Kansas City (1996)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers (WGA):

Robert Altman (written by) &
Frank Barhydt (written by)

Release Date:

16 August 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Music | Thriller

Tagline:

Kansas City, 1934. Anything could happen here. One night it did.

Plot:

Robert Altman's jazz-scored film explores themes of love, crime, race, and politics in 1930's Kansas City...

Plot Keywords:

1930s | Jazz | Irish American | Mafia | Independent Film

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Blondie O'Hara
Miranda Richardson	...	Carolyn Stilton
Harry Belafonte	...	Seldom Seen
Michael Murphy	...	Henry Stilton
Dermot Mulroney	...	Johnny O'Hara
Steve Buscemi	...	Johnny Flynn
Brooke Smith	...	Babe Flynn
Jane Adams	...	Nettie Bolt
Jeff Feringa	...	Addie Parker
A.C. Tony Smith	...	Sheepshan Red (as A.C. Smith)
Martin Martin	...	'Blue' Green
Albert J. Burnes	...	Charlie Parker
Ajia Mignon Johnson	...	Pearl Cummings
Tim Snay	...	Rally Speaker
Tawanna Benbow	...	Rose
Cal Pritner	...	Governor Park
Jerry Fornelli	...	Tom Pendergast
Michael Marisi Ornstein	...	Jackie Ciro (as Michael Ornstein)
Michael Garozzo	...	Charlie Gargotta
Joe Digirolamo	...	John Lazia
John Durbin	...	Gas Station Attendant
Gina Belafonte	...	Hey-Hey Club Hostess
Nancy Marcy	...	Telegraph Operator
Buck Baker	...	Train Station Agent
Dorothy Kemp-Clark	...	Mrs. Bruce
Edward Pennington	...	Governor Park's Butler
Robert Elliott	...	Lazia Man
Marlon Hoffman	...	Lazia Man
Patrick Oldani	...	Lazia Man
Philip Trovato	...	Lazia Man
James Carter	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Tenor Saxophone
Craig Handy	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Tenor Saxophone
David Murray	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Tenor Saxophone
Joshua Redman	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Tenor Saxophone
Jesse Davis	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Alto Saxophone
David 'Fathead' Newman Jr.	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Alto Saxophone
Don Byron	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Clarinet / Baritone Saxophone
Olu Dara	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Trumpet
Nicholas Payton	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Trumpet
James Zollar	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Trumpet
Curtis Fowlkes	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Trombone
Clark Gayton	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Trombone
Victor Lewis	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Drums
Geri Allen	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Piano
Cyrus Chestnut	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Piano
Ron Carter	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Bass
Tyrone Clark	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Bass
Christian McBride	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Bass
Russell Malone	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Guitar
Mark Whitfield	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Guitar
Kevin Mahogany	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician: Vocalist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Anselmo	...	Gangster (uncredited)
Glenn Bartlett	...	Union Station Man in Derby (uncredited)
Cameron DeVictor	...	Gangster (uncredited)
Ron Licari	...	Bar drunk (uncredited)
David McKay	...	Hey-Hey Club Musician - Baritone Saxophone (uncredited)
John Pritchett	...	Phone Clerk (uncredited)
Tim Wrobel	...	Pendergast Voter (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Altman

Writing credits (WGA)
Robert Altman		(written by) &
Frank Barhydt		(written by)

Produced by
Robert Altman	....	producer
Scott Bushnell	....	executive producer
James McLindon	....	associate producer
Matthew Seig	....	co-producer
David C. Thomas	....	co-producer

Cinematography by
Oliver Stapleton

Film Editing by
Geraldine Peroni

Casting by
Elisabeth Leustig

Production Design by
Stephen Altman

Art Direction by
Richard L. Johnson

Set Decoration by
Susan Emshwiller		(as Susan J. Emshwiller)

Costume Design by
Dona Granata

Makeup Department
Leslie Ann Anderson	....	assistant hair stylist
Laurie Foglia	....	assistant makeup artist
Ferdinando Merolla	....	assistant hair stylist
Vonda K. Morris	....	assistant makeup artist
Aldo Signoretti	....	key hair stylist
Micheline Trépanier	....	key makeup artist (as Micheline Trepanier)

Production Management
David C. Thomas	....	unit production manager
John A. Amicarella	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Ascher	....	dga trainee (as D. Laemmle Ascher)
David Bryant	....	additional second assistant director
Stephen P. Dunn	....	first assistant director (as Stephen Dunn)
Alexandra E. Perce	....	second assistant director
Christina Stauffer	....	second second assistant director (as Tina Stauffer)

