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The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
14 February 1991 (USA)
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Tagline:
Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Brilliant. Cunning. Psychotic. In his mind lies the clue to a ruthless killer. - Clarice Starling, FBI. Brilliant. Vulnerable. Alone. She must trust him to stop the killer. more
Plot:
A young FBI cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
FBI
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Serial Killer
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Psychiatrist
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Agent
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Psychopath
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Awards:
Won 5 Oscars.
Another 39 wins
&
27 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(165 articles)
Screen Queens: Hollywood Does AIDS
(From FilmExperience. 21 November 2009, 6:49 PM, PST)
Payback is making a comeback
(From The Guardian - Film News. 20 November 2009, 4:15 PM, PST)
(From FilmExperience. 21 November 2009, 6:49 PM, PST)
Payback is making a comeback
(From The Guardian - Film News. 20 November 2009, 4:15 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Absolutely Brilliant.
more (666 total)
US TV Schedule:
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Jodie Foster | ... | Clarice Starling |
 | Anthony Hopkins | ... | Dr. Hannibal Lecter |
 | Scott Glenn | ... | Jack Crawford |
 | Anthony Heald | ... | Dr. Frederick Chilton |
 | Ted Levine | ... | Jame 'Buffalo Bill' Gumb |
 | Frankie Faison | ... | Barney Matthews |
| Kasi Lemmons | ... | Ardelia Mapp |
 | Brooke Smith | ... | Catherine Martin |
| Paul Lazar | ... | Pilcher |
| Dan Butler | ... | Roden |
| Lawrence T. Wrentz | ... | Agent Burroughs |
| Don Brockett | ... | Friendly Psychopath in Cell |
| Frank Seals Jr. | ... | Brooding Psychopath in Cell |
| Stuart Rudin | ... | Miggs |
 | Maria Skorobogatov | ... | Young Clarice Starling (as Masha Skorobogatov) |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
118 min
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Colour (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Denmark:15 |
Italy:VM14 |
USA:R (certificate #30301) |
Iceland:16 |
Australia:MA (tv rating) |
South Korea:18 |
Philippines:R-18 |
Brazil:14 |
Finland:K-15 (director's cut) (video rating) |
Finland:K-16 (cut video version) |
New Zealand:R16 |
Poland:15 |
UK:15 (re-rating) (2009) |
Argentina:16 |
Australia:MA (video rating) (special edition) |
Australia:M (re-rating) |
Australia:R (original rating) |
Canada:16+ (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003) |
Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating) |
Chile:18 |
Finland:K-18 |
France:-16 |
Germany:16 |
Hong Kong:III |
Ireland:15 (original rating) |
Ireland:18 (re-rating) |
Israel:18 |
Japan:R-15 |
Netherlands:16 |
Norway:15 (cut) |
Norway:18 |
Peru:18 |
Singapore:PG (video rating) |
Spain:18 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:18 |
Singapore:R(A) |
Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Contrary to popular belief, Anthony Hopkins' performance in "The Silence of the Lambs" is not the shortest performance to win the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. In actuality, 'David Niven' owns that honor, appearing in the film Separate Tables (1958) for approximately 15 minutes, 38 seconds compared to Hopkins' 24 minutes, 17 seconds of screentime.
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Goofs:
Continuity: As Hannibal escapes, he kicks the cell door onto the guard, causing the door to be in between Hannibal and the guard. Yet in the very next shot, the guard is right in front of Hannibal so he can bite him.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
FBI instructor: Starling! Starling! Crawford wants to see you in his office.
Clarice Starling: Thank you, sir.
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FBI instructor: Starling! Starling! Crawford wants to see you in his office.
Clarice Starling: Thank you, sir.
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Soundtrack:
Alone
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FAQ
How does the movie end?Is this film a sequel to Manhunter?
What is the song that is playing when Buffalo Bill is dancing in front of his videocamera?
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more (666 total)
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Sweeping all five major Academy Awards ("Oscars" for Best Movie, Director, Actor, Actress, Screenplay) is quite an accomplishment. Doing it nearly a year after a film was released is a miracle considering the notoriously short attention span of Oscar voters. It is a powerful example of how great a movie can be when superb writers, directors, actors, and others work at the top of their craft.
`Silence of the Lambs' is the story of a young FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) who is summoned to help find one serial killer called `Buffalo Bill.' by interviewing another. Foster's performance is absolutely brilliant. While Anthony Hopkins receives most of the (well-deserved) praise for his chilling portrayal of incarcerated serial killer `Hannibal ‘the Cannibal' Lector', it is Foster's performance that holds the movie together. The fear she shows just behind her eyes makes Clarice's outward courage all the more interesting and vulnerable. This is the perfect way to play the part because it explains Lector's interest in Clarice. Her only bargaining chip in getting Lector's help is to let him `feed' on her innermost secrets and fears in exchange for his brilliant insights into the psychotic mind. The title of the movie comes from these exchanges and is very poignant.
Director Jonathan Demme is masterful. There is one scene late in the movie that I will not spoil. It is one of the most simply brilliant scenes ever staged in a movie. I don't know if all the credit goes to Demme or the writers, but there is a moment in the film where the suspense builds beautifully to a what seems to be a common movie scene. However, through skillful timing of the direction, the audiences assumptions are used against them and when the truth is revealed (hint: it involves a doorbell) it is shocking and induced a collective gasp from the audience I saw it with at the theatre. It set the stage for an edge-of-your seat climax.
Do not miss this movie.
The movie is incredibly suspenseful and an absolute must see.