A lawyer defends her father accused of war crimes, but there is more to the case than she suspects.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Jessica Lange | ... |
Ann Talbot
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| Armin Mueller-Stahl | ... |
Mike Laszlo
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| Frederic Forrest | ... |
Jack Burke
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| Donald Moffat | ... |
Harry Talbot
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| Lukas Haas | ... |
Mikey Talbot
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| Cheryl Lynn Bruce | ... |
Georgine Wheeler
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| Mari Törőcsik | ... |
Magda Zoldan
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J.S. Block | ... |
Judge Silver
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Sol Frieder | ... |
Istvan Boday
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| Michael Rooker | ... |
Karchy Laszlo
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| Elzbieta Czyzewska | ... |
Melinda Kalman
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Magda Szekely Marburg | ... |
Judit Hollo
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Felix Shuman | ... |
James Nathanson
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Michael Shillo | ... |
Geza Vamos
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George Pusep | ... |
Vladimir Kostav
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Mitchell Litrofsky | ... |
Sandy Lehman
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| Albert Hall | ... |
Mack Jones
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| Ned Schmidtke | ... |
Dean Talbot
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Joe Guzaldo | ... |
Joe Dinofrio
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Tibor Kenderesi | ... |
Pal Horvath
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Christiana Nicola | ... |
Marie
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Kevin C. White | ... |
Clerk
(as Kevin White)
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György Emõd | ... |
Andra Nagy
(as György Emöd)
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Ralph Foody | ... |
Pawn Broker
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Magda Sass | ... |
Translator #1
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Owen J. Rice | ... |
Courtroom Reporter #1
(as Owen Rice)
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| Margo Winkler | ... |
Irma Kiss
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| Larry Brandenburg | ... |
John Staley
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Pauline Kaner | ... |
Reporter
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Mark Steggerda | ... |
Courtroom Guard #1
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Leonard E. Boswell | ... |
Courtroom Guard #2
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Douglas Marcinek | ... |
Courtroom Guard #3
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Agnes Gallwitz | ... |
Translator #2
(as Ágnes Gallwitz)
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| Zoltán Gera | ... |
Man in Budapest
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Jane MacIver | ... |
Secretary #1
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Megan Sanchez-Warner | ... |
Secretary #2
(as Megan Warner)
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Erica Heit | ... |
Doctor
(as Erica Heit M.D.)
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Tracy Grant | ... |
Servant
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Toni Fleming | ... |
Housekeeper
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| Edward Blatchford | ... |
Young Man
(as Ed Blatchford)
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Andy Avalos | ... |
Weatherman #1
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Tim Skilling | ... |
Weatherman #2
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Tom Stienke | ... |
Sports Announcer
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Donez Harris | ... |
Security Guard
(as Donnez Harris)
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Gábor Koncz | ... |
Limo Driver
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Nicholas Christianson | ... |
Boy with Mikey
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Richard D'Angelo | ... |
Violent Protester
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George Carson | ... |
Boy #2
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Rocky Finlay | ... |
Boy #3
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Márta Sebestyén | ... |
Singer
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Jeff Dlugolecki | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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| Earl Hundt | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Robert Minkoff | ... |
Bit (uncredited)
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| Steve Rozic | ... |
Office Worker (uncredited)
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| D. Danny Warhol | ... |
Angry protester (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Costa-Gavras | ||
Written by
| Joe Eszterhas | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Joe Eszterhas | ... | executive producer |
| Hal W. Polaire | ... | executive producer |
| Irwin Winkler | ... | producer |
Music by
| Philippe Sarde | ||
Cinematography by
| Patrick Blossier | ||
Editing by
| Joële Van Effenterre | ||
Editorial Department
| Noori Dehnahi | ... | post-production coordinator |
| David Young | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Pam Dixon | ||
| Mary Goldberg | ||
Production Design by
| Jeannine Oppewall | ... | (as Jeannine Claudia Oppewall) |
Art Direction by
| László Rajk | ||
Set Decoration by
| Erica Rogalla | ||
Costume Design by
| Rita Salazar | ||
Makeup Department
| Art Anthony | ... | additional makeup artist |
| Steve LaPorte | ... | makeup department head |
Production Management
| Michael Polaire | ... | production manager |
| Gábor Ujházy | ... | unit manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Jeanne Caliendo | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| József Kiss | ... | construction manager |
| Robert E. Knight | ... | supervising signwriter |
| Troy Osman | ... | carpenter |
| Tyler Osman | ... | construction foreman |
| Lajos E. Szabó | ... | stand-by painter |
| Anthony Joseph Fatigato | ... | painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Bernard Chaumeil | ... | boom operator |
| Catherine D'Hoir | ... | sound editor |
| William Flageollet | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Pierre Gamet | ... | sound |
| Gérard Lamps | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Jonathan Sorrell | ... | synclavier operator |
