The Sixth Sense (1999)

Director:

M. Night Shyamalan

Writer (WGA):

M. Night Shyamalan (written by)

Release Date:

6 August 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Not every gift is a blessing.

Plot:

A boy who communicates with spirits that don't know they're dead seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist.

Plot Keywords:

Affection | Stylized | Psychological Thriller | Elementary School | Child's Point Of View

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 31 wins & 37 nominations

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Dr. Malcolm Crowe
Haley Joel Osment	...	Cole Sear
Toni Collette	...	Lynn Sear
Olivia Williams	...	Anna Crowe
Donnie Wahlberg	...	Vincent Grey
Peter Anthony Tambakis	...	Darren (as Peter Tambakis)
Jeffrey Zubernis	...	Bobby
Bruce Norris	...	Stanley Cunningham
Glenn Fitzgerald	...	Sean
Greg Wood	...	Mr. Collins
Mischa Barton	...	Kyra Collins
Trevor Morgan	...	Tommy Tammisimo
Angelica Torn	...	Mrs. Collins
Lisa Summerour	...	Bridesmaid
Firdous Bamji	...	Young Man Buying Ring
Samia Shoaib	...	Young Woman Buying Ring
Hayden Saunier	...	Darren's Mom
Janis Dardaris	...	Kitchen Woman
Neill Hartley	...	Visitor #2
Sarah Ripard	...	Visitor #3
Heidi Fischer	...	Visitor #4
KaDee Strickland	...	Visitor #5
Michael J. Lyons	...	Visitor #6
Samantha Fitzpatrick	...	Kyra's Sister
Holly Rudkin	...	Society Lady #1
Kate Kearney-Patch	...	Society Lady #2
Marilyn Shanok	...	Woman at Accident
M. Night Shyamalan	...	Dr. Hill
Wes Heywood	...	Commercial Narrator
Nico Woulard	...	Hanged Child
Carol Nielson	...	Hanged Female
Keith Woulard	...	Hanged Male
Jodi Dawson	...	Burnt Teacher
Tony Michael Donnelly	...	Gunshot Boy (as Tony Donnelly)
Ronnie Lea	...	Secretary
Carlos Xavier Lopez	...	Spanish Ghost on Tape (voice) (as Carlos X. López)
Gino Inverso	...	Young Vincent
Ellen Sheppard	...	Mrs. Sloan
Tom McLaughlin	...	Anna's Father
Candy Aston-Dennis	...	Anna's Mother (as Candy Aston Dennis)
Patrick McDade	...	Shaken Driver (as Patrick F. McDade)
Jose L. Rodriguez	...	Husband
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Bowersox	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Kym Cohen	...	Bride's maid (uncredited)
Sean Oliver	...	Ghost in the Dungeon (uncredited)

Directed by
M. Night Shyamalan

Writing credits (WGA)
M. Night Shyamalan		(written by)

Produced by
Kathleen Kennedy	....	producer
Frank Marshall	....	producer
Barry Mendel	....	producer
Sam Mercer	....	executive producer

Original Music by
James Newton Howard

Cinematography by
Tak Fujimoto		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Andrew Mondshein

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Larry Fulton

Art Direction by
Philip Messina

Set Decoration by
Douglas A. Mowat		(as Douglas Mowat)
Susannah McCarthy		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Joanna Johnston

Makeup Department
Richard Alonzo	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Michal Bigger	....	key makeup artist
Francesca Paris	....	key hair stylist
Bunny Parker	....	hair stylist: Mr. Willis
Gerald Quist	....	makeup artist: Mr. Willis

