Down by Law (1986)

Director:

Jim Jarmusch

Writer:

Jim Jarmusch (written by)

Release Date:

30 October 1986 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

It's not where you start - It's where you start again.

Plot:

The story of three different men in a Louisiana prison and their eventual journey.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Pimp | Escape | Prostitute | Female Full Frontal Nudity

Awards:

4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Tom Waits	...	Zack
John Lurie	...	Jack
Roberto Benigni	...	Roberto
Nicoletta Braschi	...	Nicoletta
Ellen Barkin	...	Laurette
Billie Neal	...	Bobbie
Rockets Redglare	...	Gig
Vernel Bagneris	...	Preston
Timothea	...	Julie
L.C. Drane	...	L. C
Joy N. Houck Jr.	...	Detective Mandino
Carrie Lindsoe	...	Young Girl
Ralph Joseph	...	Detective
Richard Boes	...	Detective
Dave Petitjean	...	Cajun Detective

Also Known As:

Down by Law (West Germany)
Down by Law - Alles im Griff (Germany) (TV title)
Bajo el peso de la ley (Spain) [es]
Daunbailó (Brazil) [pt]
Daunbailo (Italy) [it]
Down by Law (Finland) [fi]
Down by Law - Sous le coup de la loi (France) [fr]
Mimo zákon (Czech Republic) [cs]
Poza prawem (Poland) [pl]
Stin pagida tou nomou (Greece) [el]

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA | West Germany

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-12 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Louisiana, USA

Company:

Black Snake

Trivia:

Roberto Benigni's rabbit soliloquy was almost entirely self-written/improvisation, based on his own life experiences. His mother actually did raise rabbits.

Quotes:

Bobbie: My mama used to say that America's the big melting pot. You bring it to a boil and all the scum rises to the top.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Unearthly (#4.20)" (1991)

Soundtrack:

It's Raining

spoliers........ trust

Jim Jarmusch trusts his camera, his directing, his writing, and most of all his performers. This is a gem of a film, without pretense. The story and film just move, sluggishly chugging forward to an ending that is really more of a dissolve. The story is ultimately of little importance, just enough movement to show us a bit of the big jokester in the skies irony. I was struck by the similarity's to Dead Man, similarities quite aside the black and white photography. The enigmatic character at the center, the drifting in and out of the main characters, the use of the boat, the disposal of the usual plot devices, the cutting away of obvious scenes (like the "how' of the escape) I wish more films displayed this sort of ease with themselves. Great stuff, 8/10.