Clerks. (1994)

Director:

Kevin Smith

Writer:

Kevin Smith (written by)

Release Date:

19 October 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Just Because They Serve You... Doesn't Mean They Like You.

Plot:

A day in the lives of two convenience clerks named Dante and Randal as they annoy customers, discuss movies, and play hockey on the store roof.

Plot Keywords:

Day | Clerk | Video Store | Friend | Hockey

Awards:

4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Brian O'Halloran	...	Dante
Jeff Anderson	...	Randal
Marilyn Ghigliotti	...	Veronica
Lisa Spoonhauer	...	Caitlin (as Lisa Spoonauer)
Jason Mewes	...	Jay
Kevin Smith	...	Silent Bob
Scott Mosier	...	Willam the Idiot Manchild / Angry Hockey-Playing Customer / Angry Mourner
Scott Schiaffo	...	Chewlies Rep
Al Berkowitz	...	Old Man
Walter Flanagan	...	Woolen Cap Smoker / Egg Man / Offended Customer / Cat-Admiring Bitter Customer (as Walt Flanagan)
Ed Hapstak	...	Sanford / Angry Mourner
Lee Bendick	...	#812 Wynarski
David Klein	...	Hunting Cap Smoking Boy / Low I.Q. Video Customer / Hubcap Searching Customer / Angry Mourner / Angry Crowd at Door
Pattijean Csik	...	Coroner
Ken Clark	...	Administer of Fine / Orderly
Donna Jeanne	...	Indecisive Video Customer
Virginia Smith	...	Caged Animal Masturbator
Betsy Broussard	...	Dental School Video Customer
Ernest O'Donnell	...	Trainer
Kimberly Loughran	...	Alyssa's Sister Heather
Gary Stern	...	Tabloid Reading Customer
Joe Bagnole	...	Cat-Shit-Watching Customer
John Henry Westhead	...	Olaf the Russian Metalhead
Chuck Bickel	...	Stuck in Chips Can
Leslie Hope	...	Jay's Lady Friend / Angry Crowd at Door
Connie O'Connor	...	'Happy Scrappy' Mom (as Connie O'Conner)
Vincent Pereira	...	Hockey Goalie / Engagement Savvy Customer
Ashley Pereira	...	'Happy Scrappy' Kid
Erix Infante	...	Bed-Wetting Dad / Cold Coffee Lover
Melissa Crawford	...	Video Confusion / Candy Confusion Customer / Angry Crowd at Door
Thomas Burke	...	Blue Collar Man
Dan Hapstak	...	Door Tugging Customer
Mitch Cohen	...	Leaning Against Wall / Angry Crowd at Door
Matthew Banta	...	Burner Looking for Weed
Rajiv Thapar	...	Cut-Off Customer
Mike Belicose	...	Customer with Diapers
Jane Kuritz	...	Customer with Vaseline and Rubber Gloves
Grace Smith	...	Milk Maid
Frances Cresci	...	Little Smoking Girl
Matt Crawford	...	Angry Crowd at Door
Sarla Thapar	...	Angry Crowd at Door
Brian Drinkwater	...	Hockey Player
Bob Fisler	...	Hockey Player
Derek Jaccodine	...	Hockey Player
Matthew Pereira	...	Angry Smoking Crowd
Frank Pereira	...	Angry Smoking Crowd
Carl Roth	...	Angry Smoking Crowd
Paul Finn	...	Angry Smoking Crowd
Haiku	...	Dog
Lenin's Tomb	...	Cat

Directed by
Kevin Smith

Writing credits
Kevin Smith		(written by)

Produced by
Scott Mosier	....	producer
Kevin Smith	....	producer

Cinematography by
David Klein		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Scott Mosier
Kevin Smith

Makeup Department
Leslie Hope	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Charlie McClellan	....	post-production supervisor

Sound Department
Scott Mosier	....	sound editor
Scott Mosier	....	sound mixer
Joia Speciale	....	sync fix
James von Buelow	....	master sound mixer (as James Von Buelow)
James von Buelow	....	sound editor (as James Von Buelow)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ed Hapstak	....	gaffer
Ed Hapstak	....	lighting assistant
Ed Hapstak	....	photographer: production stills
David Klein	....	camera operator
Vincent Pereira	....	camera assistant: occasional
Vincent Pereira	....	grip: occasional
Rajiv Thapar	....	grip: occasional

Animation Department
Frank Gabriel	....	animator
Brad Graeber	....	animator
Sammy Harte	....	animator
Bruce Tinnin	....	animator

Editorial Department
Bobbie Thomas	....	dailies colorist

Music Department
Benji Gordon	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Tara Daust	....	continuity: occasional
Ed Hapstak	....	trouble shooter
Vincent Pereira	....	cat wrangler
John Pierson	....	czar of representation
John Sloss	....	legal eagle

