An American Crime (2007)

Director:

Tommy O'Haver

Writers (WGA):

Tommy O'Haver (written by) &
Irene Turner (written by)

Release Date:

7 December 2007 (Sweden)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

This has been the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of Indiana

Plot:

The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s.

Plot Keywords:

Female Killer | Tortured To Death | Torture | Courtroom | American Midwest

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Ellen Page	...	Sylvia Likens
Hayley McFarland	...	Jennifer Faye 'Jennie' Likens
Nick Searcy	...	Lester Likens
Romy Rosemont	...	Betty Likens
Catherine Keener	...	Gertrude Baniszewski
Ari Graynor	...	Paula Baniszewski
Scout Taylor-Compton	...	Stephanie Baniszewski
Tristan Jarred	...	Johnny Baniszewski
Hannah Leigh Dworkin	...	Shirley Baniszewski
Bradley Whitford	...	Prosecutor Leroy K. New
Michael O'Keefe	...	Reverend Bill Collier
Carlie Westerman	...	Marie Baniszewski
Michelle Benes	...	Hope Orbach
Patricia Place	...	Mrs. Doyle
Calvin Keet	...	Mr. Doyle
Jeremy Sumpter	...	Coy Hubbard
James Franco	...	Andy
Brian Geraghty	...	Bradley
Channing Nichols	...	Patty Ryan
Eliza Dean	...	Mary O'Connell
Michael Welch	...	Teddy Lewis
Evan Peters	...	Ricky Hobbs
Amy Ferguson	...	Sally Kent
Scott Eastwood	...	Eric (as Scott Reeves)
Will Carter	...	Officer Waters
Edward James Gage	...	Bailiff
Kuma	...	Baniszewski Dog
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Meehan	...	Defense Attorney (uncredited)
Paul Palo	...	Newspaper Reporter (uncredited)

Directed by
Tommy O'Haver

Writing credits (WGA)
Tommy O'Haver		(written by) &
Irene Turner		(written by)

Produced by
Jocelyn Hayes	....	producer
Pamela Koffler	....	executive producer
Hans C. Ritter	....	co-producer (as Hans Christian Ritter)
Katie Roumel	....	producer
Kevin Turen	....	producer
Christine Vachon	....	producer
John Wells	....	executive producer
Henry Winterstern	....	producer

Original Music by
Alan Ari Lazar		(as Alan Lazar)

Cinematography by
Byron Shah		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Melissa Kent

Casting by
Anya Colloff
Judy Cook
Amy McIntyre Britt
Michael V. Nicolo

Production Design by
Nathan Amondson

Art Direction by
Zach Bangma

Set Decoration by
Lisa Alkofer

Costume Design by
Alix Hester

Makeup Department
Mandy Danielle Benton	....	additional makeup
Marc Boyle	....	additional hair
Essie Cha	....	additional makeup
Daniel Curet	....	hair department head
Jorjee Douglas	....	makeup department head
Rebecca Perkins	....	special effects makeup
Randa Squillacote	....	key hair stylist
Nancy Stimac	....	additional hair
Liz Webster	....	additional hair (as Elizabeth Webster)

Production Management
Stuart Burkin	....	executive in charge of production
Beau J. Genot	....	post-production supervisor
Jonathan McCoy	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lance Lanfear	....	day player first assistant director
Chad Rosen	....	first assistant director
Tessa Lyn Stephenson	....	second assistant director
Frank Tignini	....	second second assistant director
Frankie Tignini	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Isaac Amondson	....	set dresser
Rachel Amondson	....	art department production assistant
Bruce Bellamy	....	set dresser
Craig D. Bentley	....	propmaker
Max Bozeman	....	leadman (as Max K. Bozeman)
Nelson Bush	....	leadman
Michael A. Clark	....	propmaker gang boss
Scott Cockerell	....	assistant property master (as Scott C. Cockerell)
Billy Constantine	....	painter
Juliane Crump	....	conceptual researcher
Scott Enge	....	plasterer
David Esparza	....	painter
Eduardo H. Esparza	....	propmaker gang boss (as Eddie Esparza)
Brian Fernandez	....	plasterer
Craig Handschu	....	set dresser
Ken Howland	....	plasterer
Sean D. Jackson	....	set dresser
Roger Kelton	....	construction coordinator
Jina Kim	....	p.a.
Scott Kitchen	....	propmaker foreman (as Scott A. Kitchen)
Chris Larsen	....	set dresser
Robert C. Moore	....	propmaker
Jeffrey M. O'Brien	....	property master
Doreen Parker	....	painter
Chris Patterson	....	set dresser
Paul V. Picerni Jr.	....	on-set property (as Paul V. Picerni)
Kip Sawyer	....	paint foreman
Jamie Silverstein	....	set intern
Dan Thompson	....	set intern
Dennis J. Vannatta	....	set dresser (as Dennis Vannatta)
Helen Wilson	....	swing
Adam C. Woods	....	propmaker