Art Department
Matthew R. Altman	....	lead man
Dawn Brown	....	set designer
John Bucklin	....	construction coordinator
Molly Click	....	art department coordinator
David D. Connolly	....	construction foreman
Jason Davis	....	on-set dresser
Loretta Dungan	....	sign painter
Jeni Edwards	....	set dresser
Rick Evans	....	property restoration
Stephen Goldblatt	....	lead scenic
Ted Haigh	....	assistant art director
Jane Harlow	....	construction accountant
Phil Irwin	....	set dresser
Geri Lamer	....	draper
Ron Licari	....	assistant property master
Anthony Maccario	....	property master
Lisa Maria Miller	....	on-set dresser
Shawna Mull	....	sign painter
Jeff Owens	....	construction coordinator (as Jeff T. Owens)
Daniel C. Rothenberg	....	lead man
Robin L. Schillaci	....	set dresser
Ken Smith	....	second assistant property
Wayne Springfield	....	construction foreman
Thomas R. Stiller	....	set designer
Donna Leigh Tatum	....	set dresser
Aaron Ali Tichenor	....	set dresser
Naython Vane	....	set dresser
Chandler Vinar	....	set dresser
Allan B. Holt	....	art department assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Catherine Calleson	....	first assistant sound
Christopher Flick	....	foley editor
Gary Gegan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Haight	....	dialogue editor
Matthew Iadarola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard King	....	supervising sound editor
Cliff Latimer	....	adr supervisor
Patricio A. Libenson	....	sound effects editor (as Patricio Libenson)
James Matheny	....	dialogue editor (as Jim Matheny)
John Pritchett	....	production sound
Rocky Quiroz	....	cable person
David M. Roberts	....	boom operator
Joel Shryack	....	assistant sound

Special Effects by
Sam Barkan	....	special effects coordinator
Bruce A. Strong	....	special effects foreman

Stunts
Michael Adams	....	stunts (as Mike Adams)
Mark Fulks	....	stunts
Steve Kelso	....	stunt driver
Steve Kelso	....	stunts
Grady Walker	....	stunts
Greg Walker	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Reed Altman	....	camera operator
Eric D. Andersen	....	additional camera operator
Mark Bracewell	....	best boy electric
Roger Branit	....	second assistant camera
Scotty Childers	....	key rigging grip
Kevin Fahey	....	grip (as Kevin J. Fahey)
Michael James Fahey	....	best boy grip (as Michael J. Fahey)
Patrick C. Huerter	....	film loader
Tom Lohmann	....	focus puller
Joseph Mandacina	....	additional camera operator
Anthony T. Marra II	....	key grip
Michael A. McFadden	....	grip (as Mike McFadden)
David A. Parks	....	electrician
Larry S. Prinz	....	chief lighting technician (as Larry Prinz)
Eli Reed	....	still photographer
Herbert A. Rook	....	swing rigger
Roycee Schlotzhauer	....	electrician
Ed Seaman	....	electrician
Richard Speed	....	electrician
Wayne Stroud	....	dolly grip
James B. Walsh	....	best boy rigging grip
Kevin Welsh	....	electrician

Casting Department
Linda Baska	....	casting assistant
William Sell	....	casting assistant (as William J. Sell)
Peter Slowey	....	casting assistant
Heather Laird	....	casting: Kansas City (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amy Emmrich-Selby	....	wardrobe production assistant
Mitzi Haralson	....	set costumer
Tom Houchins	....	costumer
Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko	....	assistant costume designer
Denise Martinez	....	costume supervisor (as Denise L. Martinez)
Eleanor Patton	....	costumer
Robin Roberts	....	costumer
Barbara Ann Altman	....	additional wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Keiko Deguchi	....	first assistant editor
Sheila MacDowell	....	first assistant editor
Mike Mertens	....	color timer
Pablo Prietto	....	apprentice editor
William Yeh	....	second assistant editor
John Marston	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Steven Bernstein	....	associate music producer
Charlie Bouis	....	assistant music recording engineer
Eimear Bradbury	....	music coordinator
Susan Jacobs	....	music supervisor (as Sue Jacobs)
Eric Johnston	....	music recording crew
Eric Liljestrand	....	music mixer
Eric Liljestrand	....	music recordist
Butch Morris	....	conductor
George Edward Regis	....	legal: music
Hal Willner	....	music producer

Transportation Department
Dana Altman	....	picture car coordinator
Oscar Beguiristain	....	transportation captain
Patty Blake	....	assistant coordinator office: transportation
Aneikit Bonnel	....	driver
Ashley Fierman	....	driver
Lance Hruza	....	driver
Mark Hutman	....	driver: art department
Gracie Klein	....	driver
Sherry Koftan	....	driver (as Sherry L. Koftan)
John McLaughlin	....	driver (as John H. McLaughlin)
Kristi A. Medley	....	picture car assistant
James L. Morris	....	driver
Jan Overson	....	driver
Terry R. Owens	....	transportation coordinator
Joseph Taggert	....	driver
Harry Taylor	....	driver (as Harry C. Taylor)
Bubba Thrift	....	driver

