Kansas City
Brief Synopsis
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In 1934, while the rest of the country was mired in the Depression, Kansas City thrived with gambling, prostitution, and jazz-filled nightclubs flourishing under the rule of city bosses and organized crime. On the eve of the municipal elections, a scrappy telegraph operator, Blondie O'Hara, has kidnapped wealthy Carolyn Stilton, a drug-addicted socialite wife married to an advisor to president Roosevelt. Blondie plans to swap Carolyn for her small-time gangster husband Johnnie who has been taken hostage by big-time gangster and club owner Seldom Seen. Robert Altman's riff on race, class, and power cross-cuts between the two kidnappings and the background of corrupt politics and virtuoso jazz music.
Cast & Crew
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Robert Altman
Director
Harry Belafonte
Seldom Seen
Steve Buscemi
Johnny Flynn
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Blondie O'Hara
Miranda Richardson
Carolyn Stilton
Michael Murphy
Henry Stilton
Film Details
MPAA Rating
Genre
Crime
Drama
Period
Release Date
1996
Production Company
CFI Hollywood; Pacific Title & Art Studio; Sandcastle 5 Productions Inc; Sunrise Films; Todd-Ao; Wright/Laird Casting
Distribution Company
FINE LINE/FINE LINE FEATURES; Cecchi Gori Pictures; Filmladen Gmbh; Fine Line Features; Mfa Filmdistribution Gmbh; Monopole Pathe Films Ag; New Line Home Entertainment; United International Pictures
Location
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 55m
Synopsis
In 1934, while the rest of the country was mired in the Depression, Kansas City thrived with gambling, prostitution, and jazz-filled nightclubs flourishing under the rule of city bosses and organized crime. On the eve of the municipal elections, a scrappy telegraph operator, Blondie O'Hara, has kidnapped wealthy Carolyn Stilton, a drug-addicted socialite wife married to an advisor to president Roosevelt. Blondie plans to swap Carolyn for her small-time gangster husband Johnnie who has been taken hostage by big-time gangster and club owner Seldom Seen. Robert Altman's riff on race, class, and power cross-cuts between the two kidnappings and the background of corrupt politics and virtuoso jazz music.
Director
Robert Altman
Director
Cast
Harry Belafonte
Seldom Seen
Steve Buscemi
Johnny Flynn
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Blondie O'Hara
Miranda Richardson
Carolyn Stilton
Michael Murphy
Henry Stilton
Dermot Mulroney
Johnny O'Hara
Brooke Smith
Babe Flynn
Jane Adams
Nettie Bolt
Jeff Feringa
Addie Parker
A C Tony Smith
Sheepshan Red
Martin Martin
"Blue" Green
Albert J Burnes
Charlie Parker
Ajia Mignon Johnson
Pearl Cummings
Tim Snay
Rally Speaker
Tawanna Benbow
Rose
Cal Pritner
Covernor Park
Jerry Fornelli
Tom Pendergast
Michael Marisi Ornstein
Jackie Ciro
Michael Garozzo
Charlie Gargotta
Joe Digirolamo
John Lazia
John Durbin
Gas Station Attendant
Gina Belafonte
Hey-Hey Club Hostess
Nancy Marcy
Telegraph Operator
Buck Baker
Train Station Agent
Dorothy Kemp-clark
Mrs Bruce
Edward Pennington
Governor Park'S Butler
Robert Elliott
Lazia Man
Marlon Hoffman
Lazia Man
Patrick Oldani
Lazia Man
Philip Trovato
Lazia Man
James Carter
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Tenor Saxophone)
Craig Handy
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Tenor Saxophone)
David Murray
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Tenor Saxophone)
Joshua Redman
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Tenor Saxophone)
Jesse Davis
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Alto Saxophone)
David Newman
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Alto Saxophone)
Don Byron
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Clarinet/Baritone Saxophone)
Olu Dara
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Trumpet)
Nicholas Payton
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Trumpet)
James Zollar
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Trumpet)
Curtis Fowlkes
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Trombone)
Clark Gayton
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Trombone)
Victor C. Lewis Jr.
