The Hunger (1983)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1983
Running Times: 97 mins (Canada - television)     100 mins
Format: Metrocolor     35mm     Panavision (anamorphic)
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: mono

CREDITS

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: MGM / Peerford Ltd
Executive in Charge of Production: Terence A. Clegg
Producer: Richard Shepherd

SCRIPT
Script: James Costigan, Ivan Davis, Michael Thomas
Novel: Whitley Strieber

DIRECTION
Director: Tony Scott
3rd Assistant Director: Julian Wall

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Stephen Goldblatt
New York Director of Photography: Tom Mangravite
Additional Photographer: Hugh Johnson
Camera Operator: Michael Stone
Steadicam Operator: Garrett Brown
1st Assistant Camera: David Wagreich
Assistant Camera: Angelo Pacifici
Gaffer: Martin Evans
Best Boy: Ray Meehan
Stills: Catharine Bushnell
Grip and Lighting Equipment: Lee Lighting Ltd

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Pamela Power
1st Assistant Editor: Peter Honess

MUSIC
Music: Denny Jaeger, Michel Rubini, Gregorio Allegri (from Miserere), Johann Sebastian Bach (from Suite #1 for solo cello in G-major / Partita #3 in E-major), Léo Delibes (from Lakmé), Edouard Lalo (from Piano Trio No. 1 in C), Maurice Ravel (Le gibet from Gaspard de la nuit), Franz Schubert (from Trio in E flat Op. 100)
Songs: Bauhaus (real names: Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins, David J, Peter Murph) (Bela Lugosi's Dead); Iggy Pop (Nightclubbing); David Bowie, Iggy Pop (Funtime)
Songs Performed By: Bauhaus (real names: Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins, David J, Peter Murph) (Bela Lugosi's Dead); Iggy Pop (Funtime; Nightclubbing)
Music Supervisor: Howard Blake

SOUND
Sound Mixer (New York): John H. Bolz

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Costume Designer: Milena Canonero
Catherine Deneuve's Costumes: Yves Saint-Laurent
Wardrobe Supervisor: Ken Crouch

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Special Make Up Effects: Peter Montagna, Antony Clavet
Make Up Illusions: Carl Fullerton, Dick Smith
Prosthetic Make Up: Nick Dudman

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: Effects Associates Ltd
Special Effects Coordinator: Martin Gutteridge
Monkey Effects: Dave Allen, Roger Dicken

VISUAL EFFECTS
Title Designer: John O'Driscoll

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Brian Morris
Art Director: Clinton Cavers

LOCATIONS
Locations: London, England, UK; New York City, New York, USA

CASTING
Casting: Maggie Cartier, Mary Goldberg

CAST
Catherine Deneuve (Miriam Blaylock)
David Bowie (John Blaylock)
Susan Sarandon (Sarah Roberts)
Cliff De Young (Tom Haver)
Beth Ehlers (Alice Cavender)
Dan Hedaya (Lieutenant Allegrezza)
Rufus Collins (Charlie Humphries)
Suzanne Bertish (Phyllis)
James Aubrey (Ron)
Ann Magnuson (young woman at disco)
John Stephen Hill (young man at disco)
Shane Rimmer (Jelinek)
Douglas Lambert (TV host)
Bessie Love (Lillybelle)
John Pankow (1st phone booth youth)
Willem Dafoe (2nd phone booth youth)
Sophie Ward (girl in London house)
Philip Sayer (boy in London house)
Lise Hilboldt (waiting room nurse)
Michael Howe (1st intern)
Edward Wiley (2nd intern)
Richard Robles (skater)
Oke Wambu (Egyptian slave)
George Camiller (Eumenes)
Kent Miller, Fred Yockers, Susan Hunter, James Wassenich, Allan Richards, Hilary Six, Carole-Ann Scott (cadavers)
Jane Leeves (uncredited)
Peter Murphy (himself (uncredited))

PLOT SUMMARY

Egyptian vampire Miriam has survived for centuries on blood of her lovers who in turn never age, though they never survive after Miriam has tired of them. Her latest lover, John, is nearing the end of his usefulness and turns to Dr Sarah Roberts for help. Naturally, she doesn't believe him but is intrigued by enough to track down Miriam. And then she finds out exactly how hypnotic she can really be...

AVAILABILITY

France
Laserdisc Distributors: MGM Home Video

Germany
DVD Distributors: Warner Home Video

USA
Theatrical Distributors: MGM/UA Entertainment Company
Video Distributors: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc
Laserdisc Distributors: MGM Home Video (ML 102216); MGM Home Video (ML 100281)
DVD Distributors: Warner Home Video (65049)

CENSORSHIP HISTORY

Australia
Rating: R; M (2000)

Finland
Rating: K-18

France
Rating: -12

Norway
Rating: 18

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: 18

USA
Rating: R

West Germany
Rating: 18

AWARDS

1984
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA (Saturn Award)
Best Costumes (Milena Canonero) - nominated
Best Make Up (Dick Smith, Carl Fullerton) - nominated

TIMELINE

1983
April
29: USA - theatrical release

June
3: Sweden - theatrical release

July
13: France - theatrical release

November
25: Finland - theatrical release

1991
October
16: USA - laserdisc release (MGM Home Video (ML 102216))

1996
January
3: Turkey - theatrical release

2004
October
5: USA - DVD release (Warner Home Video (65049))

POSTER TAGS

Nothing Human Loves Forever

ALTERNATIVE TITLES

El ansia - Spanish title
Begierde - West German title
Blodshunger - Swedish title
Az éhség - Hungarian title
Fome de Viver - Portugese title
Miriam si sveglia a mezzanotte - Italian title
Les prédateurs - French title
Verenjano - Finnish title

LINKS

INCLUDES FOOTAGE FROM
Kitty Foiled (1948)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
The Celluloid Closet (1995)

SEE ALSO
Dracula (1931)
Dracula's Daughter (1936)
The Hunger (1997 - 2000)

KEYWORDS

bisexuality, book into film, child murder, doctors, doves, immortality, lesbianism, nightclubs, sex, throat slitting, vampires

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008