennifer Jason Leigh) real crime

is kidnapping a politician's wife for personal reasons. Though

his contempt for romanticism is truly bitter, this remains one

of Altman's best films.

Details

Official Sites:

Fine Line

Country:

France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 August 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Канзас Сити

Filming Locations:

Kansas City, Kansas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$19,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,356,329

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,356,828

Company Credits

Production Co:

CiBy 2000, Sandcastle 5 Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1