The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writers (WGA):

Thomas Harris (novel)
Ted Tally (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 February 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

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.

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.

Plot Keywords:

FBI | Serial Killer | Psychiatrist | Agent | Psychopath

Awards:

Won 5 Oscars. Another 39 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

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)

Also Known As:

El silencio de los inocentes (Argentina) (Colombia) (dubbed version) (Uruguay) [es]
Das Schweigen der Lämmer (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Le silence des agneaux (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
O Silêncio dos Inocentes (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
лНКВЮМХЕ ъЦМЪР (Soviet Union: Russian title) [ru]
A bárányok hallgatnak (Hungary) [hu]
El silenci dels anyells (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
El silencio de los corderos (Spain) [es]
Hitsujitachi no Chinmoku (Japan) [ja]
I siopi ton amnon (Greece) [el]
Il silenzio degli innocenti (Italy) [it]
Kad jaganjci utihnu (Croatia) (video title) [hr]
Kad jaganjci utihnu (Serbia) [sr]
Ko jagenjcki obmolknejo (Slovenia) [sl]
Kuzularin sessizligi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Milczenie owiec (Poland) [pl]
Mlcanie jahniat (Czechoslovakia: Slovak title) [sk]
Mlcení jehnátek (Czechoslovakia: Czech title) [cs]
När lammen tystnar (Sweden) [sv]
Nattsvermeren (Norway) [no]
Ondskabens øjne (Denmark) [da]
Tacerea mieilor (Romania) [ro]
Uhrilampaat (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

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:

Bellaire, Ohio, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

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.

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.

Quotes:

[first lines]
FBI instructor: Starling! Starling! Crawford wants to see you in his office.
Clarice Starling: Thank you, sir.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Freeway (1996)

Soundtrack:

Alone

"The Godfather" of all thrillers

I've seen way too many thrillers. You name it: "Identity", "Seven", "The Usual Suspects", etc., etc., etc. I remember my friend being so obsessed with "Silence of the Lambs", that it drove me crazy. And I hated the movie naturally and refused to see it. But everyone told me that I have to see this, so I let my guard down. And had an open mind, and I'm glad I did. My friend was right, this is a great movie. It is so well acted, I couldn't even describe. I loved "Silence of the Lambs" and would recommend it to anyone. It's creepy and exciting. Trust me, you'll love it.

10/10