A Kiss Before Dying (1991)
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- R
- 1h 34min
- Crime, Drama
- 26 Apr 1991 (USA)
- Movie
A determined student murders his pregnant secret girlfriend and moves onto her twin sister who gradually becomes suspicious of her new lover.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 2 wins.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
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James Bonfanti | ... |
Young Jonathan
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Sarah Keller | ... |
Lecturer
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| Sean Young | ... |
Ellen / Dorothy Carlsson
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| Martha Gehman | ... |
Patricia Farren
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Lia Chang | ... |
Shoe Saleslady
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| Matt Dillon | ... |
Jonathan Corliss
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Yvette Edelhart | ... |
Screaming Lady
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| Max von Sydow | ... |
Thor Carlsson
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| Jim Fyfe | ... |
Terry Dieter
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| Lachele Carl | ... |
Reporter
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| Briony Glassco | ... |
Waitress
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| Shane Rimmer | ... |
Commissioner Malley
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| James Russo | ... |
Dan Corelli
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| Diane Ladd | ... |
Mrs. Corliss
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| Adam Horovitz | ... |
Jay Faraday
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| Frederick Koehler | ... |
Mickey
(as Freddy Koehler)
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| Joie Lee | ... |
Cathy
(as Joy Lee)
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Brett Barth | ... |
Dave
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| Ben Browder | ... |
Tommy Roussell
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| Elzbieta Czyzewska | ... |
Landlady
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Galaxy Craze | ... |
Susie
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| Rory Cochrane | ... |
Chico
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Kristy Graves | ... |
Rose
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Billie Neal | ... |
Nurse
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P. Jay Sidney | ... |
Bellman
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| Sam Coppola | ... |
Detective Michaelson
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Lynn Frazen-Cohen | ... |
Elderly Woman
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Leslie Lyles | ... |
Mrs. Roussell
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Mark Potter Jr. | ... |
Mr. Roussell
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Nancy Herman | ... |
Receptionist
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Joe James | ... |
Bell boy (voice)
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Charles Bodycomb | ... |
Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
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| Derek Lyons | ... |
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
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Directed by
| James Dearden | ||
Written by
| Ira Levin | ... | (novel) |
| James Dearden | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Eric Fellner | ... | executive producer |
| Robert Lawrence | ... | producer |
| Scott Millaney | ... | executive producer |
| Paul Raphael | ... | associate producer |
| Chris Thompson | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Howard Shore | ||
Cinematography by
| Mike Southon | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Michael Bradsell | ||
Editorial Department
| Natalie Baker | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Suzanne Crowley | ||
| Billy Hopkins | ||
Production Design by
| Jim Clay | ||
Art Direction by
| Kalina Ivanov | ||
| Rod McClean | ||
| Chris Seagers | ||
| Chris Shriver | ||
Set Decoration by
| Catherine Davis | ||
Costume Design by
| Marit Allen | ||
Makeup Department
| Mark Alfrey | ... | special makeup effects artist |
| Roy Bryson | ... | hair stylist |
| Peter Frampton | ... | makeup artist |
| Shaune Harrison | ... | prosthetics technician |
| Sarah Love | ... | hair stylist |
| Sue Love | ... | hair stylist |
| Daniel Parker | ... | prosthetics |
| Leslie Puller | ... | makeup artist |
| Martin Samuel | ... | hair stylist |
| Seth Wolfson | ... | makeup lab tech |
| William Forsche | ... | life casting: Matt Dillon (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Mary Richards | ... | production manager |
| Donna Smith | ... | executive in charge of production |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Patrick Clayton | ... | first assistant director |
| Tim Lewis | ... | second assistant director |
| Julia Waye | ... | second second assistant director |
Art Department
| Paul Bradburn | ... | props |
| Steve Cooper | ... | set designer |
| Mark Fruin | ... | dressing props |
| Robert L. Girard | ... | lead carpenter |
| Tarn Harper | ... | assistant properties |
| Stephenie McMillan | ... | set dresser |
| Brian Read | ... | property buyer |
| Mark Reynolds | ... | chargehand dressing prop |
| Scott Rosenstock | ... | leadman |
| Jean Roman Seyfried | ... | scenic artist |
| Jonathan Tessler | ... | assistant property master |
| Mark S. Turner | ... | head paint foreman |
| Keith Wall | ... | set dresser |
| Betty Williams | ... | assistant properties |
Sound Department
| Ross Adams | ... | sound editor |
| Campbell Askew | ... | sound re-recording |
| John Hayward | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Nicolas Le Messurier | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Gerard McCann | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Simon Okin | ... | sound mixer |
| Frank Stettner | ... | sound mixer |
| Lionel Strutt | ... | adr mixer |
| Sandy Buchanan | ... | post-production sound assistant (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| B.K. Coposky | ... | special effects assistant |
| John Dods | ... | dummy constructor: Matt Dillon dummies |
| Ricky Farns | ... | special effects |
| Martin Gutteridge | ... | special effects supervisor |
| Garth Inns | ... | special effects |
| Sean Robinson | ... | prop builder |
| David Shaw | ... | special effects |
| Josh Turi | ... | special effects: dummy fabrication |
