The Ninth Gate (1999)

Country of Origin: USA/France/Spain/French/Latin/Portuguese/Spanish
Year of Production: 1999
Running Times: 133 mins
Length: 11,969 ft
Format: Super 35mm/Technovision
Colour Format: colour
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby Digital

DIRECTION

Director: Roman Polanski

CREW

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Araba Films/Bac Films/Kino Vision/Le Studio Canal+/Live Entertainment/Origen Producciones Cinematograficas S.A./Orly Films/R.P. Productions/TF1 Films Productions/Vía Digital
Executive Producers: Wolfgang Glattes, Michel Cheyko
Producer: Roman Polanski
Co-Producers: Iñaki Núñez, Antonio Cardenal, Alain Vannier, Mark Allan
Line Producer: Suzanne Wiesenfeld
Associate Producer: Adam Kempton
Production Manager (Spanish Crew): Jose Lopez Rodero
Production Manager (Portuguese Crew): José Mazeda
Production Coordinator: Blanche Wiesenfeld
Production Coordinator (Spain): Ginette Angosse

SCRIPT
Script: John Brownjohn, Enrique Urbizu, Roman Polanski
Novel: The Club Dumas by Arturo Pérez-Reverte

DIRECTION
Assistant Directors: Michel Cheyko, Christopher Gachet, David Campi Lemaire
Assistant Director (Spain): Javier Petit
Script Supervisor: Sylvette Baudrot
Assistant Script Supervisors: Sophie Audier, Valentine Traclet

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Darius Khondji
Camera Operator: Jean Harnois
Steadicam Operators: Carlos Cabecerán, Jörg Widmer, Riccardo Brunner, John Ward
Assistant Camera: Andre Chemetoff, Cendrine Dedise, David Nissen, Hugues Espinasse
Focus Puller: Eric Bialas
Gaffer: Jean-Claude LeBras
Gaffer (Spain): Emiliano Merino
Electricians: Vincent Rodriguez, Bruno Seffino, Marc Nove, Roland Dondin
Best Boy: Alain Dondin
Head Grip: Bernard Bregier
Head Grip (Spain): Luis Miguel Daza
Grips: Christian Martinello, Eric Nové, Gerard Buffard, Gérard Rival, Pascal Delaunay
Stills: Peter Mountain
Video Assist Operator: Igor Srubshchik
Colour Supervisor: Yvan Lucas
Colour Timers: Bruno Patin, Pierre Réali
Camera: Arriflex 535
Lenses: Cooke Series 4
Lab: Laboratoires Éclair, Paris, France

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Hervé de Luze
Assistant Editors: Beatrice Herminie, Christophe Pinel, Elise Fievet
Post-Production Supervisors: P. Todd Coe, Bruce Everett,
Post Production Coordinator: Jay Coquillon

MUSIC
Music: Wojciech Kilar; Saint-Saëns (Havanaire)
Soprano: Sumi Jo
Orchestra: The City of Prague Philharmonic
Conductor: Stepán Konicek
Concert Master: Vladimir Pilar
Score Producer: Wojciech Kilar
Score Engineer: John Timberley
Music Editor: Suzana Peric
Assistant Music Editor: Nancy Allen
Orchestra Contractor: Rudolf Wiedermann

SOUND
Sound Engineer: Jean-Marie Blondel
Assistant Sound Engineer: Frédéric Pardon
Sound Technician: Keenan Wyatt
Re-Recording Mixers: Dean Humphreys, Anne Le Campion
Sound Editor: Laurent Quaglio
ADR Boom Operators: Jean-Louis Le Bras, Lionel Le Bras
ADR Editor: Katia Boutin
Foley Artist: Nicolas Becker
Assistant Foley Artist: Assia Dnednia

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Hair: Jean-Pierre Berroyer, Bettina Miquaix
Hair For Lena Olin: Michel Demonteix
Make Up: Paul Le Marinel, Liliane Rametta
Make Up For Lena Olin: Jean-Luc Russier
Costume Designer: Anthony Powell
Costume Supervisor: Germinal Rangel
Costumers: Laurence Guindollet, Nathalie Cercuel
Dresser: Véronique Portebois

SPECIAL MAKE-UP EFFECTS
Prosthetics: Waldemar Pokromski

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: Effects Films
Special Effects Coordinator: Jean-Louis Trinquier
Special Effects: Gilbert Piéri

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects: Duboi; Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc; Éclair Numérique; Mikros Image
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor: Scott E. Anderson
Visual Effects Supervisors: Kelley R. Ray, Philippe Soeiro, Thomas Duval
Sequence Supervisor: Olivier Poujaud
Visual Effects Coordinator: Lindsay Burnett
Visual Effects Producer: Jacquie Barnbrook
Visual Effects Production Supervisor: Edouard Valton
Visual Effects Production Coordinator: Karine Marchandou
Visual Effects: Céline Sene
3D Supervisor: Nicolas Rey
Computer Animation: Scott Gordon
Digital Artists: Cédric Fayolle, Christine Szymkowiak, Julien Meesters, Krao
Matte Painters: Jean-Marie Vives, Stéphanie Dargent
Roto Artists: Marco Paccosi, Nancy Evans
Digital Compositors: Alex Kolasinski, Andre Brizard, Arnaud Chelet, Chia-Chi Hu, David Takayama, Doug Forrest, Jeremie Leroux, Laure Lacroix, Marguerite Cargill, Mark Alan Loso, Renee Chamblin, Shannon Noble, Simon Haslett
High Speed Compositing Digital Production Manager: Thomas F. Ford IV (uncredited)
Visual Effects Editor: Jody Rogers
Visual Effects Art Director: Michael Scheffe
Titles: Duboi