Sound Department
Albert Aquino	....	boom operator
Vince Balunas	....	adr & dialogue editor
Jeff K. Brunello	....	sound effects editor
Daniel Colman	....	sound effects editor
Mick Davies	....	boom operator
Bill Devine	....	adr recordist
Michael J. Fox	....	adr mixer
David Holmes	....	sound utility
Marti D. Humphrey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris M. Jacobson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jack Levy	....	supervising sound editor
Doug Madick	....	foley artist
Richard Partlow	....	foley artist (as Rick Partlow)
Scott Stolz	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
David Waine	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Travis Baumann	....	Flame artist
Kristin Johnson	....	digital compositor
Kristin Johnson	....	visual effects supervisor
Albert Mason	....	visual effects producer
Christopher Stack	....	imaging supervisor: Digiscope

Stunts
Lou Simon	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Jeb Banegas	....	camera intern
Amy Bojanowski	....	additional loader
Cris Borgnine	....	additional electrician
Richard W. Botchlet	....	additional best boy electric
Patrick Brennan	....	lighting board operator
Nathaniel R. Brown	....	additional electrician (as Nate Brown)
Danielle C. Carroll	....	additional loader
Brian Christie	....	dolly grip
Jeff Clark	....	steadicam operator
Kelly Cummins	....	second assistant camera
Jeanne Dear	....	additional company grip
Guido Egger	....	additional company grip
Eric Forand	....	additional gaffer
Michael Francisco	....	additional electrician (as Michael A. Francisco)
Samuel Buddy Fries	....	camera operator (as Bud Fries)
Stephen Furry	....	best boy rigging grip
Kevin C. Goff	....	additional second assistant camera: "b" camera
Erik Gonzales	....	additional set electrician
Jilliane Grodecki	....	camera intern
Tim Hedgecock	....	electrician
Mike Horan	....	best boy grip (as Mike 'Mega' Horan)
Paul Janossy	....	first assistant camera
Hunter Laizure	....	electrician
Heather Lea	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Heather Leroy)
Eric Lee	....	still photographer
Sabyn Mayfield	....	key grip
Wes Meilandt	....	additional electrician
Daniel Miller	....	additional company grip
Cris Moris	....	additional electrician (as Chrisobal Moris)
Michael M. Mosley	....	additional electrician (as Mike Moseley)
Kevin Mucha	....	additional electrician
David Newbert	....	grip
Rich Paisley	....	gaffer (as Richard Paisley)
Matt Perry	....	rigging best boy
Michelle Pizanis	....	loader: "b" camera
Michelle Pizanis	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Michele Pizanis)
Kelly Price	....	additional company grip (as Kelly Prize)
Avi Roffman	....	additional electrician
Michael Roy	....	rigging gaffer (as Michael Victor Roy)
Aaron Schulte	....	best boy electric
Kevin Sheedy	....	additional company grip
Michael Silva	....	additional electrician (as Mike Silva)
Travis Stewart	....	electrician
Daniel Taylor	....	second assistant camera
Max Thorpe	....	grip intern
Rick Tschudin	....	additional first assistant camera: "b" camera
Kenny Tucker	....	additional electrician
Jim West	....	additional company grip
Matt Whitted	....	grip (as Matthew Whitted)
Chad Wilson	....	steadicam operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tiana Aiello	....	costumer
Lori Ayala-Read	....	costume supervisor (as Lori Reed)
Molly O'Haver	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Stacy Katzman	....	assistant editor
Mato	....	color timer

Music Department
Spring Aspers	....	music supervisor
Ryan Gaines	....	music coordinator
David Low	....	orchestra contractor
Dean Menta	....	music editor
Ashley Miller	....	executive in charge of music
Michael Nowak	....	orchestrator
Larry Rench	....	orchestrator
Casey Stone	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Michael Perrotti	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Carlos A. Aragon	....	location manager
Matt Baker	....	key set production assistant (as Matthew Baker)
Greg Bernstein	....	legal services
MaryEllen Blair	....	assistant to producer
Meghan Burchfield	....	production assistant
Yee Yeo Chang	....	assistant to producer
Marjorie Chodorov	....	production accountant
Sarah Clifford	....	head animal trainer
John Patrick L. Crum	....	production assistant
Chris Disher	....	assistant to director
Sean P. Galvin	....	set production assistant
Paul Jaconi Biery	....	production coordinator
Eloy Lara	....	key set medic
Joanna Lara	....	assistant production coordinator
Jan McWilliams	....	script supervisor
Beth Newbauer	....	assistant to producer
Hans C. Ritter	....	head of production (as Hans Christian Ritter)
Karen Roberts	....	post-production accountant
Lou Simon	....	fight choreographer
Fiona Walsh	....	production assistant