| Brian Warner | ... | special effects |
| Simon Cockren | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Angus Bickerton | ... | motion control supervisor: plate supervisor |
| Alan Church | ... | optical effects |
| Andy Stevens | ... | optical camera assistant: Magic Camera Co |
| Doug Ferris | ... | matte artist (uncredited) |
Stunts
| G.A. Aguilar | ... | stunts |
| Helen Caldwell | ... | stunts |
| Graeme Crowther | ... | stunts |
| Cliff Cudney | ... | stunts |
| Tracey Eddon | ... | stunts |
| Donna Evans | ... | stunts |
| Martin Grace | ... | stunt coordinator: UK / stunts |
| Jery Hewitt | ... | stunt coordinator: US / stunts |
| Hugh Aodh O'Brien | ... | stunts (as Hugh A. O'Brien) |
| Mike Potter | ... | stunts |
| Eddie Powell | ... | stunts |
| Greg Powell | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Micky Brown | ... | gaffer |
| Pete Cavaciuti | ... | steadicam operator |
| Bill Gula | ... | camera production associate |
| Ian Jackson | ... | assistant camera |
| Michael Leonard | ... | additional steadicam assistant |
| Mark Milson | ... | assistant camera |
| Mark Moormann | ... | second assistant camera |
| William D. Moran | ... | grip |
| Malcolm Sheehan | ... | camera grip |
| Philip Sindall | ... | camera operator |
| Bill Thornhill | ... | best boy |
| Scott Williams | ... | gaffer |
| Jimmy Worley | ... | electrician |
Casting Department
| Billy Hopkins | ... | casting: USA |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Jo Korer | ... | costumer |
| Hilary Watson | ... | assistant costume designer |
| Janet Tebrooke | ... | wardrobe: UK (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Bill Darby | ... | assistant location manager |
| Joseph E. Iberti | ... | location manager (as Joe Iberti) |
| Guy Tannahill | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Howard Shore | ... | conductor |
| Graham Sutton | ... | music editor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Julie Robinson | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Virginia Allan | ... | assistant to executive producer |
| Brett Barth | ... | assistant to producer |
| John Bertolli | ... | assistant to producer |
| Elisar Cabrera | ... | production assistant |
| Joe Cacciotti | ... | production assistant |
| Geoff Dibben | ... | production assistant |
| Susan Gee | ... | production financing |
| Anthony Harbour | ... | paramedic |
| Bobbie Johnson | ... | production accountant |
| Solomon J. LeFlore | ... | production financing |
| Dominic Marcus | ... | adr supporting artist |
| Anthony Kirk Poore | ... | production assistant |
| Sam Sullivan | ... | production assistant (as Samuel W. Sullivan) |
| Natascha Wharton | ... | assistant to executive producer |
| Daniel Wheatcroft | ... | studio executive |
| Chris Wood | ... | title design |
| Chris Warren | ... | video effects (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Universal Pictures (presents)
- Initial Pictures
- Kellgate Limited
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1991) (United States) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1991) (Non-US) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1991) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1991) (France) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1991) (Germany) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (1991) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1991) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1991) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1991) (Greece) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1991) (Japan) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1991) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Argentina Video Home (1991) (Argentina) (VHS)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- CIC Video (1992) (Germany) (VHS)
- CIC Video (France) (VHS)
- CIC Video (1992) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- CIC-Taft Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
- VideoVisa (1992) (Mexico) (VHS)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (1995) (United States) (VHS)
- GoodTimes Home Video (1996) (United States) (VHS)
- Universal Pictures (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
- MIG Film (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Paramount Channel (2021) (France) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Shepperton Studios (movie studio)
- Blowup (stills laboratory)
- Davis & Zimmerman (casting: Great Britain)
- Dolby Stereo (in selected theatres)
- Lee Lighting (grip and lighting equipment)
- London Philharmonic Orchestra (orchestra)
- Mayflower Recording (adr recording)
- Motion Picture Association (MPA)
- National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET) (acknowledgement)
- Pacific Studios II (chromatrans background)
- Sapex Scripts (post-production script services)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Realising his secret girlfriend Dorothy's pregnancy will sour her relations with her ultra-rich father, career-minded Philadelphia student Jonathan Corliss coolly murders her, making it look like suicide. He then moves to New York to woo her twin sister Ellen. All seems to go well for him, although Ellen's continued investigations into what she is convinced was not a suicide forces him to kill again. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26} |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | From the Creators of FATAL ATTRACTION See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $15,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Matt Dillon was actually James Dearden's third choice to play the lead role. Originally Dearden wanted River Phoenix to play Jonathan, but Phoenix didn't relate to the material saying he couldn't play someone so evil. Then Dearden approached Kiefer Sutherland who turned down the offer due to scheduling conflicts. Finally Dillon got the role and Dearden was so impressed with his performance that he later said Dillon should've been his first choice all along. See more » |
| Goofs | When Ellen discovers her sister's lighter among Jonathan's souvenirs, it lights on the first attempt. It is a fuel-burning lighter, which, after extended storage, would not have worked at all, the fuel having long since evaporated. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Mortal Thoughts/Impromptu/Out for Justice/Journey of Hope (1991). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Dangerous Love See more » |
| Quotes |
Nurse:
She's got two broken ribs, a broken jaw, and a bad concussion. We're going to keep her overnight for observation. See more » |