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Shadows (1959)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
John Cassavetes (writer)
Release Date:
11 November 1959 (USA)
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Plot:
Cassavetes' jazz-scored improvisational film explores interracial friendships and relationships in Beat-Era (1950s) New York City. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards.
Another 2 wins
&
1 nomination
more
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
The gutting of Miramax, Pt. II: Is this the end of New York movie culture?
(From EW.com - The Movie Critics. 2 November 2009, 3:58 PM, PST)
Husbands and Wives
(From IFC. 18 August 2009, 7:10 AM, PDT)
(From EW.com - The Movie Critics. 2 November 2009, 3:58 PM, PST)
Husbands and Wives
(From IFC. 18 August 2009, 7:10 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
When Improversation Works
more (25 total)
Cast
(in credits order) (verified as complete) | Ben Carruthers | ... | Ben |
| Lelia Goldoni | ... | Lelia |
| Hugh Hurd | ... | Hugh |
| Anthony Ray | ... | Tony |
| Dennis Sallas | ... | Dennis |
 | Tom Reese | ... | Tom (as Tom Allen) |
| David Pokitillow | ... | David |
| Rupert Crosse | ... | Rupert |
| David Jones | ... | Davey (as Davey Jones) |
| Pir Marini | ... | Pir the Piano Player |
| Victoria Vargas | ... | Vickie |
| Jack Ackerman | ... | Jack, Director of Dance Studio |
| Jacqueline Walcott | ... | Jacqueline |
| Cliff Carnell | ||
| Jay Crecco | ||
| Ronald Maccone | ||
| Bob Reeh | ||
| Joyce Miles | ... | Girl in Restaurant |
| Nancy Deale | ... | Girl in Restaurant |
| Gigi Brooks | ... | Girl in Restaurant |
 | Lynn Hamilton | ... | Girl at Party |
| Marilyn Clark | ... | Girl at Party |
| Joanne Sages | ... | Girl at Party |
| Jed McGarvey | ... | Girl at Party |
| Greta Thyssen | ... | Girl at Party (as Greta Thysen) |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| John Cassavetes | ... | (uncredited) |
 | Seymour Cassel | ... | (uncredited) |
| Bobby Darin | ... | Man Wearing Sun Glasses, Dancing and Later Chewing Gum at Rehearsal (uncredited) |
| Ellen Paulos | ... | Woman (uncredited) |
 | Gena Rowlands | ... | Woman in Nightclub Audience (uncredited) |
| Jean Shepherd | ... | Man at Party (uncredited) |
Directed by | |||
| John Cassavetes | |||
Writing credits(in alphabetical order) | ||
| John Cassavetes | writer | |
Produced by | |||
| Seymour Cassel | .... | associate producer | |
| Maurice McEndree | .... | producer | |
Cinematography by | |||
| Erich Kollmar | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| John Cassavetes | |||
| Maurice McEndree | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Randy Liles | |||
| Bob Reeh | |||
Production Management | |||
| Wray Bevins | .... | production manager | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Al Giglio | .... | assistant director | |
Sound Department | |||
| Jay Crecco | .... | sound | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| Cliff Carnell | .... | lighting assistant | |
| Al Ruban | .... | camera assistant | |
| David Simon | .... | lighting technician | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Len Appelson | .... | supervising editor | |
Music Department | |||
| Shafi Hadi | .... | musician: saxophone solos | |
| Charles Mingus | .... | composer: additional music | |
| Charles Mingus | .... | musician: additional music | |
Other crew | |||
| Maxine Arnolds | .... | production staff | |
| Anne Draper | .... | production staff | |
| Mary Anne Ehle | .... | production staff | |
| Judy Kaufman | .... | production staff | |
| Ellen Paulos | .... | production staff | |
| Leslie Reed | .... | production staff | |
Production CompaniesDistributors
- Neue Filmkunst Walter Kirchner (1967) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
- Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (DVD)
- Lion International Films (1961) (USA)
- Orion Home Video (video)
- Titra Sound Corporation sound recording
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
81 min | UK:87 min | USA:87 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
After winning the Critic's Award at the Venice Film Festival, it was picked up for distribution by British Lion and exhibited in the United States.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
References Naked Paradise (1957)
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Soundtrack:
Beautiful
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (25 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Shadows (1959)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Woman at Party | mcdunley |
| Lelia and Ben are black? | lonelybirthday |
| Spike lee | eduardoyoung21 |
| Which came first? | literatelover |
| Marquee Shots | 42ndStreetMemories |
| real mad chick song | jarrodzlatic |
Recommendations
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| Lackawanna Blues | Mr. & Mrs. Bridge | Giant | Come See the Paradise | West Side Story |
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| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section |
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In 1959, came two films named Breathless and Shadows that would have an impact on World Cinema. The former would begin a new era in French Cinema called the French New Wave. The latter would change the face of Independant movie making. Breathless was made by a man who was in love with the cinema and possessed quite a bit of knowledge about films. Shadows was done by a man whose origins lies in the theatre. Shadows(1959) came about because of John Cassavettes inability to find work as an actor during the 1950's. His anger and frustration due to not finding work led to his first film as a director. Shadows is about a couple of light black skin people who try to pass themselves as white in order to find acceptence. The main actors play themselves in this groundbreaking feature. The best scene of the film is when Lelia brings her boyfriend who is white to her brother's apartment and reveals to him that's she and her family are black. It would have a tremendous effect on future directors like Martin Scorsese and the Coen Brothers. The film's urban grittiness and the theme of guilt seems to be a predecessor to Martin Scorsese's breakthough classic Mean Streets(1973). Shadows(1959) is the grandfather of Dogma95 as well as The Blair Witch Project(1999) and Timecode(2000).