Dead Silence (1997 film)
Dead Silence is a 1997 Canadian-American crime thriller television film directed by Daniel Petrie Jr. and written by Donald E. Stewart, based on the 1995 novel A Maiden's Grave by Jeffery Deaver.[1][2] The film stars James Garner, Kim Coates, Marlee Matlin, and Lolita Davidovich.
Dead Silence | |
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Genre | |
Based on | A Maiden's Grave by Jeffery Deaver |
Written by | Donald E. Stewart |
Directed by | Daniel Petrie Jr. |
Starring | |
Composer | Jonathan Goldsmith |
Country of origin |
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Original languages |
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Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | John Kemeny |
Production locations | |
Cinematography | Thomas Burstyn |
Editor | Ronald Sanders |
Running time | 99 minutes |
Production companies | |
Distributor | HBO Pictures |
Release | |
Original network | HBO |
Original release |
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Release
Dead Silence premiered on HBO during January 1997. That year the film was also released on VHS in Australia,[3] the UK and several other countries.
A few months after its HBO premiere, the film was screened at the 1997 edition of the Cannes Film Festival, despite being a made for TV production. It also received a theatrical release in Japan.[2]
It was released on DVD in the USA in 2005, and in 2007 in Australia.[4]
Reception
In their June 1997 review, Variety labelled it "strictly for undemanding thriller fans",[2] and commented that, "For most of its length, Dead Silence is a routine hostage drama, though a couple of plot twists in the final reel, while implausible, enliven the hitherto mundane fodder."[2]
Premise
A veteran FBI agent negotiates the release of a bus load of hearing impaired school children taken hostage by three desperate escaped convicts.
Cast
- James Garner as FBI Special Agent John Potter
- Kim Coates as Ted Handy[lower-alpha 1]
- Marlee Matlin as Melanie Charrol
- Lolita Davidovich as Priss Gunder / Detective Sharon Foster
- Charles Martin Smith as Roland W. Marks
- Kenneth Welsh as Sheriff Lenny Budd
- James Villemaire as Ray "Sonny" Bonner
- Gary Basaraba as Shephard "Shep" Wilcox
- Barclay Hope as Sheriff Gene Stillwell
- Vanessa Vaughan as Susan
- Blu Mankuma as FBI Special Agent Henry Lebow
- Mimi Kuzyk as Donna Harkstrawn
- Scott Speedman as Officer Stevie Cardy
- John Bourgeois as Major Daniel Tremaine
- Neil Crone as Airport Security Officer
- Sharon Dunn as TV News Narrator
- Craig Eldridge as Roger Elb
- Adrian Hough as FBI Agent Pete Henderson
- Ted Whittall as Toby Geller
- Justin Dressler as Sam
- Kristin Dressler as Annie
- Lisa Dressler as Jocelyn
- Christy Elliott as Beverly
- Trista Langford aa Emily
- Vance Youngs as Kevin
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
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1998 | 12th Gemini Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Kim Coates | Nominated |
Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series | Ronald Sanders | Nominated | ||
Best Sound in a Dramatic Program or Series | David Evans Lou Solakofski Orest Sushko Dan Latour Tony Currie David Rose Steve Baine David Yonson John Douglas Smith Clive Turner |
Nominated | ||
Best Original Music Score for a Program or Mini-Series | Jonathan Goldsmith | Won | ||
Notes
- The character is a reference to serial killer Ted Bundy
References
- Boedeker, Hal (January 11, 1997). "This 'Silence' Isn't Golden". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- Stratton, David (June 15, 1997). "Dead Silence". Variety. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- "Dead Silence". August 30, 2019.
- "Dead Silence". August 31, 2019.