American History X (1998)

Director:

Tony Kaye

Writer (WGA):

David McKenna (written by)

Release Date:

30 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

His father taught him to hate. His friends taught him rage. His enemies gave him hope.

Plot:

A former neo-nazi skinhead tries to prevent his younger brother from going down the same wrong path that he did.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Neo Nazi | Skinhead | Hatred | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Edward Norton	...	Derek Vinyard
Edward Furlong	...	Danny Vinyard
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Doris Vinyard
Avery Brooks	...	Dr. Bob Sweeney
Jennifer Lien	...	Davina Vinyard
Ethan Suplee	...	Seth Ryan
Stacy Keach	...	Cameron Alexander
Fairuza Balk	...	Stacey
Elliott Gould	...	Murray
Guy Torry	...	Lamont
William Russ	...	Dennis Vinyard
Joseph Cortese	...	Rasmussen (as Joe Cortese)
Jason Bose Smith	...	Little Henry (as Jason Bose-Smith)
Antonio David Lyons	...	Lawrence
Alex Sol	...	Mitch McCormick
Keram Malicki-Sánchez	...	Chris (as Keram Malicki-Sanchez)
Giuseppe Andrews	...	Jason
Cleo Adell	...	Lizzy (as Michelle Christine White)
Jonathan Fowler Jr.	...	Jerome
Christopher Masterson	...	Daryl Dawson (as Chris Masterson)
Nicholas R. Oleson	...	Huge Aryan
Jordan Marder	...	Curtis
Paul Le Mat	...	McMahon
Thomas L. Bellissimo	...	Cop #2 (as Tommy L. Bellissimo)
Cherish Lee	...	Kammi
Sam Vlahos	...	Dr. Aguilar
Tara Blanchard	...	Ally Vinyard
Anne Lambton	...	Cassandra
Steve Wolford	...	Reporter
Richard Noyce	...	Desk Sergeant
Danso Gordon	...	Buddy #1
Jim Norton	...	Randy
David Basulto	...	Guard
Alexis Rose Coen	...	Young Ally Vinyard
Kiante Elam	...	Lawrence's Partner (as Kiant Elam)
Paul Hopkins	...	Student
Keith Odett	...	Random Skinhead
Paul E. Short	...	Stocky Buddy (as Paul Short)
Nigel Miguel	...	Basketball Player
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter	...	Skinhead (uncredited)
Sydney 'Big Dawg' Colston	...	Prison Gang Leader (uncredited)
John Embry	...	Parking Lot Skinhead (uncredited)
Maximillian Kesmodel	...	Young Danny Vinyard (uncredited)
Barbie Marie	...	Student (uncredited)
Allie Moss	...	Skinhead Girlfriend (uncredited)
Denney Pierce	...	Arresting Officer (uncredited)
Glendon Rich	...	Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
Sam Sarpong	...	Jail Inmate (uncredited)
Mark Swanson	...	Skinhead in Store (uncredited)
Jeremy Sweet	...	Skinhead (uncredited)
Selwyn Ward	...	High School Student Leaving Bathroom (uncredited)

Directed by
Tony Kaye

Writing credits (WGA)
David McKenna		(written by)

Produced by
Bill Carraro	....	executive producer
Michael De Luca	....	co-executive producer
Jon Hess	....	co-producer
David McKenna	....	co-producer
John Morrissey	....	producer
Kearie Peak	....	executive producer
Steve Tisch	....	executive producer
Lawrence Turman	....	executive producer
Brian Witten	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Anne Dudley

Cinematography by
Tony Kaye

Film Editing by
Gerald B. Greenberg		(as Jerry Greenberg)
Alan Heim

Casting by
Valerie McCaffrey

Production Design by
Jon Gary Steele

Art Direction by
J. Kyler Black		(as James Kyler Black)
Dan Olexiewicz

Set Decoration by
Tessa Posnansky

Costume Design by
Doug Hall

Makeup Department
Judith A. Cory	....	supervising key hair (as Judith Alexander-Cory)
Bill Fletcher	....	wig maker
Heather Fraker	....	makeup artist
Karyn Huston	....	hair stylist
John E. Jackson	....	supervising key makeup
Matthew W. Mungle	....	special effects makeup artist
Gina Rylander	....	body makeup artist
Christina Smith	....	supervising key makeup

