The Spanish Prisoner (1997)

An employee of a corporation with a lucrative secret process is tempted to betray it. But there's more to it than that.

Director:

David Mamet

Writer:

David Mamet

Stars:

Steve Martin, Ben Gazzara, Campbell Scott

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Campbell Scott	...	Joe Ross
Ricky Jay	...	George Lang
Rebecca Pidgeon	...	Susan Ricci
Richard L. Friedman	...	Businessman
Ben Gazzara	...	Klein
Jerry Graff	...	Businessman
G. Roy Levin	...	Businessman
Hilary Hinckle	...	Resort Concierge
David Pittu	...	Resort Manager
Steve Martin	...	Jimmy Dell
Christopher Kaldor	...	Dell's Bodyguard
Felicity Huffman	...	McCune
Gary McDonald	...	Ticket Agent
Mike Robinson	...	Security Person (as Michael Robinson)
Olivia Tecosky	...	Flight Attendant

Storyline

Joe Ross is a rising star. He's designed a process that will make his company millions. He wants a bonus for this work, but fears his boss will stiff him. He meets a wealthy stranger, Jimmy Dell, and they strike up an off-kilter friendship. When the boss seems to set Ross up to get nothing, he seeks Dell's help. Then he learns Dell is not what he seems, so he contacts an FBI agent through his tightly-wound assistant, Susan Ricci. The FBI asks him to help entrap Dell. He accepts, a sting is arranged, but suddenly it's he who's been conned out of the process and framed for murder. Bewildered and desperate, he enlists Susan's aid to prove his innocence.

---

Plot Keywords:

con game | fbi | secret | extradition | brother sister relationship | 

---

Taglines:

Who can you trust with a billion dollar idea?

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements including tension, some violent images and brief language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

La prisonnière espagnole

Filming Locations:

Moorings Village & Spa, Islamorada, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$124,011, 5 April 1998, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$10,200,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jasmine Productions Inc., Jean Doumanian Productions, Magnolia Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The main character's name is Joseph, and he invents a "process." In Kafka's "Der Prozess" (English title: The Trial), the main character, Joseph, is also framed, and nothing is what it seems.

---

Goofs

The view on the hotel's security monitor pans a bit to follow the movement of someone on the boat dock, which a fixed security camera cannot do.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Airport Security: What is the purpose of your trip, please?
Joe Ross: Business.
Airport Security: Thank you and welcome to St. Estéphe.

---

Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Pleasantville/The Alarmist/The Lion King II: Simba's Pride/Apt Pupil/Life is Beautiful (1998)

---

Soundtracks

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
Written by Frank R. Adams (as Frank Adams), William M. Hough (as Will Hough),
Joseph E. Howard (as Joseph Howard) and Harold Orlob
Arranged by Play-Rite Music Rolls, Inc.
Played at the carousel

User Reviews

Great but so flawed!

I finally got to see this film again. I love this film. But I realized after another viewing with a savvy partner that there are just too many holes in the plot and Mamet isn't quite as clever as we first think or would like to believe. Too many plot twists just don't make sense on second viewing. I'd always recommend this movie.. it's fascinating and has great performances but I think the audience is easily tricked into finding it brilliant. Maybe someone can explain why Martin's character is so easily found in the car showroom. Did I miss something there? And what if Campbell Scott's person had actually tried to deliver the tennis book directly to Martin's sister. That would have been the end of the story, period.