IMDb > The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The Silence of the Lambs
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The Silence of the Lambs (1991) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 8)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) -- 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.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Jonathan Demme
Writers (WGA):
Thomas Harris (novel)
Ted Tally (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Silence of the Lambs on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 February 1991 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Thriller more
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. more
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. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won 5 Oscars. Another 39 wins & 27 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(165 articles)
Screen Queens: Hollywood Does AIDS
 (From FilmExperience. 21 November 2009, 6:49 PM, PST)
Payback is making a comeback
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 20 November 2009, 4:15 PM, PST)
User Comments:
It's a classic! more (666 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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)
more
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
118 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
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 more
Company:
Orion Pictures Corporation more

Fun Stuff

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. more
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. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
FBI instructor: Starling! Starling! Crawford wants to see you in his office.
Clarice Starling: Thank you, sir.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Freeway (1996) more
Soundtrack:
Alone more

FAQ

What happens to Dr. Chilton?
How does the movie end?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
9 out of 11 people found the following comment useful.
It's a classic!, 17 July 2005
10/10
Author: nickpal1983 from New York

There is little doubt that the most memorable aspect of The Silence of the Lambs is Anthony Hopkins' incomparable performance as Lecter. Taking over for Brian Cox, who was effective, but not especially memorable, as the good doctor in 1986's Manhunter, Hopkins instantly makes the role his own, capturing and conveying the charismatic essence of pure evil. To his dying day, no matter how many roles he plays in the interim, Hopkins will forever be known for this part. (It is a credit to Hopkins' ability as an actor that this part did not result in stereotyping. His post-Silence career has been greatly varied, with roles as widely diverse as a stodgy butler in Merchant-Ivory's The Remains of the Day and an action hero in The Edge.) I can throw out any number of superlatives, but none of them do justice to this chilling performance, which I labeled as the best acting work of the '90s. Want to feel the icy fingers of terror stroke your heart? Watch this mixture of brilliant eloquence and inhuman cruelty. As portrayed by Hopkins, Hannibal is both a suave, cultured gentleman and an unspeakable fiend. He is gracious and monstrous at the same time. (Hopkins also provided one of the most quotable lines in recent film history with "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti", which was followed by an inimitable slithering slurp.)

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Catherine is really annoying. StageaG5
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Is Hannibal Lecter based On a Real Person mistakoolaidman
Soundtrack tbennett20
Lecter's drawing of Clarice holding a lamb mlraymond
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