Production Management
Lynn Andrews	....	production supervisor
Paul A. Levin	....	post-production supervisor
Sam Mercer	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sonia Bhalla	....	second second assistant director
Michael T. Meador	....	dga trainee (as Michael Meader)
Andrew Mondshein	....	second unit director
Scott Andrew Robertson	....	second assistant director (as Scott Robertson)
John Rusk	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Greta Alexander	....	scenic artist
Dave Barnes	....	sculptor
Kate Bartouldus	....	sculptor (as Kate Bartoldus)
Margaret Boritz	....	scenic artist
Lewis Bowen Jr.	....	lead scenic (as Lewis Bowen)
James Breen	....	key greensman
Thom Bumblauskas	....	scenic artist
Joseph Timothy Conway	....	assistant property master (as Joseph T. Conway)
Jennifer Desnovée	....	scenic artist
Christopher F. Graneto	....	construction grip
Christopher F. Graneto	....	toolman
Frank Grasso	....	set dresser
William F. Hennessy Jr.	....	set dresser
Robert Holtzman	....	assistant set decorator
Robert Holtzman	....	buyer
Erika S. Katz	....	scenic artist (as Erika Katz)
Paul Maiello	....	location foreman
Brick Mason	....	storyboard artist
Charles E. McCarry	....	assistant art director (as Charles McCarry)
Susannah McCarthy	....	set dresser
Morgan Miller	....	set dresser
Scott P. Murphy	....	assistant art director (as Scott Murphy)
Sharon Potts	....	on-set dresser
Ricky Riggs	....	scenic charge
Carmen S. Santoro	....	shop foreman
Gerald Scaife	....	construction estimator (as Gerald James Scaife)
Charles J. Scott	....	set dresser
Arthur Shippee	....	property master
Stephen Siersema	....	camera scenic artist
Duncan M. Spencer	....	key construction grip
Kia Steave-Dickerson	....	additional props
Nancy Stroud	....	scenic artist
John Thomas	....	scenic artist
Penny Thomas	....	scenic artist
Patrick J. Trowbridge	....	set dresser
Matthew Turner	....	scenic artist
Sameena Usmani	....	art department administrator
Karen Wainwright	....	scenic artist
Thomas Watkins	....	set dresser
Tom West	....	lead man
Paul Williams	....	construction coordinator
Jonathan A. Davidson	....	construction grip (uncredited)
Lori Marks	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Bruce Sumerfield	....	scenic (uncredited)
Christine Wick	....	set decoration buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Franklin Bergad	....	foley editor (as David Bergad)
David Boulton	....	adr mixer
Allan Byer	....	sound mixer
David A. Cohen	....	dialogue editor
Ben Conrad	....	foley mixer
Eric Dachs	....	apprentice sound editor
Grant Foerster	....	foley recordist
Dan Gleich	....	sound effects recordist
Harry Higgins	....	sound re-recordist
Kenton Jakub	....	adr editor
Michael Kirchberger	....	sound designer
Michael Kirchberger	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Kirchberger	....	supervising sound editor
Ian McLoughlin	....	adr mixer (as Ian McGloughlin)
Jeremy Molod	....	assistant sound editor
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
Linda Murphy	....	boom operator
Larry Oatfield	....	sound effects editor
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
Anne Pope	....	assistant sound editor
Paul P. Soucek	....	additional sound designer (as Paul Soucek)
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
Erich Stratmann	....	assistant sound editor
Roy Waldspurger	....	foley editor
Jennifer L. Ware	....	sound effects editor (as Jennifer Ware)
Ye Zhang	....	utility cable
Daniel Ward	....	apprentice sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Richard Alonzo	....	key artist: Stan Winston Studio (as Richie Alonzo)
Darin Bouyssou	....	mold department: Stan Winston Studio
Connie Cadwell	....	key fabricator: Stan Winston Studio
Jeffrey Cox	....	special effects
Steve Cremin	....	assistant special effects supervisor
Alon Dori	....	mold department: Stan Winston Studio
Gary Elmendorf	....	special effects supervisor (as Garry Elmendorf)
Trevor Hensley	....	key artist: Stan Winston Studio
Grady Holder	....	mold department: Stan Winston Studio
Carey Jones	....	mold department: Stan Winston Studio
Bill Lee	....	special effects foreman
Lindsay MacGowan	....	key artist: Stan Winston Studio (as Lindsay Macgowan)
Tony McCray	....	mold department supervisor: Stan Winston Studio (as Anthony McCray)
Michael Ornelaz	....	key hair stylist: Stan Winston Studio
Joey Orosco	....	key artist: Stan Winston Studio
Jim Orr	....	special effects
John Rosengrant	....	effects supervisor: Stan Winston Studio
Alfred Sousa	....	mechanical designer: Stan Winston Studio (as Al Sousa)
Scott Stoddard	....	key artist: Stan Winston Studio
Stiles White	....	production coordinator: Stan Winston Studio
Keith Marbory	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Tim Landry	....	digital effects supervisor: Dream Quest
David McCullough	....	visual effects producer: Dream Quest
Kyle J. Healey	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Stephen Lawes	....	main title designer (uncredited)
Rick Lopez	....	scanning and recording technician (uncredited)
Dean Wright	....	visual effects executive producer (uncredited)