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Drums)
Geri Allen
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Piano)
Cyrus Chestnut
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Piano)
Ron Carter
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Bass)
Christian Mcbride
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Bass)
Tyrone Clark
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Bass)
Russell Malone
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Guitar)
Mark Whitfield
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Guitar)
Kevin Mahogany
Hey-Hey Club Musician (Vocalist)
Daniel C Rothenberg
Leadman
Matthew Altman
Leadman
Crew
Michael Adams
Stunts
Geri Allen
Music Arranger ("Froggy Bottom' "Lullaby Of The Leaves")
Robert Altman
Screenwriter
Robert Altman
Producer
Stephen Altman
Production Designer
Eric D Andersen
Additional Camera Operator
Leslie Anne Anderson
Assistant Hairstylist
D Laemmle Ascher
Dga Trainee
Frank Barhydt
Screenwriter
Sam Barkan
Special Effects Coordinator
Harry Barris
Song ("I Surrender Dear")
Carol Barta
Production Liaison
Count Basie
Songs ("Blues In The Dark" "I Left My Baby" "Lafayette")
Linda Baska
Casting Assistant
Brendy Bauman
Lead Scenic Assistant
Oscar Beguiristain
Transportation Captain
C Jeanenne Bell
Jewelry Consultant
Elizabeth Bergman
3rd Accountant
Shapiro Bernstein
Song Performer ("Indiana")
Steven R Bernstein
Music Arranger ("Blues In The Dark" "I Left My Baby" Yeah Man" "Solitude")
Steven R Bernstein
Associate Music Producer
Patty Blake
Assistant Office Coordinator
Aneikit Bonnel
Driver
Charlie Bouis
Assistant Music Recording Engineer
Mark Bracewell
Bestboy Electric
Eimear Bradbury
Music Coordinator
Rick Brainin
Catering
Roger Branit
2nd Assistant Camera
Shawna Bridgman
Other
Shannon Broderick
Set Production Assistant
Dawn Brown
Set Designer
David Bryant
2nd Additional Assistant Director
John E Bucklin
Construction Coordinator
Scott Bushnell
Executive Producer
Don Byron
Music Arranger ("Pagin' The Devil")
Bonnie Cagle
Other
Catherine Calleson
1st Assistant Sound
Scott Childers
Key Grip Rigging
Julie Clark
Assistant Coordinator
Molly Click
Art Department Coordinator
Gordon Clifford
Song ("I Surrender Dear")
Jennifer Cole
Other
David D Connolly
Construction Foreman
Signe Corriere
Assistant (To Robert Altman)
Rick Cowan
Location Manager
Jason Davis
On-Set Dresser
Robert Dawson
Title Designer
Eddie De Lange
Song ("Solitude")
Keiko Deguchi
1st Assistant Editor
Martin L Diggs
Set Production Assistant
John J Drees
Set Medic
Loretta Dungan
Other
Stephen P Dunn
1st Assistant Director
Ed Durham
Song ("Lafayette")
Jeni Edwards
Set Dresser
Duke Ellington
Song ("Solitude")
Amy Emrich-selby
Wardrobe Production Assistant
Susan Emshwiller
Set Decorator
Leon Ericksen
Other
Rick Evans
Property Restoration
Gwen Everman
Production Accountant
Kevin Fahey
Grip
Michael J. Fahey
Bestboy Grip
Ashley Fierman
Driver
John Fletcher
Location Assistant
Christopher Flick
Foley Editor
Laurie Foglia
Assistant Makeup
Leigh French
Adr Group Coordinator
Mark Fulks
Stunts
Milton Gabler
Song ("Pagin' The Devil")
Gary Gegan
Rerecording Mixer
Andy Gibson
Song ("I Left My Baby")
Leslie Godfrey
Production Coordinator
Stephen J Goldblatt
Other
Dona Granata
Costume Designer
Wendy Gray
Location Manager
Ted Haigh
Assistant Art Director
Michael Haight
Dialogue Editor
Craig Handy
Music Arranger ("Queer Notions" "I Surrender Dear" "Lafayette")
James F. Hanley
Song ("Indiana")
Mitzi Haralson
Set Costumer
Jane Harlow
Construction Accountant
Coleman Hawkins
Song ("Queer Notions")
Elizabeth Himelstein
Dialect Coach
Laurene Hirschberg
Researcher
Thomas Houchins
Costumer
Lance Hruza
Driver
Patrick C Huerter
Film Loader
Mark Hutman
Art Department Driver
Anjella Hynes-porter
Publicist
Matthew Iadarola
Rerecording Mixer
Phil Irwin
Set Dresser
Sue Jacobs
Music Supervisor
Heather Jameson
Set Production Assistant
Shellie Jeffrey
Other
Richard L Johnson
Art Direction
Eric Johnston
Stage Crew Member
Lorie Jones
Other
Chrisi Karvonides-dushenko
Assistant Costume Designer
Steve Kelso
Stunts
Karl L King
Song ("Hosts Of Freedom")
Richard King
Supervising Sound Editor
Gracie Klein