Thanks
Peter Broderick	....	thanks
Walter Flanagan	....	special thanks: for a copy of 'Dark Knight Returns' (as Walt)
Geoff Gilmore	....	thanks
Ed Hapstak	....	special thanks: for being a little Magpie (as Ed)
Hal Hartley	....	special thanks: for leading the way
Robert Hawk	....	special thanks: for having nothing better to do on 10/3/93 (as Bob Hawk)
Tim Hill	....	thanks: the Borough of Highlands
Jim Jarmusch	....	special thanks: for leading the way
Bryan Johnson	....	special thanks: for taking nothing seriously (as Bry)
Laurence Kardish	....	thanks (as Larry Kardish)
Butch King	....	thanks (as Butch)
Marylou King	....	thanks
David Klein	....	special thanks: for all the pretty pictures (as Dave)
Traci Lapanne	....	thanks
Spike Lee	....	special thanks: for leading the way
David Linde	....	thanks
Richard Linklater	....	special thanks: for leading the way
Kimberly Loughran	....	special thanks: for Seven Years (as Kim)
Jason Mewes	....	special thanks: for being Jason
Carol Mosier	....	thanks
John Mosier	....	thanks (as John)
Kristin Mosier	....	special thanks: for patience, perseverance, and love (as Kristin)
Scott Mosier	....	special thanks: for accepting an invitation to lunch (as Scott)
Vincent Pereira	....	special thanks: for the inspiration (as Vincent)
Janet Pierson	....	thanks
John Pierson	....	special thanks: for having second thoughts (as John 'My Hero' Pierson)
Kenneth Schneider	....	thanks
Bubba Shea	....	thanks
Virginia Smith	....	special thanks: for saying "Be a Filmmaker."
Amy Taubin	....	thanks
Mark Tusk	....	special thanks: for not giving up (as Mark 'Doctor Love' Tusk)
Harvey Weinstein	....	special thanks: for an unforgettable order of potato skins

Production Companies

• View Askew Productions (presents)
• Miramax Films

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (199?) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (199?) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1995) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
• Cinemussy (Spain)
• Filmfreak Distributie (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Gativideo (1995) (Argentina) (VHS)
• New Vision Films
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• UPLINK Company

Other Companies

• Borough of Highlands, The  thanks
• Choice Video  thanks (as Steve and Choice Video)
• Columbia Records  soundtrack album available on (as Chaos/Columbia Records)
• DC Comics  thanks (as D.C. Comics)
• Doonesbury Company, The  thanks
• Film/Video Arts  thanks (as Film Video Arts)
• First Avenue Playhouse  thanks
• Henry Hudson Regional High School  thanks (as Henry Hudson Regional)
• Jan Film Labs  thanks
• Leonardo First Aid  thanks
• Magno Sound  thanks (as Magno)
• Maysle's  thanks
• New School for Social Research  thanks (as The New School for Social Research)
• Posten's Funeral Home  thanks (as Posten's Funeral Parior)
• Pro Camera  cameras by (as Pro Camera and Lighting)
• Quick Stop Convenience  catering
• Quick Stop Convenience  thanks
• R.S.T. Video  thanks
• REI Media Group  titles by
• Residents of Leonardo, The  thanks
• Sound Hound  sound mixed at
• Sound One  thanks
• Spera Corporation  post-production equipment (as Spera Corp.)

Also Known As:

Clerks (USA) (alternative spelling)
Clerks X: Tenth Anniversary Edition (USA) (DVD title)
Inconvenience (USA) (working title)
Rude Clarks (USA) (working title)
cLeRKs (USA) (poster title)
Cajeros (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Clerks (Spain) [es]
Clerks - Die Ladenhüter (Germany) [de]
Clerks - Sprzedawcy (Poland) [pl]
Clerks - commessi (Italy) [it]
Clerks - tiskirotat (Finland) [fi]
Clerks, les employés modèles (France) [fr]
Commis en folie (Canada: French title) [fr]
O Balconista (Brazil) [pt]
Shop-stop (Hungary) [hu]
Tezgâhtarlar (Turkey: Turkish title) (Pay-TV title) [tr]
Trgovci (Slovenia) [sl]
Ypalliloi (Greece) [el]

MPAA:

Rated R on appeal for extensive use of extremely explicit sex-related dialogue.

Runtime:

92 min | Turkey:87 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Mono (original Sundance cut)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:M18 | Argentina:13 | USA:TV-MA (tv rating) | Australia:MA (2008 re-rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | South Africa:16 | Ireland:18 | Australia:R | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Finland:K-12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:III | Israel:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:Btl | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | USA:R (re-rating after appeal) | UK:15 (2005 re-rating) | Canada:14A (Nova Scotia) (video rating) (10th anniversary edition)

Filming Locations:

Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, USA

Company:

View Askew Productions

Trivia:

Silent Bob is not so silent. In Clerks and Mallrats (1995) he speaks only once, but in Dogma (1999) he speaks twice. In Chasing Amy (1997) he has quite a long speech while in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) he becomes almost chatty.

Goofs:

Continuity: Veronica says she'll see Dante at closing after dropping off the lasagna. After she says this, Dante makes the call to find out that the boss is in Vermont and he will be stuck there until closing. When Veronica had spoken to him, he was still expecting to leave for his hockey game.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dante Hicks: [phone rings and Dante falles out of a closet] Hello. What? No I don't work today, I'm playing hockey at two.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: We Love You Conrad (#7.14)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Go Your Own Way

a heaven sent movie for any real life clerk

I am very biased on the 9 rating i gave this movie. I could have even given it a 10 for I am, and for a long time has been a clerk. This movie to me was as moving and compelling as Passion of the Christ was for some Catholic people i know. In fact, in some moments, it even brought me to tears. The film is about a guy who works in a convenience store. He comes across the weirdest and most annoying customers that, ironically, don't shy too far from those in real life that I, myself have come across. This clerk is visited by his girlfriend and regularly visiting by his distraught and careless friend who is a clerk at the neighboring video store. If you aren't a clerk, and you watch this movie, remember this: This movie is as true to form as it gets. Some people claim it to be one of the best comedies of the past decade. I say it's the best Documentary of all time.