Inside Story: The Silence of the Lambs

Extremely informative and thorough 91-minute documentary for Biography Channel on the making of Jonathan Demme's 1991 Best Picture Oscar winner "The Silence of the Lambs", adapted by Ted Tally from Jonathan Harris' bestseller. Recent interviews with most of the cast and crew (save for Scott Glenn, who is represented by a 1990s interview)--as well as FBI experts and film critics--give us insight into the writing, producing, directing, casting and filmmaking process, which came together after a brief shuffling period of the key players. Gene Hackman had beat Jodie Foster to buying the film rights to Harris' novel (as a directing and acting project for himself)--and when Hackman left the film, Jonathan Demme, tapped by Orion Pictures to direct, wasn't sold on Foster for the role of Clarice Starling, he wanted Michelle Pfeiffer. Accepting the part of Hannibal Lecter, Anthony Hopkins had thought his career in films was over after some movie disappointments, and wasn't sure if "a limey" would be accepted as an American serial killer. Whether or not you agree with the accolades and superlatives the film itself has received (I found a lot of it distasteful), for film historians and fans there's a treasure trove of detail here laid out in an entertaining and comprehensive fashion.