Other crew
Carol Barta	....	production liaison
Brandy Bauman	....	lead scenic assistant
C. Jeanenne Bell	....	jewelry consultant
Elizabeth A. Bergman	....	third accountant
Rick Brainin	....	caterer
Shawna Bridgman	....	labor coordinator
Shawna Bridgman	....	material coordinator
Shannon Broderick	....	set production assistant
Bonnie Cagle	....	milliner/crafts
Julie Clark	....	assistant production coordinator
Jennifer Cole	....	stitcher
Signe Corriere	....	assistant: Robert Altman
Rick Cowan	....	location manager
Robert Dawson	....	title designer
Martin L. Diggs	....	set production assistant
John J. Drees	....	set medic
Leon Ericksen	....	set detailer
Gwen Everman	....	production accountant (as Gwendolyn Everman)
John 'Fletch' Fletcher	....	location assistant
Leigh French	....	adr group coordinator
Christopher Godfrey	....	office production assistant
Leslie Godfrey	....	production coordinator (as Leslie D. Godfrey)
Wendy Gray	....	location manager
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialogue coach
Laurene Hirschberg	....	researcher
Frank Inn	....	doberman supplier
Heather Jameson	....	set production assistant
Shellie Jeffrey	....	stitcher
Lorie Jones	....	production secretary
Nancy Jones Wetmore	....	milliner/crafts
Karl Knief	....	set production assistant
Olivia Lewis	....	stitcher
Jeff Maynard	....	office production assistant
Jennifer Melching	....	location assistant
Carla Meyer	....	dialogue coach
Cindy Miles	....	stitcher
Karen Naser	....	shop head
Greg Ovard	....	location manager
Joe Reif	....	set production assistant
Scott Schudy	....	assistant location manager
George Sheanshang	....	legal: production
Karen S. Smith	....	craft service
Carmen Soriano	....	script supervisor
Mary Traylor	....	stitcher
Dale Wibben	....	custom made clothing: women
Whitney J. Willard	....	assistant accountant
Robert Wojewodski	....	milliner/crafts
Scott Zipp	....	location assistant
Michael Altman	....	projectionist (uncredited)
Julie Hansen	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
John Marston	....	location projectionist: replacement (uncredited)
Leslie Porter	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Dylan Tichenor	....	technical coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• CiBy 2000
• Sandcastle 5 Productions

Distributors

• Asso Film (video)
• Brush Creek Productions
• Cinemussy (Spain)
• Comstock (1996) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Electric (UK)
• Fine Line Features
• MFA Filmdistribution (Germany)
• Top Tape (Brazil) (video)

Other Companies

• Evan M. Greenspan  music clearances
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Le Mobil  life music equipment
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Sunrise Films  negative cutting
• Todd-AO Studios (West)  Sound re-recorded at
• Wright/Laird Casting  location casting

Also Known As:

Kansas City (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Kansas City (Spain) [es]
Kansas City (Germany) [de]
Kansas City (Denmark) [da]
Kansas City (Greece) [el]

MPAA:

Rated R for language, and for some violence and drug use.

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | France:Unrated | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Kansas City, Kansas, USA

Company:

CiBy 2000

Trivia:

The movie is partially based on a true incident. In 1933, Mary McElroy, the opium-addicted daughter of Henry McElroy, Kansas City's City Manager, was kidnapped from her home by a group of amateur kidnappers. After a $30,000 ransom was paid, Mary McElroy was released unharmed. Her four kidnappers were later caught and sentenced to life in prison.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Governor Guy Park is telephoned about the kidnapping, he suggests notifying the state police. Missouri has no state police (only Highway Patrol).

Quotes:

Seldom Seen: If my mother was alive, she'd cut your balls off. Woman went right to the point. She never, ever missed a beat.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Directors: The Films of Robert Altman (#2.9)" (2001)

It was a great experience!

I was an extra in the film and it was an illuminating experience. We shot the Union Station scenes in 98 degree heat (no AC) and in winter costumes! I was wearing a wool dress, real silk stockings, leather heels and a BEAVER coat! Oh yes, and I was 6 months pregnant! Despite the sweat involved, it was a blast and I am glad I had the experience. Not only was I paid to be in a film, but the caterer was fabulous, the people were very interesting, and it's cool that I can see myself on the screen. I would let my kids see it, but 90% of the movie isn't exactly kid- friendly! I was sorry to hear of Mr. Altman's death - he was one in a trillion. Glad so many people enjoyed the film...