Stunts
Jeff Habberstad	....	stunt coordinator
Terry Jackson	....	stunt double: Mr. Willis
Steve Mack	....	stunts
Mick O'Rourke	....	stunts
Keith Woulard	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sheridan Braxton	....	company grip
Michael W. Brennan	....	company electrician
James A. Casey	....	rigging grip
David Cecil	....	rigging electrician
Andrew Reed Conner	....	company electrician (as Andrew Conner)
Daniel C. Cook	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Jason Cortazzo	....	company grip
Glenn Davis	....	company electrician (as Glenn R. Davis)
James D. Doherty	....	first grip
Bill Fiedler	....	generator operator
Mark Fiedler	....	rigging electrician
Dave Fortino	....	rigging grip (as David Fortino)
David Golia	....	additional photographer
Kevin Hackenberg	....	rigging grip
Emil Hampton	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Emil Clayton Hampton)
Matthew Hanlon	....	rigging grip
Gregory F. Johnson	....	rigging grip (as Gregory Johnson)
Craig Ligget	....	rigging gaffer (as Craig Heston Ligget)
Steven Litecky	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Steve Litecky)
David W. Lowe	....	company grip
Billy Miller	....	key grip (as William A. Miller)
Gordon Minard	....	rigging electrician
Christopher Murphy	....	video assist operator (as Chris Murphy)
Ken Pattison	....	rigging grip
Ron Phillips	....	still photographer
Scott H. Ramsey	....	chief lighting technician (as Scott Ramsey)
Daniel Rieser	....	company grip
Kurt Rimmel	....	dolly grip
Kyle Rudolph	....	camera operator
Leon Sanginiti	....	additional second assistant camera (as Leon Sanginiti Jr.)
I. Nate Scaglione	....	shop electric foreman
Robert Wayne See	....	rigging grip
Jon Sibert	....	best boy grip
Jon Sibert	....	key rigging grip
Alan Silverstein	....	rigging electrician
Craig Simpson	....	rigging grip
Edward A. Smith	....	company electrician
Baird Steptoe	....	first assistant camera
John Young	....	second assistant camera
William Louthe	....	electrician (uncredited)
Darren Ryan	....	24 frame video operator (uncredited)
Jarvis B. Wilsher	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Beth Bowling	....	casting associate
Diane Heery	....	extras casting
Sondra James	....	voice casting
Julie Lichter	....	casting associate
Mike Lemon	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Teresa Binder	....	costumer: Mr. Willis
Nigel Boyd	....	costumer
Linda Redmon	....	costumer
Maria Vaughan	....	costumer
Diana Wilson	....	costumer
Pamela Wise	....	key costume supervisor (as Pam Wise)
Lorraine Crossman	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Jennifer Davidoff Cook	....	additional assistant editor
John Scott Cook	....	first assistant editor (as John S. Cook)
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Gary Levy	....	additional assistant editor
Anne O'Brien	....	assistant editor
David Reynolds	....	apprentice film editor
Jae Stein-Grainger	....	post-production assistant
Dan Valliere	....	color timer