Production Management
Bill Carraro	....	unit production manager
Carla Fry	....	executive in charge of production
Diana Kaufman	....	post-production supervisor
Michael Mandaville	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Cotone	....	first assistant director
Michael Keller	....	second second assistant director
David Larson	....	second assistant director
Rusty Mahmood	....	dga trainee
Scott Harris	....	first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Curtis Baruth	....	construction coordinator (as Curtis W. Baruth)
Sharleen Bright	....	head scenic artist
Clovis Chamberet	....	lead man (as Clovis Chambaret)
Michael Cudlitz	....	construction coordinator
Franco Esile	....	set dresser
Steven E. Eyrse	....	scenic artist
Brandon S. Gilgen	....	scenic painter
Chris Griffiths	....	set dresser
Vincent M. Jackson	....	scenic painter
Pete Josephs	....	construction foreman (as Peter Josephs)
Ian Kay	....	prop assistant
Craig Lafferty	....	on-set dresser
Lynda Reiss	....	property master
Lisa Roman	....	set dresser
Parker Swanson	....	assistant property master
Le'Von Webb	....	set dresser (as Lévon Webb)

Sound Department
Joe Barnett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Javier Bennassar	....	sound effects editor
Dorian Cheah	....	sound effects editor
Benjamin L. Cook	....	background sound editor (as Benjamin Cook)
Suzanne Davis	....	utility cable
Jed M. Dodge	....	dialogue editor (as Jed Dodge)
Roger Dudley	....	additional sound engineer
Mary Erstad	....	foley mixer
David Lee Fein	....	foley artist (as David Lee Fine)
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Cormac Funge	....	sound effects editor
Robert Getty	....	assistant sound editor
Kurt Godel	....	transfer engineer
David Grant	....	dialogue editor
Tom Hartig	....	boom operator (as Thomas W. Hartig)
Frederick Howard	....	sound designer
Frederick Howard	....	supervising sound editor
Craig Jurkiewicz	....	foley editor
Ossama Khuluki	....	foley artist (as Ossame Khuluki)
David Mann	....	foley editor
Diane Marshall	....	foley artist
Bob McNabb	....	dialogue editor (as Robert McNabb)
Michael Mullane	....	background sound editor
Steve Nelson	....	production sound mixer
Sarah Peterson	....	dialogue assistant
Yuri Reese	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Ross	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Scoville	....	dialogue editor
Susan Shin	....	adr supervisor
Anne Slack	....	transfer engineer
William Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bill Smith)
Walter Spencer	....	dialogue editor
Lucy Sustar	....	foley mixer
Roland N. Thai	....	sound effects editor (as Roland Thai)
Paul Coogan	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Michael Ferdie	....	production sound editor (uncredited)
Jason George	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Cameron Hamza	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Dean Hovey	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Robert Jackson	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Scott Jones	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Thomas Jones	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Paul Vik Marshall	....	pickups sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)
Paul Vik Marshall	....	sound mixer (uncredited)
Aletha Rodgers	....	sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)
Walter Spencer	....	production sound editor (uncredited)
Kelly Vandever	....	additional sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Charles Belardinelli	....	special effects (as Charlie Belardinelli)
Thomas L. Bellissimo	....	special effects supervisor (as Tom Bellissimo)
Jerry Donegan	....	special effects
Christie Sumner	....	special effects (as Christy Sumner)
Malia Thompson	....	special effects
Shannon J. Thompson	....	special effects (as Shannon Thompson)

Visual Effects by
Stephen Jennings	....	visual effects production assistant (uncredited)

Stunts
Charles Belardinelli	....	stunts
Chris Carnel	....	stunts
Eugene Collier	....	stunts
Kevin LaRosa	....	stunts
Chai Lee	....	stunts
Dwayne McGee	....	stunts
Francine Morris	....	stunts
Ernie F. Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator (as Ernie Orsatti)
Noon Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator
Mark Orson	....	stunts
Jimmy Ortega	....	stunts
Courtney Pakiz	....	stunt double
Eddie Perez	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunt coordinator
Paul Sherrod	....	stunts
Paul E. Short	....	stunt coordinator (as Paul Short)
Russell Solberg	....	stunts
Sammy Thurman	....	stunts
Frank Torres	....	stunts
Mark Aaron Wagner	....	stunts (as Mark Ron Wagner)
Eddie Wong	....	stunts
Merritt Yohnka	....	stunts (as Merritt Yohnke)