Thanks
Hugh Dancy	....	special thanks
Billy Mulligan	....	special thanks
Kirsten Smith	....	special thanks
John Waters	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• First Look International
• Killer Films

Distributors

• Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Capelight Pictures (2007) (Germany) (all media)
• First Look International (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• First Look International (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Future Film (2008) (Finland) (all media)
• Hollywood Entertainment (2008) (Greece) (all media)
• Mars Production (2007) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Peace Arch Releasing (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• Showtime Networks (2008) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Bureau Of Devine Music  vocal recording facility
• Chapman / Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Clairmont Camera  camera equipment provided by
• Dub Stage, The  sound re-recording
• Elizabeth Bardsley & Associates  script annotation
• First Look International  worldwide sales
• Panavision Remote Systems  cranes
• Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage  score recording facility

Also Known As:

The Basement (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong and disturbing depiction of child abuse and torture.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Sweden:15 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | USA:R | USA:R CORRECT: REPLACE WITH: (Certificate #43082) | Brazil:16 | Finland:K-15 | Spain:18

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

First Look International

Trivia:

Ellen Page was the only choice to play Sylvia Likens.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In a scene set in 1965, a character rushes into a phone booth and dials for an operator without inserting a coin. The free operator call feature was not instituted until many years later.

Quotes:

Gertrude Baniszewski: Who's in charge here?
Johnny Baniszewski: You are, mama.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Girl Next Door (2007)

Soundtrack:

Downtown

A non-fiction horror film, hard to watch but important

I attended the world premiere of "An American Crime" at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Among the several decidedly downbeat films I saw this past week, this one was by far the hardest to watch. But something about it is compelling, like craning your neck to see what horrors can be spotted at the scene of a car crash. You know it can't be anything pretty, yet you can't take your eyes off it. Perhaps it was knowing that the film is, in fact, based on a true story. The opening courtroom scenes and disclaimer that "actual transcripts" were used make that clear. There's something about a "true crime" drama that triggers a desire to sit through whatever terrifying images lie ahead. And the images conjured up here are bone-chilling.

In 1965, Betty Likens (Romy Rosemont) and her husband Lester (Nick Searcy) decided it was best to leave their two daughters with a neighbor while they went off with a traveling carnival. So Sylvia Likens (Ellen Page) and her sister Jennie Fae (Hayley McFarland) settled in with the Baniszewski clan. And what a clan it was. Mother Gertrude (Catherine Keener) already had five of her own in tow, and now she added two more. What happened then, well documented in the record, is now played out for us with horrifying realism.

This is Keener and Page's film, despite the large ensemble cast assembled for the story. And both actors create frighteningly devastating portrayals of characters we still can't quite believe really endured these horrors. Mommie Dearest doesn't hold a candle to Keener's Gertrude, and Page is as heartbreaking as any victim I've seen in modern cinema. Both turn in award-winning performances that left me with chills.

In addition to the numerous family members, an assortment of school chums has the opportunity to get involved in some way. Coy Hubbard (Jeremy Sumpter) is the boyfriend of one of the Baniszewski brood. Known to most from 2003's "Peter Pan," we can't help but feel that he will be the hero here. Teddy Lewis (Michael Welch), is an enigma from the start. One of our most prolific yet underrated young actors today, Welch is perfectly cast as the boy whose blood runs hot or cold depending on the prevailing winds. Other notables include The West Wing's Bradley Whitford as prosecutor Leroy K. New.

This is a period piece set in the mid-60s, and the costumes, sets, and palette of colors effectively evokes that era to a T. Much of the film's look can be attributed to the cinematography of Byron Shah, who had two films here at Sundance (his "The Go-Getter" was one of my favorite film' at this year's festival).

"An American Crime" is not for everyone. It's a horror film that isn't a work of fiction. If it was from the hand of Stephen King it would be scary and delicious. Instead it's scary and nauseating. Yet it deserves the label "important," because the subject matter is worthy of discussion. And that's because the horrors exposed in this film are still occurring today. That's the real crime.