The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 American psychological horror thriller film directed by Jonathan Demme and written by Ted Tally, adapted from Thomas Harris's 1988 novel of the same name. The film stars Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, a young FBI trainee who is hunting a serial killer named "Buffalo Bill" (Ted Levine), who skins his female victims. To catch him, she seeks the advice of the imprisoned Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer.
The film was a critical and commercial success, winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, particularly in the psychological horror genre. The confrontations between Hopkins and Foster are considered some of the greatest footage ever captured for the cinema.
Plot
The Silence of the Lambs follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) as she is tasked with interviewing the imprisoned Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer, to help catch another serial killer named "Buffalo Bill" (Ted Levine), who skins his female victims.
Clarice is able to figure out that the assignment is to pick Lecter's brains to help them solve the case of Buffalo Bill, who has so far killed five victims, all located in the eastern U.S., all young women, who are slightly overweight, all who were drowned in natural bodies of water, and all who were stripped of large swaths of skin. She also figures that Crawford chose her, as a woman, to be able to trigger some emotional response from Lecter.
After speaking to Lecter for the first time, she realizes that everything with him will be a psychological game, with her often having to read between the very cryptic lines. As the investigation progresses, Clarice discovers that Buffalo Bill has kidnapped a senator's daughter, Catherine Martin (Brooke Smith), and is keeping her in a well in his basement.
With Lecter's help, Clarice is able to track down Buffalo Bill's identity and location. In the end, Clarice is able to rescue Catherine and kill Buffalo Bill, while Lecter escapes from his imprisonment. The film ends with Clarice receiving a phone call from Lecter, who is still at large, telling her that he is "having an old friend for dinner".
Cast
Here's the full cast for the film "The Silence of the Lambs":
Main Cast:
- Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling
- Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter
- Scott Glenn as Jack Crawford
Supporting Cast:
- Ted Levine as Jame Gumb
- Anthony Heald as Dr. Frederick Chilton
- Diane Baker as Senator Ruth Martin
- Frank Welker as Buffalo Bill's Dog (uncredited)
- Charles Napier as Lt. Barney Matthews
- Ron Leibman as Paul Momund
- Tracey Walter as Lamar
- Kasi Lemmons as Ardelia Mapp
- Dan Butler as Roden
- Frankie Faison as Barney
- Roger Corman as FBI Director Hayden Burke
- Danny Darst as Sgt. Tate
- George P. Wilbur as Mr. Hobbs
- Michael Michele as Cadet Starling (flashback)
Minor Cast:
- Lawrence A. Bonney as Miggs
- Don Brockett as Friendly Psychopath
- Stuart Rudin as Miggs
- Leib Lensky as Mr. Leeds
- Jim Roche as TV Evangelist
- Bill Miller as Mr. Brigham
- Gene Borkan as Oscar
- Kenneth Utt as Dr. Alcenzi
- Adelle Lutz as TV Anchor Woman
- George Michael as TV Sportscaster
- D.B. Sweeney as Agent Burke
- Cynthia Ettinger as Nurse
- Steve Wyatt as Guard
- David Early as Guard
- Bill Dalzell as Guard
- Tommy Lafitte as Guard
- Buzz Kilman as Guard
- Lauren Roselli as Guard
- Kate Castle as Nurse
- Gary Goetzman as Orderly
- John W. Probyn as FBI Agent at Quantico
- Chris McGinn as FBI Agent
- Ted Monte as Reporter
- George A. Romero as TV Reporter
- Mike Schaeffer as Guard
- Keach Johnson as Guard
Director: Jonathan Demme
Writer: Thomas Harris, Ted Tally
Box Office Gross: $272,742,922
Distributor: Orion Pictures
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 13, 1991
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 27, 2015
Trailer:
