Trivia for
The Grifters (1990) More at IMDbPro »

• The short opening narration is done by Martin Scorsese.
  
  
• The stock con Myra describes to Roy when they first meet is a variation on the "Wire" con used in The Sting (1973).
  
  
• The Arizona motel sequence, from Lilly's approach through her dialogue with the clerk, mirrors that in Psycho (1960)
  
  
• An extract from "The Lady Vanishes" features in the film
  
  
• Character names "Lilly Dillon" and "Myra Langtry" allude to 1800s actress Lilly Langtry.
  
  
• Cher and Michelle Pfeiffer were considered for the role of Lilly Dillon.
  
  
• Sissy Spacek auditioned for the role of Lilly.
  
  
• Many of the lines in the film are taken word for word from the book of the same title.
  
  
• Melanie Griffith was originally slated to play Lily, but she became pregnant and had to pass on the part.
  
  
• The studio wanted Martin Scorsese to direct the film himself, but he personally chose Stephen Frears to do the job while Scorsese stayed on as producer.
  
  
• Anjelica Huston, John Cusack and Annette Bening accepted much less than their usual fees just to be in this movie
  
  
• Myra is seen working a con at the offices of Coe, Stark, Fellowes & Associates. Tucker Coe and Richard Stark are two pseudonyms used by screenwriter and novelist Donald E. Westlake.
  
  
• John Cusack was a big fan of the book and tried to option the rights when he was still in high school.
  
  
• Annette Bening's performance is directly inspired by the iconic noir actress Gloria Grahame, particularly her role in The Big Heat (1953).
  
  
• Henry Jones' final feature film appearance.
  
  

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