Music Department
Pete Anthony	....	conductor
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Thomas S. Drescher	....	music editor
Robert Elhai	....	orchestrator
J.T. Hill	....	electronic score producer
James Newton Howard	....	orchestrator
Jo Ann Kane	....	music preparation
Shawn Murphy	....	score mixer
Shawn Murphy	....	score recordist
Kathy Nelson	....	executive in charge of music: Buena Vista Motion Picture Group
Sally Stevens	....	choir contractor
Michael Fey	....	music executive (uncredited)
Mark Graham	....	music copyist (uncredited)
James Newton Howard	....	score producer (uncredited)
John Rodd	....	score recordist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Richard Curry	....	driver: Mr. Willis
Mark Eads	....	driver: Mr. Willis
John Morrone III	....	transportation coordinator (as John F. Morrone III)
Ted Schambers	....	driver: Mr. Willis
John Tarlini Sr.	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Virginia E. Beard	....	assistant accountant
Mary Berkelbach	....	medic
Robert Biddle	....	security: Bruce Willis
Thomas 'Doc' Boguski	....	production coordinator (as Thomas Doc Boguski)
Dan Carter	....	location projectionist
Jefferson Chaney	....	office production assistant
Anne Clements	....	assistant: Barry Mendel
Claire Cowperthwaite	....	script supervisor
Carolyn Crimley	....	studio teacher
David Cutler	....	office production assistant
Renee D. Czarapata	....	payroll accountant
Carl J. Davis	....	office production assistant
Denise DePalma	....	medic
Vince Digiacomo	....	craft service
Peter Dinich	....	photo double: Haley Joel Osment
Fran Doerr	....	office production assistant (as Francis X. Doerr Jr.)
Stephen J. Eads	....	assistant: Mr. Willis (as Stephen Eads)
Joe Everett	....	unit publicist (as Joseph L. Everett)
Megan Fenerty	....	production assistant
Richard Grant	....	auricle operator
Beverly Jusi	....	first assistant accountant (as Beverly L. Mink)
Kathleen Kelly	....	medic
Gabrielle Mahler	....	assistant: Frank Marshall
Lilene Mansell	....	dialect consultant
Cory McCall	....	production assistant (as Cory M. McCall)
Jason Miller	....	assistant: Barry Mendel
Doug Moreno	....	production accountant (as Douglas A. Moreno)
Raymond Morgan	....	production assistant
Missy Moyer	....	facilities coordinator
Barbara Muehleib	....	animal handler
Sarah Poindexter	....	assistant: Sam Mercer
Mary T. Radford	....	assistant: Frank Marshall
Virle S. Reid	....	production assistant (as Virle Reid)
Jose L. Rodriguez	....	assistant: M. Night Shyamalan (as Jose Rodriguez)
Dan Rosenfelt	....	office production assistant
Patricia Taggart	....	assistant location manager
Pamela Thompson	....	studio teacher
Kirsten Turner	....	assistant production coordinator
Andrew L. Ullman	....	location manager (as Andrew Ullman)
Omar Williams	....	film runner
Barbara Young	....	medic
Stacie M. Ziegenfuss	....	office production assistant
Cheri Zucca	....	assistant: M. Night Shyamalan
Joseph Barry	....	stand-in: Haley Joel Osment (uncredited)
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach: Olivia Williams (uncredited)
Marisa Clayton	....	dailies assistant: Magno Sound & Video (uncredited)
Lisa France	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Melissa Givey	....	production associate (uncredited)
Matt Hedge	....	adr artist (uncredited)
Angela Torrez Parker	....	publicity travel coordinator (uncredited)
Tim Ray	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Peter Pamela Rose	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Bill Timoney	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	aerial coordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Peter Benedek	....	special thanks
Stephen F. Breimer	....	special thanks
Sherwin Das	....	special thanks
Marc H. Glick	....	special thanks
Sharon Pinkenson	....	special thanks: executive director, Greater Philadelphia Film Office
Jeremy Zimmer	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Barry Mendel Productions (as A Kennedy/Marshall/Barry Mendel Production)
• Hollywood Pictures (present)
• Kennedy/Marshall Company, The (A Kennedy/Marshall/Barry Mendel Production)
• Spyglass Entertainment (present)

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2002) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2000) (UK) (DVD)
• Buena Vista International (Argentina)
• Buena Vista International (1999) (UK) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2000) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (France)
• MAWA Film & Medien (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Odeon (Greece)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (Sweden)
• Toho-Towa (1999) (Japan) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Dream Quest Images (visual effects)
• Stan Winston Studio (make-up effects)

Other Companies

• Behind the Scenes Freight  shipping by
• Cineric  opticals
• Fantasy Studios  post-production facility
• Greater Philadelphia Film Office  special thanks
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack published by
• Home on the Range  catering
• KYW-AM  radio clip courtesy of
• Mike Lemon Casting  extras casting
• Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox Studios, The  orchestra recorded at
• Peco Energy Company  special thanks
• Philadelpia Authority for Industrial Development  special thanks
• Picture Mill, The  main title design
• Safeguard Investigation and Security Services  security for Bruce Willis provided by
• Shadow Broadcast Services  special thanks
• Signet Soundelux Studios  choir recorded at
• Sound One Corporation  post-production facility
• Sound, San Francisco  post-production facility
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority  special thanks
• Striped Bass Restaurant  special thanks
• The City of Philadelphia  special thanks
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting
• Xeno Lights Inc.  lighting and grip equipment

Also Known As:

