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This World, Then the Fireworks

  • 1997
  • R
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Gina Gershon and Billy Zane in This World, Then the Fireworks (1997)
In 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-minded mother begins to suspect something.
Play trailer1:48
1 Video
69 Photos
Dark ComedyCrimeDrama

In 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-mi... Read allIn 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-minded mother begins to suspect something.In 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-minded mother begins to suspect something.

  • Director
    • Michael Oblowitz
  • Writers
    • Jim Thompson
    • Larry Gross
  • Stars
    • Billy Zane
    • Gina Gershon
    • Christian Durango
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    1.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Oblowitz
    • Writers
      • Jim Thompson
      • Larry Gross
    • Stars
      • Billy Zane
      • Gina Gershon
      • Christian Durango
    • 33User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:48
    Trailer

    Photos69

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    Top cast41

    Edit
    Billy Zane
    Billy Zane
    • Marty Lakewood
    Gina Gershon
    Gina Gershon
    • Carol Lakewood Morton
    Christian Durango
    • Little Marty Lakewood
    Sloan Cobb
    • Little Carol
    Roberta Hanley
    Roberta Hanley
    • Young Mrs. Lakewood
    Megan Leigh Brown
    • Young Carol
    Christopher Jones
    Christopher Jones
    • Young Marty
    Orson Oblowitz
    • Eugene
    Philip Loch
    Philip Loch
    • Marty's Father
    Rue McClanahan
    Rue McClanahan
    • Mrs. Lakewood
    Richard Edson
    Richard Edson
    • Joe
    Norman Max Maxwell
    • Thug #1
    Matt O'Toole
    Matt O'Toole
    • Thug #2
    Mert Hatfield
    Mert Hatfield
    • Bus Driver
    Willy Cobbs
    • Blues Musician
    Elis Imboden
    • Neighbour's wife
    • (as Elisabeth Imboden)
    Marianna Alacchi
    Marianna Alacchi
    • Glenda
    Tom Keeley
    • Cousin Lyle
    • Director
      • Michael Oblowitz
    • Writers
      • Jim Thompson
      • Larry Gross
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews33

    5.21.4K
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    Featured reviews

    l9rae

    This isn't everyones cup o tea

    This is an exceptional type of film. Strange and moody, bizarre in parts. It is a sort of Film Noir in color and very easy to watch. I love Billy Zane, and his performances always have a sprinkle of him in them. There are some odd twists and turns and the cinematograpy and costumes and very right on! If you are into 50's mysteries then this one may grab you.
    8hrare

    Deliciously trashy tragedy in B move style. For grown ups.

    Gorgeous people doing grisly things. Family values...IS he sleeping with his sister? Will he kill his girl friend? Remember when slips were risque? Savor the flavor of the fifties. Big flashy cars. Good girls going to Tijuana for bad reasons. Tough women who really need a man to protect them. Bring your nostalgia and your sense of humor. Let the spell begin.
    8pollystark

    Marvellous

    I really can't understand why this film has such a poor rating. I rented it totally randomly years ago and was absolutely entranced. It's about good people who do bad things, and bad people who do good things, and about the moral values of society. It has a wonderful visual style, portrays an amazingly consistent world.

    The whole film has an air of sadness pervading it that sticks with me five years on.

    Difficult viewing, but wonderful.

    If you see this for rent or cheap purchase anywhere, grab it and see one of the most individual and haunting films ever.
    7PtownB5

    A seductive film noir wasteland.

    Beautifully filmed with a hallmark noir smoky narrative by Billy Zane, who plays the main character, Marty Lakewood. All the characters in this movie, like this movie, are intriguing but so very flawed. But then, aren't we all? The cast was superb, Rue Mclanahan as a feeble mother whose life has outplayed her strength, Billy Zane as Marty Lakewood, a complex parasitic character driven, or being driven, by an ethos perhaps only he understands. Sheryl Lee was phenomenal as a character so desperately needy it blurs your vision, and Gina Gershon plays the twin sister to Marty Lakewood, and she is simultaneously vulnerable and calloused. I can't really tie this movie down with any certainty, but it lingered with me for days, and that is a hallmark of something good. There are some clunky scenes, some gorgeous scenes and there are beautiful diaphanous elements of human nature- there is a dim light within apathy and arrogance, a bond within self indulgence and narcissism- I think the movie is definitely worth checking out.
    5Doc_Who

    An interesting overlooked movie,worth a rental anyway!

    This movie is moslty overlooked at most video shelfs. They tend to place this movie in action. What this movie is a dark, thriller about two twins who are very good at being very bad. They later learn that they need each other to be able to live. The twins are played by Billy Zane(Titanic,Dead Calm,The Phantom) and Gina Gershon(Face/Off). Also along for the ride are Rue McClanahan(TV's The Golden Girls)as the twins mother, who eventtually discover's the twins deadly secrets. Co-starring in this thriller is Will Patton(Entrapment,The Postman,No Way Out). It is rated R for nudity, swearing , some shot outs and some deaths. If you want to see the movie leads in some times overlooked movie , check out this movie!!This movie is worth a rental anyway , even it seems a bit off the normal mainstream eye candy !!Just dont let the kids watch this till their old enough to understand the plot and other things that made this a R movie!1

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    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
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    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of four films released in 1997 by Orion Pictures, which had previously been relaunched a year prior. The others were 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997), Gang Related (1997), and the remake 12 Angry Men (1997).
    • Goofs
      When Marty shoots the serviceman three times at the end of the movie, he charges his weapon before each shot is fired. The weapon is an M1 Carbine, which is semi-automatic and therefore self-loading after each round is fired. Charging the weapon the second and third times would eject two live rounds from the weapon.
    • Quotes

      Marty Lakewood: One gets work readily when the penalty for failure was a clubbing. You learn not to take 'no' for an answer.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Contact/This World, Then the Fireworks/A Simple Wish/4 Little Girls/The Big Sleep/Shall We Dance? (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Strollin' on the Strip
      Written by Shakey Jake (as Jimmie D. Harris)

      Performed by Shakey Jake

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    FAQ18

    • How long is This World, Then the Fireworks?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 11, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bu dünya ve ötesi
    • Filming locations
      • Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
    • Production companies
      • Balzac's Shirt
      • JVC Entertainment Networks
      • Largo Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $51,618
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $19,906
      • Jul 13, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $51,618
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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