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Manhunter poster

Manhunter

year 1986decade 80sdirector Michael Manngenre Crimegenre Thriller

120 minutes

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Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

William Petersen FBI Agent Will Graham
Tom Noonan Francis Dollarhyde
Dennis Farina FBI Agent Jack Crawford
Brian Cox Dr. Hannibal Lecktor
Kim Greist Molly Graham
Joan Allen Reba McClane
Stephen Lang Freddy Lounds

Manhunter | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Sean Fennesseyhost Chris Ryan
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Producer credits not yet identified.

Casting What-Ifs

Richard Gere, Mel Gibson, Paul Newman, and several Lecter possibilities are discussed.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:37Read transcript
  • Richard Gere is named as a possible Will Graham.
  • Mel Gibson is named as a possible Graham.
  • Paul Newman is named as an intriguing Graham alternative.
  • John Lithgow is considered for Lecter.
  • Mandy Patinkin is considered for Lecter.
  • Brian Dennehy is considered for Lecter and reportedly recommended Brian Cox.
  • David Lynch and Ted Levine are mentioned in the wider casting discussion.

Recasting Couch

Richard Gere and Paul Newman are debated for Graham, with Redford, Brando, Hoffman, DiCaprio, and Lakeith Stanfield entering broader hypotheticals.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:23Read transcript

Half-Assed Internet Research

Research covers Noonan’s preparation, casting, Mann’s FBI work, music timing, guerrilla filming, practical blood, and omitted tattoos.

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:39Read transcript
  • Tom Noonan reportedly trained his body and isolated himself from the cast.
  • Brian Cox’s audition and Dennehy’s recommendation are recounted.
  • Michael Mann reportedly consulted FBI personnel.
  • The climactic song is timed deep into the sequence.
  • The airplane material was reportedly filmed guerrilla-style.
  • Corn syrup effects reportedly stuck to Noonan during production.
  • Petersen reportedly had trouble getting out of character after the movie.
  • The film omits Dolarhyde’s novel tattoos.

Picking Nits

The beach house, alternate ending, and Michael Mann courtship habits drive the nitpicks.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:32Read transcript
  • Graham’s ability to afford the Captiva beach house is questioned.
  • The alternate ending adds Graham visiting the family he saved before returning to the beach.
  • The hosts argue that the alternate ending should have been retained because it complicates Graham’s trauma.
  • Michael Mann characters’ approach to first dates is questioned.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Questions cover Cox in Silence, adaptation lineage, Graham’s pay, home movies, glass, and geography.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:30:14Read transcript
  • How would Brian Cox have played Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs?
  • How much is Will Graham paid?
  • Who filmed the victims’ home movies?
  • How does Dolarhyde manage the glass and mirror staging?
  • Are the characters in Washington, Atlanta, or Chicago at various points?

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