Sexto sentido, El (Chile) (Mexico) (Spain) [es]
Sexto Sentido, O (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Sjätte sinnet, Det (Finland: Swedish title) (literal title) (Sweden) (literal title) [sv]
ьЕЯРНЕ вСБЯРБН (Russia) [ru]
Al saselea simt (Romania) [ro]
Ekti aisthisi, I (Greece) [el]
Hatodik érzék (Hungary) [hu]
Kuudes aisti (Finland) [fi]
Sestý smysl (Czech Republic) [cs]
Sesto culo (Serbia) [sr]
Sexto sentido (Argentina) [es]
Siesty zmysel (Slovakia) [sk]
Sixième sens (France) [fr]
Sixième sens, Le (Canada: French title) [fr]
Sixth Sense (Germany) [de]
Sjette sans, Den (Denmark) [da]
Sjette sansen, Den (Norway) (literal title) [no]
Szosty zmysl (Poland) [pl]
The sixth sense - Il sesto senso (Italy) [it]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material and violent images.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Brazil:12 | Malaysia:18SG | Japan:R-15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Barry Mendel Productions

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [M. Night Shyamalan] [car accident]Cole tells his mother about his powers while they're stuck in traffic because of a car accident.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Malcolm walks into Cole's hospital room, Cole's feet are outside the covers. In the next shot one foot is under the covers.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Anna Crowe: It's getting cold.
Malcolm Crowe: That is one fine frame; one fine frame that is. How much...
[he sits down with a grunt]
Malcolm Crowe: ...does a fine frame like that cost, do you think?
Anna Crowe: I never told you, but you sound a little like Dr. Seuss when you're drunk.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in American Beauty Pie (2000)

Soundtrack:

Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 32, D.667, 'Trout' Andante (Tema con Variazoni)

An appropriate spoiler-free review

The surprise ending to "The Sixth Sense" has gotten so much attention that it threatens to overshadow the film. I occasionally hear people say things like the following: "The 'twist' was so obvious that I figured it out in the first five minutes!" Some of those people may even be telling the truth. There's no way to know. But there's a lot of condescension in such remarks, an implication that anyone who didn't figure it out must be a really dumb sucker. At least in my case I have an excuse. When I first saw this film back in early 2000, I knew nothing about it other than that it was about the relationship between a psychiatrist played by Bruce Willis and a child with some sort of psychic power. I didn't even know what that psychic power was, and an early scene led me to think it was telepathy. In short, I had no idea even what the movie's subject was until about the middle of the film, so I was completely adrift as to solving the movie's mystery.

Still, to anyone who did figure the secret out quickly, I have this to say: you may be smarter than I am, but that does not make this a bad movie. Hitchcock went to great lengths to keep the ending to "Psycho" from leaking out. Many people who watch that film today figure the twist out (probably because it has been imitated in countless thrillers since then), but the film is still a classic that holds up well today. Surprise endings are, ultimately, just clever contrivances, extra layerings on the cake. They do not constitute the difference between a good movie and a bad movie. A movie must work on its own terms before springing a surprise.

Nevertheless, there can be no denying that the twist in "The Sixth Sense" is particularly clever. It's no virtue if a twist is impossible to predict. It is just as important that the twist be logical as that it be surprising. Plenty of thrillers feature twists that are arbitrary, where the plot fails to provide enough hints. Even a clever thriller like "Fight Club" requires a bit of a stretch to accept the ending. What makes "The Sixth Sense" impressive is that it never cheats by suggesting that earlier scenes were imaginary. Everything we see is real, and only our assumptions fool us. If, however, you weren't fooled, all the better: just because you figure out the magician's trick does not make it a bad trick.

Consider what appears to be happening in the film. Willis plays a psychiatrist who has received accolades for helping children with problems. We see a romantic evening with him and his wife at home. Then he gets into an ugly, violent confrontation with a former patient. Willis believes he has failed, and he wants to make amends by helping a new child (Haley Joel Osment) who appears to be having the same problems (and perhaps the same abilities) that his former patient once displayed. But just as he thinks he's making progress with Osment, his marriage seems to be falling apart. His wife isn't talking to him, and is beginning to see another man.

However these events may be reinterpreted by what is revealed later, the movie is effective because it works on this basic level. In a key scene, Willis asks Osment what he wants most, and Osment answers, "I don't want to be scared anymore." It is not always clear that Osment is really facing a mortal threat. But because the movie establishes that he is undergoing a scary experience, by