Camera and Electrical Department
James Alden	....	grip
Curtis A. Andrews Jr.	....	lamp operator
Curtis A. Andrews Jr.	....	rigging gaffer
Tim Angelo	....	best boy grip
Mark Bolin	....	dolly grip
Rick Drapkin	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
David Elmore	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Scott England	....	lamp operator
Warren Feldman	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
David Jarrell	....	chief lighting technician
John T. Martin	....	key grip
John McCoy	....	video playback operator
Sean Hunter Moe	....	camera loader
Charles Papert	....	Steadicam operator
Charles Papert	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Rico Priem	....	grip
James Scott	....	best boy electric
John Sekula	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
Fred Talmadge	....	24 frame video operator
Barry Berona	....	first assistant camera: additional photography (uncredited)
Isaac Friedman	....	film loader: second unit (uncredited)
Eric J. Goldstein	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Barry Gross	....	electrician (uncredited)
Barry Idoine	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Tony Kaye	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Gaston Langer	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Dale Obert	....	electrician (uncredited)
Dale Obert	....	gaffer: additional unit (uncredited)
Christopher C. Pearson	....	first assistant camera: additional photography (uncredited)
Bradley Richard	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
William Robinson	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Joe Adams	....	casting assistant (as Joseph Adams)
Bill Dance	....	extras casting
Terrence Harris	....	extras casting assistant (as Terence Harris)
Mark Williamson	....	extras casting assistant
Terrence Harris	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marisa Aboitiz	....	costume supervisor
Yvette Ammon	....	additional set costumer
Ulker Irazat	....	seamstress
Ángela Núñez	....	costumer (as Angela Nunez)
Lisa Parmet	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Glenn Cocco	....	first assistant editor
Kim Ettinger	....	assistant editor
Joe Fineman	....	executive in charge of post-production
Bob McMillian	....	color timer
Dan Miller	....	first assistant editor
Brandon Smith	....	post-production coordinator
Ron Stanik	....	assistant editor
Stephanie Olah	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)

Music Department
Paul Broucek	....	music executive
Paul Broucek	....	music supervisor
Bulge	....	music performers: score
Marc Cancel	....	musician: Bulge member
Karen Elliott	....	music coordinator: Air-Edel
Richard Ford	....	music editor
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestral contractor
Paul Hulme	....	scoring mixer
Stanley Mueller	....	musician: Bulge member
Christopher Rensink	....	musician: Bulge member
Lori Silfen	....	music business affairs
Keith Swan	....	musician: Bulge member
Gavyn Wright	....	orchestra leader

Transportation Department
Joseph Aroesti	....	driver
Tony Barattini	....	driver
Robin D. Bishop	....	driver (as Robin Bishop)
Joe Cosentino	....	transportation captain
Pat Cosentino	....	driver
Angel Desanti	....	driver (as Angel De Santi)
Ed Evans	....	driver
Dash Hart	....	driver
Geno Hart	....	transportation coordinator
Alvin Hurd	....	driver: honeywagon
Glenn Knowlton	....	driver
Glen Mathias	....	driver (as Glenn Mathias)
Bill Needham	....	driver
John Pellegrino	....	driver: production van
Adam Pinkstaff	....	transportation co-captain
Leo Stefanos	....	general manager: transportation
Leo Stefanos	....	transportation dispatcher
Tom Stillman	....	driver
Steven Luke Weible	....	driver: honeywagon (as Steve Weible)
Hardy Ophuls	....	driver: cast (uncredited)

Other crew
George Alonso	....	on-set medic
Matt Baird	....	set production assistant
Peter Barnett	....	first assistant production accountant (as Peter J. Barnett)
Lisa Behlendorf	....	post-production accountant
Paul Belenardo	....	production accountant
Olivette Brown	....	office staff production assistant
Rex Camphuis	....	set production assistant
Anthony Cortés	....	personal trainer: Edward Norton (as Anthony Cortes)
Wendy Cox	....	production coordinator
Avy Eschenasy	....	production attorney
Michael Estrella	....	set production assistant
April Fawcett	....	set production assistant
Nancy A. Flint	....	studio teacher (as Nancy Flint)
Emily Glatter	....	in-house coordinator
Keeley Gould	....	assistant: Mr. Kaye
Susan Hart	....	production associate
Phil Hickerson	....	set production assistant (as Phil S. Hickerson)
Erik Holmberg	....	production executive
Ira Hurvitz	....	script supervisor
Karen Jarnecke	....	assistant production coordinator
Brian R. Keathley	....	craft service
Kevin LaRosa	....	helicopter pilot
Andrew Lipschultz	....	unit publicist
L.A. Maddos	....	adr loop group
Patti J. McDaniel	....	assistant: Mr. Carraro
Nick Mestrundrea	....	craft service (as Nick Mestrandrea)
Matthew Mizel	....	assistant: Mr. Kaye
Jeff Myers	....	set production assistant
John Nisbet	....	set production assistant
Johanna Parker	....	set production assistant
Paul Prokop	....	production controller
Joshua Ravetch	....	production resources
Marc Rindner	....	production attorney
Oscar Luis Rodriguez	....	additional best boy (as Oscar Rodriguez)
Silvie Rodriguez	....	animal trainer
Marc E. Spiegel	....	location manager (as Marc Spiegel)
Sihu Suhr	....	accounting clerk
Tim Swan	....	location scout (as Tim Swann)
Sonya Thompsen	....	contract administrator
Paul Tompkins	....	assistant location manager (as Paul Tompkins)
Omar Torres	....	office staff production assistant
Eric Troop	....	set production assistant (as Eric Topp)
Natalie Trussell	....	production secretary
Timothy P. Tundel	....	payroll accountant (as Tim Tundel)
Ryan Wallace	....	office staff production assistant
Chris Warren	....	caterer
Chris Warren	....	chef
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter	....	choreographer: slam pit (uncredited)
Sean Jordan	....	interactive media (uncredited)
Peter Menich	....	title designer (uncredited)
Kelli Sample	....	dialogue research (uncredited)
Chase White	....	personal assistant: Tony Kaye (uncredited)