Duboicolor
Visual Effects Executive Producer: Antoine Simkine
Director of Reseach and Development: Rip Hampton O'Neil (uncredited)

Mikros Image
Visual Effects Supervisor: Frederic Moreau
Domino Artist: Pascal Laurent
Digital Color Graders: Gilles Gaillard, Ponce Pablo

SPI
Digital Matchmoving Artist: Joanie Karnowski (uncredited)
Inferno Artist: Lisa Deaner

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Dean Tavoularis
Art Director: Gérard Viard
Art Director (Portugal): José Calvario
Art Director (Spain): Fernando Gonzalez
Set Decorator: Philippe Turlure
Props: Philippe Margottin, Yann Le Moigne, Gilbert Piéri
Assistant Props: Daniel Bevan, Delphine Mabed, Jean-Michel Ducourty
Property Man: Michel Vialla
Prop Buyers: Benoît Clémenceau, Jacques Quinternet
Construction Head: Gilles Allou
Construction Coordinator: Jean-Paul Gaillot
Assistant Construction Coordinator: Jean Poinot
Head Painter: Claude Périnet
Stand-By Painter: Patrick Jamot
Head Plasterer: Didier Bautz
Swing Gang: Arnaud Putman, Jacques Moissignac
Drapery: Bernard Schlegel
Engravings: Francisco Sole

OTHER CREW
Production Accountant: Diane Conn
Assistant Production Accountants: Jean-Pierre Bonnet, Karine Caumeil
Accountant (Spain): José Miguel Mendiola
Production Assistants: Alexandre Lassere, Emmanuel Rigaut, François Mathieu, Franklin Pedrosa, Julien Pruvot, Marc-Antoine Trani, Sylvain Truchot, Yann Cuinet
Production Assistant (Spain): Fernando Fortuno
Assistant to Studio Vice President: Cathy Ziehl (uncredited)
Assistants to Johnny Depp: Buck Holland, Christi Dembrowski, Flore Michiels
Assistant to Mark Allan: Vanessa Flynn
Assistant to Roman Polanski: Isabelle Dassonville
Production Secretary: Laetitia Dom
Studio Coordinator: Adela Borovickova
Studio Director: Juraj Durovic
Driver: Oreste Canakis
Dialogue Coach: Julie Adams
Unit Publicist: Simona Benzakein
Movement Coach: Chris Gandois

LOCATIONS
Locations: Castle Puivert, France; Cathar Castle, France; Challet Biester, Rampa da Pena, Sintra, Lisbon, Portugal; Hotel Cayre, Paris, France; Hotel Central, Sintra, Lisbon, Portugal; Paris, France; Sintra, Lisbon, Portugal; Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Location Manager: Jean-Marc Abbou
Location Managers (Portugual): Kita Casal Ribeiro, Cristina Mascarenhas
Location Manager (Spain): Antonio Guillén Rey
Location Scout: Patrick Boshart
Location Assistants: Eric Aufèvre, Frederic Bacchi, Olivier Lhoste

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinators: Dominique Fouassier, Patrick Cauderlier (uncredited)
Car Stunt Coordinator: Jean-Claude Lagniez
Stunts: Fred Vallet, Alain Saugout, Alison Parson, André Cagnard, Catherine Robert, Francis Terzian, Jean Girard, Jean-Loup Michou, Jean-Pierre Janic, Jean-Pierre Suchet, Leslie Rain, Michel Bouis, Pascal Mercuri, Patrick Cauderlier, Rémi Canaple
Stunt Doubles: Marc Amyot, Nicolas De Peretti
Stunt Coach: Richard Dieux

CASTING
Casting: Howard Feuer
Casting (France): Marie-Sylvie Caillierez
Extras Casting: Frederic Caillierez
Casting Associate: Meredith Tucker

CAST

Johnny Depp (Dean Corso)
Frank Langella (Boris Balkan)
Lena Olin (Liana Telfer)
Emmanuelle Seigner (the girl)
Barbara Jefford (Baroness Kessler)
Jack Taylor (Victor Fargas)
José López Rodero (Pablo and Pedro Ceniza / 1st and 2nd workmen)
Tony Amoni (Liana's bodyguard)
James Russo (Bernie)
Willy Holt (Andrew Telfer)
Allen Garfield (Witkin)
Jacques Dacqmine (old man)
Joe Sheridan (old man's son)
Rebecca Pauly (daughter-in-law)
Catherine Benguigui (concierge)
Maria Ducceschi (secretary)
Jacques Collard (Gruber)
Dominique Pozzetto (desk clerk)
Emmanuel Booz (Baker)
Lino Ribeiro de Sousa (hotel porter)
Asil Raïs (cabby)
Bernard Richier, Marinette Richier (cafe owners)

Stand-Ins: Béatrice Cavet, Eric Thierry, Joseph Drezga, Lydie Ques, Michel Jules

UNCREDITED CAST

Goldie (Liana Telfer's henchman)

PLOT SUMMARY

Book dealer Corso is hired to track down the only remaining copies of the rare seventeenth-century Book of the Nine Doors to the Kingdom of Darkness, the originbal of which is reputed to have been written by the Devil himself. It seems straightforward enough – but it turns out to be anything but.

