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showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Silence of the Lambs (1991) More at IMDbPro »
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Thomas Harris (novel)
Ted Tally (screenplay)
Release Date:
14 February 1991 (USA) more
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
Awards:
Won 5 Oscars. Another 39 wins & 27 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(162 articles)
Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Vera Farmiga: Governors Awards 2009
(From Alternative Film Guide. 15 November 2009, 5:49 PM, PST)
Roger Corman: Scorsese, Stallone, Sayles, and other A-listers talk about the B-movie king
(From EW.com - PopWatch. 13 November 2009, 12:48 PM, PST)
User Comments:
A Story And A Character That You Can't Forget more (666 total)
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:
Anthony Hopkins invented the fast, slurping-type sound that Hannibal Lecter does. He did it spontaneously during filming on the set, and everyone thought it was great. Director Jonathan Demme became annoyed with it after a while, but denied his irritation. more
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. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
FBI instructor:
Starling! Starling! Crawford wants to see you in his office.
Clarice Starling:
Thank you, sir.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) more
Soundtrack:
Alone more
FAQ
How does the movie end?A Note Regarding Spoilers
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
more
more (666 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Silence of the Lambs (1991) moreRecommendations
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I'll never forget my first viewing of this movie at the theater and will always look back fondly on it for one reason: helping me quit smoking cigarettes.
I read the book first, was fascinated by it, and couldn't wait for the film to come out. That was the day I picked to quit smoking and I knew this movie would take my mind off that matter. I was expecting an intense movie and I got it. Little did I realize how well-received this film would be and how it propelled Anthony Hopkins to super-stardom.
Although entertaining, this is not always a fun movie to watch, especially with the scenes with Ted Levine who plays the killer, "Buffalo Bill." "Bill" and his kidnapped young woman are sick and profane people, respectively, and their scenes are very unpleasant. This movie is not for the squeamish with those and other scenes involving the infamous Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins). There also is some extreme crudeness in the jail/dungeon where Lecter and other inmates are held.
Jodie Foster is excellent as the FBI agent "Clarice Starling" and Scott Glenn is low-key and effective as "Jack Crawford." A major part of the film is psychological more than violent as Lecter constantly taunts "Clarice," while she tries her best to manipulate him to help with a case. The by-play between the two is a game in itself.
Hopkins, however, is the actor people remember best from this movie. His portrayal of the refined-yet-cannibalistic serial killer-doctor is one viewers will never forget. I've enjoyed watching him in the sequels, too. The looks on his face, his fascinating vocabulary with intelligent sarcasm and frankness, never ceases to entertain.
"Silence Of The Lambs" has turned into a modern-day "classic." If by some odd chance you have never seen this movie, be warned it is a dark, difficult story to watch at times....but it will get your mind off other things.