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Savoy Pictures
• Turman-Morrissey Company, The

Distributors

• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (1999) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• AXN (2006) (Japan) (TV)
• Amuse Video (2000) (Japan) (DVD)
• Amuse Video (2000) (Japan) (VHS)
• Amuse Video (2003) (Japan) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• EDKO Film (Hong Kong)
• Entertainment in Video (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• H.O.M. Vision (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Herald Film Company (Japan)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (Germany)
• Líder Films (Spain)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (France)
• New Line Cinema (a Time Warner company)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (limited edition steelbook)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment (Australia)
• Sandrews (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Vitória Filmes (Portugal)
• Warner Bros. (Argentina)

Other Companies

• Air-Edel Associates  music coordination
• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring
• Angel Records  soundtrack available on
• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting (uncredited)
• Cast & Crew Entertainment Services  payroll services (as Cast and Crew Entertainment Services)
• Deluxe Catering  catering
• Digital Sound and Picture  sound post-production
• Good Spot  main titles
• Howard A. Anderson Company  opticals
• L.A. Mad Dogs  loop group
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting
• Rescues Unlimited  medical services
• WPA Film Library  stock footage courtesy of
• Whitfield Street Studios  score recorded and mixed at

Also Known As:

American History X (Austria) (Germany) [de]
A Outra História Americana (Brazil) [pt]
América Proibida (Portugal) [pt]
América X (Argentina) [es]
America X (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
American History X (France) [fr]
American History X (Norway) [no]
American History X (Denmark) [da]
American History X (Spain) [es]
Amerikai história X (Hungary) [hu]
Geçmisin gölgesinde (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Generacija X (Croatia) [hr]
Generation X-treme (Canada: French title) [fr]
Historia americana X (Mexico) [es]
Kult hákového kríze (Czech Republic) [cs]
Mathimata amerikanikis istorias (Greece) [el]
Wiezien nienawisci (Poland) [pl]

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic brutal violence including rape, pervasive language, strong sexuality and nudity.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Spain:13 | Australia:MA | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:14 | Denmark:15 | Argentina:16 | Belgium:KNT | Chile:18 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Israel:18 | Italy:VM18 | Japan:PG-12 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Greece:K-17

Filming Locations:

Johnie's Coffee Shop - 6101 Wilshire Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Edward Norton was said to have re-edited the film to lengthen his screen time. Director Tony Kaye then attempted to get his name removed but violated a Directors' Guild of America rule that states that directors that use pseudonyms (such as "Alan Smithee") must not talk about why they had their name removed - which Tony Kaye had done in ads in Variety. Kaye sued the DGA and New Line Cinema for $200 million stating that the DGA rule violated his first amendment rights.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Danny is hanging around the basketball courts, his backpack slides off his shoulder onto the ground. In the next shot, it is back on his shoulder.

Quotes:

Danny Vinyard: [writing the beginning of the essay] People look at me and see my brother.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Cameron Diaz/Smashing Pumpkins (#24.1)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Battle Hymn of the Republic

One of the most powerful movies I have ever seen.

I was expecting a kind of a moralistic movie with an overly present, almost preaching like message. The movie however turned out to be extremely powerful mainly due to the professionalism it was made with.

The movie its story is told 'beautifuly' in black & white and color. The quite original directing from Tony Kaye gives the movie a nice visual style and certain atmosphere. The story itself isn't that complicated or extremely original on its own and perhaps at most points even predictable but the way the story is told is phenomenal. This is not a movie with an happy ending or a movie that provides a solution to the racial discrimination problems. It shows what is NOT the solution to the problems and that everything that is occurring is like a vicious circle. The movie does not give a hopeful message but instead shows the dangers and pain you're causing to yourself and your close environment when you're thinking as a white supremacist.

As an anti Neo-Nazi movie this movie works really powerful. I think that its a really good and important thing that this movie is often shown in classrooms.

Edward Norton is truly fantastic in his role. He is very well believable as a Neo-Nazi as well as the reformed person he later turns into in the movie. It's almost like he's playing 2 different characters and he does that so extremely well. Also really good was Edward Furlong who we all long had not seen in a big production. Furlong and Norton are both acting well together in their scene's are highly believable as two brothers.

Also surprising good was the musical score by Anne Dudley who had already won an Oscar for "The Full Monty", the year before.

This was a movie that surprisingly impressed me. As a movie its extremely powerful and important.

10/10