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The Grifters

"Seduction. Betrayal. Murder. Who’s conning who?"

1990-08-08 Crime 1hr 50m

A small-time conman has his loyalties torn between his estranged mother and his new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.

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The Grifters
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Watch on Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel

Storyline

A small-time conman has his loyalties torn between his estranged mother and his new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.

  • Released
    1990-08-08
  • Revenue
    $13,446,769
  • Budget
    n/a
  • Runtime
    1hr 50m
  • Genre
    Crime, Drama
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    6.9
  • Production
    Cineplex-Odeon Films

Crew

Stephen Frears
Director
Jim Thompson
Novel
Robert A. Harris
Producer

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Cast

Anjelica Huston

Anjelica Huston

Lilly Dillon
John Cusack

John Cusack

Roy Dillon
Annette Bening

Annette Bening

Myra Langtry
Jan Munroe

Jan Munroe

Guy in bar
Robert Weems

Robert Weems

Racetrack Announcer
Jimmy Noonan

Jimmy Noonan

Bartender
Noelle Harling

Noelle Harling

Nurse Carol Flynn
Pat Hingle

Pat Hingle

Bobo Justus
Paul Adelstein

Paul Adelstein

Sailor - Young Paul
Jeremy Piven

Jeremy Piven

Sailor - Freshman
Gregory Sporleder

Gregory Sporleder

Sailor - Spooney
David Sinaiko

David Sinaiko

Sailor - Stinky
Jon Gries

Jon Gries

Drunk's Friend
Charles Napier

Charles Napier

Gloucester Hebbing
Teresa Gilmore

Teresa Gilmore

Receptionist 1
Elizabeth Ann Feeley

Elizabeth Ann Feeley

Receptionist 2
Frances Bay

Frances Bay

Arizona Motel Clerk
Xander Berkeley

Xander Berkeley

Lt. Pierson
John Gillespie

John Gillespie

Bartender (uncredited)
Juliet Landau

Juliet Landau

Young Lilly (uncredited)
Sy Richardson

Sy Richardson

Cab Driver (uncredited)
Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese

Opening voice-over (uncredited)

Videos and Photos

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Movie Reviews

Reviews for The Grifters
reviewer avatar

A Review by John Chard 9

Written by John Chard on 2014-11-15

My son is going to be all right. If not, I'll have you killed. The Grifters is directed by Stephen Frears and adapted to screenplay by Do... read more

My son is going to be all right. If not, I'll have you killed. The Grifters is directed by Stephen Frears and adapted to screenplay by Donald E. Westlake from the novel of the same name written by Jim Thompson. It stars Anjelica Huston, John Cusack and Annette Bening. Music is by Elmer Bernstein and cinematography by Oliver Stapleton. “The best reason I can think of is that you scare the hell out of me. I have seen women like you before, baby. You're double-tough and you are sharp as a razor, and you get what you want or else; but you don't make it work forever. Sooner or later the lightning hits, and I'm not gonna be around when it hits you” 1990 was a grand year for neo-noir, of the dozen + titles that came out that year, The Grifters sits atop of the pile. A superlative film noir that boasts class on the page and on both sides of the camera. Set in modern day Los Angeles, the story follows three cynical and sly con artists through a psychological fog of bluff, double bluff, pain, misery, manipulations and shattering developments. That the trio consists of a boyfriend, girlfriend and an estranged mother only darkens the seamy waters still further. Los Angeles positively bristles with a smouldering atmosphere thanks to the work of Frears, Bernstein and Stapleton. Sexual tension is ripe, Westlake’s adaptation doing justice to Thompson’s novel, while the three leads – and Pat Hingle in super support – are on fire, bringing complex characters vividly to life as they trawl through the devilishly labyrinthine plot, adding biting humour and shallow savagery into the bargain. A top draw neo-noir that doesn’t cut corners or pull its punches, from the split screen opening salvo to the pitch black finale, The Grifters delivers high quality for neo-noir fans. 9/10

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by John Chard

My son is going to be all right. If not, I'll have you killed. The Grifters is directed by Stephen Frears and adapted to screenplay by Donald E. Westlake from the novel of the same name written by Jim Thompson. It stars Anjelica Huston, ...

reviewer avatar

A Review by John Chard 9

Written by John Chard on 2014-11-15

My son is going to be all right. If not, I'll have you killed. The Grifters is directed by Stephen Frears and adapted to screenplay by Donald E. Westlake from the novel of the same name written by ...

read more