Argentina
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Bros.
Video Distributor: Argentina Video Home

Canada
Theatrical Distributor: Alliance Atlantis Communications

Finland
Theatrical Distributor: Scanbox Finland

France
Theatrical Distributor: Bac Films

Germany
Theatrical Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox of Germany
DVD Distributor: Laser Paradies

Greece
Theatrical Distributor: Odeon

Hungary
Theatrical Distributor: Budapest Film

Japan
Theatrical Distributor: GAGA Communications

Portugal
Theatrical Distributor: Filmes Lusomundo

Spain
Theatrical Distributors: Araba Films / United International Pictures y Cía. S.R.C.

Switzerland
Theatrical Distributor: Ascot Elite Entertainment Group

UK
Theatrical Distributor: United International Pictures

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Artisan Entertainment
DVD Distributor: Artisan Entertainment (60747)

Argentina
Rating: 16

Australia
Rating: MA

Belgium
Rating: KT

Canada
Rating: 14A

Chile
Rating: 18

Finland
Rating: K-16

France
Rating: U

Germany
Rating: 12

Hong Kong
Rating: IIB

Ireland
Rating: 18

Netherlands
Rating: 16

Portugal
Rating: M/16

Spain
Rating: 13

Sweden
Rating: 15

Switzerland
Rating: 12

UK
Rating: 15

USA
Rating: R (for some violence and sexuality)

2001
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA
Saturn Award Best Home Video Release - nominated

Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA
Golden Reel Award Best Sound Editing - Foreign Feature (Laurent Quaglio, Katia Boutin) - nominated

World Stunt Awards, USA
Taurus Award Best Fire Work (Jean-Pierre Suchet) - nominated

1999
August
25: Belgium, France– theatrical release; Spain – theatrical premiere
27: Spain – theatrical release

November
25: Denmark – theatrical release
26: Sweden – theatrical release

December
16: Germany – theatrical release
24: Italy, USA (Los Angeles, New York) – theatrical release
25: Finland – theatrical release

2000
February
4: Poland – theatrical release
18: Portugal – theatrical release

March
9: Puerto Rico – theatrical release
10: USA – wider theatrical release

April
14: Norway – theatrical release
20: Brazil, Chile – theatrical release
27: Argentina – theatrical release

May
3: Philippines – theatrical release
18: Hong Kong – theatrical release
26: Iceland – theatrical release
31: Netherlands – theatrical release

June
2: UK – theatrical release
3: Japan – theatrical release
22: Hungary, Peru – theatrical release

July
Day Unknown: Czech Republic – shown at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival
18: USA - DVD release (Artisan Entertainment (60747))

September
14: Israel, Slovenia – theatrical release
15: Estonia – theatrical release
28: Australia – theatrical release

October
3: Germany - DVD release (Laser Paradies)

November
11: South Korea – theatrical release
16: Croatia – theatrical release

2001
March
15: New Zealand – theatrical release

Leave the unknown alone

The only thing more terrifying than searching for the Devil... is finding him.

Basada en la novela de Arturo Pérez Reverte: El Club Dumas.

SEE ALSO
Angel Heart (1987)

PERIODICALS

Entertainment Weekly vol.1 no.550 (21 July 2000) p.60 (USA)
review (by Marc Bernardin)

epd Film vol.16 no.12 (1 December 1999) pp.51-52 (Germany)
review (by Heike-Melba Fendel)

Total Film no.40 (May 2000) p.16 (UK)
illustrated preview (Trailers)

Variety vol.376 no.2 (30 August 1999) pp.50-51 (USA)
review (by Lisa Nesselson)

NEWSPAPERS

Arbetet Ny Tid 26 November 1999 p.2:17 (Sweden)
review (by Deppig Depp i thriller utan spanning by Sven E. Olsson)

Diário de Notícias 18 February 2000. (Portugal)
review (by Elisabete França)

Göteborgs-Posten 26 November 1999 p.58 (Sweden)
review (Långtråkigt bläddrande i Polanskithriller by by Mats Johnson)

Svenska Dagbladet 26 November 1999 (Sweden)
review (Polanski går upptrampade stigar by Ludvig Hertzberg)

KEYWORDS

books, book into film, book-sellers, book shops, castles, the devil, drowning, the occult, satan, satanic rituals, satanism, sex, strangulation, suicide, tattoos, wheelchairs, witchcraft

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009