Special Effects by
| Jerry Lieberman | ... | special effects technician |
Camera and Electrical Department
| István Bartók | ... | still photographer |
| Steven Hiller | ... | assistant camera |
| Dean M. Simmon | ... | film loader |
| Quentin Matthys | ... | grip (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Mark A. Ridge | ... | extras casting |
| Barbara L. Roche | ... | casting |
| Linda Weaver | ... | casting associate |
| Catherine Jane Holzer | ... | extras casting (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Péter Palotás | ... | wardrobe assistant |
Location Management
| Gabriel Angi-Dobos | ... | location manager |
| Mark Mamalakis | ... | assistant location manager |
Music Department
| Hubert Bougis | ... | orchestrator |
| Harry Braun | ... | music location recording |
| Billy Byers | ... | orchestrator |
| William Flageollet | ... | music engineer |
| Harry Rabinowitz | ... | conductor |
| Jonathan Sorrell | ... | musician: keyboards and programming |
Script and Continuity Department
| Sioux Richards | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| István Bognár | ... | driver |
Additional Crew
| Mimi Bensinger | ... | adr loop group |
| Robert Bernacchi | ... | production assistant |
| William Chartoff | ... | production assistant |
| Lainie Cooke | ... | adr loop group |
| Anne Gartlan | ... | adr loop group |
| Nicholas J. Giangiulio | ... | adr loop group |
| Debbie Sue Goodman | ... | extra cast |
| Steve Head | ... | production assistant |
| Bob Jordan | ... | adr loop group |
| John Juback | ... | adr loop group |
| Steve Kraus | ... | dailies projectionist |
| Terry Mettger | ... | assistant accountant |
| Elizabeth Owens | ... | adr loop group |
| Dan Resin | ... | adr loop group |
| Judi Rosner | ... | production coordinator |
| Kent Shelton | ... | horse wrangler |
| David Sherry | ... | assistant to writer |
| Géza Varga | ... | caterer |
| Ellis Williams | ... | adr loop group |
| Richard De Witt | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- TriStar Pictures (1989) (United States) (theatrical)
- Guild Film Distribution (1989) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Films (1990) (France) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Films (1990) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Finnkino (1990) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Herald Film Company (1990) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Scotia International Filmverleih (1990) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1990) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Syncron Film (1990) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Carolco Home Video (1990) (United States) (VHS)
- International Video Entertainment (IVE) (1990) (United States) (VHS) (for LIVE Entertainment)
- Image Entertainment (1990) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- Showtime Video (1990) (Finland) (VHS)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1995) (Finland) (tv)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
- VL-Musiikki (2012) (Finland) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Cecchi Gori Distribuzione (1990) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Films Pty. Ltd. (1991) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Fox Columbia TriStar Films (1991) (Australia) (theatrical) (through)
- Avid Home Entertainment (1994) (United States) (VHS)
- Imperial Entertainment Home Video (1992) (Poland) (VHS)
- LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- LK-TEL (1990) (Argentina) (VHS)
- MCA Home Video (1990) (Canada) (VHS)
- Momentum Pictures (2005) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Paramount Pictures (2000) (United States) (tv)
- Rete 4 (2016) (Italy) (tv)
- Trifecta Entertainment and Media (2014) (World-wide) (tv)
- Visionary Thinking (2015) (Serbia) (tv)
- Worldvision Enterprises (1996) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
Special Effects
- Sturm's Special Effects International (snow making)
Other Companies
- American Airlines (the producers wish to express their sincere appreciation to)
- Chicago Sun Times (the producers wish to express their sincere appreciation to)
- Columbia Pictures (courtesy of: "Mr. Magoo")
- Credit Lyonnais Bank (Nederland) N.V. (production financing)
- Dolby System (acknowledgement)
- Field Museum of Natural History (the producers wish to express their sincere appreciation to)
- Holzer Roche Casting (extras casting)
- InterCom (special thanks)
- Joe Rizza Ford (automobiles furnished by)
- Mafilm (special thanks)
- Malev Hungarian Airlines (the producers wish to express their sincere appreciation to)
- Norman Maurer Productions (trademark of: "The Three Stooges")
- Paris-Studios-Billancourt (post-production facilities)
- Studios Marchetti (optical effects and titles)
- The Chicago Office of Film and Entertainment (the producers wish to express their sincere appreciation to)
- The Chicago Tribune (the producers wish to express their sincere appreciation to)
- The Illinois Film Office (the producers wish to express their sincere appreciation to)
- The John G. Shedd Aquarium (the producers wish to express their sincere appreciation to)
- Worldwide Photos (the producers wish to express their sincere appreciation to)
- Éclair (laboratories)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Hungarian immigrant Mike Laszlo has done well for himself since arriving in the USA over 40 years ago after WWII's end. He is particularly proud of his daughter, Ann, a successful lawyer. Following the release of some secret WWII records by the Russians, Mike finds himself accused of being a notorious war criminal. He's convinced it's a Communist plot to discredit him and insists that Ann defend him in court.
Written by Col Needham |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | As a lawyer all she wanted was the truth. As a daughter all she wanted was his innocence. How well do you really know your father? See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $18,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $19,381, 22 Dec 1989 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | After the movie was released, screenwriter Joe Eszterhas' own father, Istvan Eszterhas, was accused of war crimes in Hungary for printing anti-Semitic editorials, and even organizing a book burning. When Istvan admitted the charges were accurate, Joe responded by publicly condemning his father, and disowning him as a parent, later writing that he never reconciled with Istvan, and refused to let him see his grandchildren right up to the point where Istvan died of natural causes. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Always/Music Box/Born on the Fourth of July/Tango and Cash/Camille Claudel (1989). See more » |
| Quotes |
Mack Jones:
What do we know about our parents? See more » |