Driver
Karl Knief
Set Production Assistant
Sherry L Koftan
Driver
Geri Lamer
Other
Clifford Latimer
Adr Supervisor
Elisabeth Leustig
Casting
Olivia Lewis
Other
Patricio Libenson
Effects Editor
Ron Licari
Assistant Property
Eric Liliestrand
Music Recording And Mixing
Thomas H. Lohmann
Other
Anthony Maccario
Property Master
Ballard Macdonald
Song ("Indiana")
Sheila Macdowell
1st Assistant Editor
Joseph Mandacina
Additional Camera Operator
Anthony T. Marra Ii
Key Grip
Denise L Martinez
Costume Supervisor
Jim Matheny
Dialogue Editor
Jeff Maynard
Office Assistant
Michael A Mcfadden
Grip
John H Mclaughlin
Driver
James Mclindon
Associate Producer
Kristi A Medley
Picture Car Assistant
Jennifer Melching
Location Assistant
Ferdinando Merolla
Assistant Hairstylist
Mike Mertens
Color Timer
Carla Meyer
Dialect Coach
Cindy Miles
Other
Lisa Maria Miller
On-Set Dresser
Irving Mills
Song ("Solitude")
Butch Morris
Conductor
James L Morris
Driver
Vonda K. Morris
Assistant Makeup
Bennie Moten
Song ("Moten Swing")
Buster Moten
Song ("Moten Swing")
Shawna Mull
Other
Karen Naser
Other
Greg Ovard
Location Manager
Ian Overson
Driver
Jeff T Owens
Construction Coordinator
Terry R Owens
Transportation Coordinator
Walter Page
Song ("Pagin' The Devil")
David A Parks
Electrician
Eleanor Patton
Costumer
Alexandra E Perce
2nd Assistant Director
Geraldine Peroni
Editor
Bernice Petkere
Song ("Lullaby Of The Leaves")
Pablo Prietto
Apprentice Editor
Larry Prinz
Chief Lighting Technician
John Patrick Pritchett
Production Sound
Rocky Quiroz
Other
Eli Reed
Still Photographer
George Edward Regis
Legal-Music
Joe Reif
Set Production Assistant
David M Roberts
Boom Operator
Robin A Roberts
Costumer
Russel Robinson
Song ("Yeah Man")
Herbert A Rook
Other
James Rushing
Songs ("Blues In The Dark" "I Left My Baby")
Robin L Schillaci
Set Dresser
Roycee Schlotzhauer
Electrician
Scott Schudy
Assistant Location Manager
Ed Seaman
Electrician
Matthew Seig
Co-Producer
William J Sell
Casting Assistant
George Sheanshang Esq.
Legal-Production Accountant
Joel Shryack
Assistant Editor
Aldo Signoretti
Key Hair
Noble Sissle
Song ("Yeah Man")
Peter Slowey
Casting Assistant
Karen S Smith
Craft Service
Ken Smith
2nd Assistant Property
Carmen Soriano
Script Supervisor
Richard Speed
Electrician
Wayne Springfield
Construction Foreman
Oliver Stapleton
Director Of Photography
Tina Stauffer
2nd Assistant Director
Thomas R Stiller
Set Designer
Bruce A. Strong
Special Effects Foreman
Wayne Stroud
Dolly Grip
Joseph Tagger
Driver
Donna Leigh Tatum
Set Dresser
Harry C Taylor
Driver
David C Thomas
Unit Production Manager
David C Thomas
Co-Producer
Bubba Thrift
Driver
Aaron Ali Tichenor
Set Dresser
Dylan Tichenor
Technical Coordinator
Mary Traylor
Other
Micheline Trepanier
Key Makeup
Naython Vane
Set Dresser
Chandler Vinar
Set Dresser
Grady Walker
Stunts
Greg Walker
Stunt Coordinator
James B. Walsh
Bestboy Rigging
Kevin Welsh
Electrician
Nancy Jones Wetmore
Other
Dale Wibben
Costume Made Clothing (Women)
Film Details
MPAA Rating
Genre
Crime
Drama
Period
Release Date
1996
Production Company
CFI Hollywood; Pacific Title & Art Studio; Sandcastle 5 Productions Inc; Sunrise Films; Todd-Ao; Wright/Laird Casting
Distribution Company
FINE LINE/FINE LINE FEATURES; Cecchi Gori Pictures; Filmladen Gmbh; Fine Line Features; Mfa Filmdistribution Gmbh; Monopole Pathe Films Ag; New Line Home Entertainment; United International Pictures
Location
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 55m
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States May 1996
Released in United States November 1996
Released in United States on Video January 28, 1997
Released in United States Summer August 16, 1996
Shown at Cannes Film Festival (in competition) May 9-20, 1996.
Shown at London Film Festival November 7-24, 1996.
Miranda Richardson replaced Kim Basinger, as the insurance company would not cover the then pregnant actress.
Harry Belafonte received the 1996 award for Best Supporting Actor from the New York Film Critics Circle.
Music producer Hal Willner, along with the Hey Hey Club Musicians, received the 1996 award for Best Music Score from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
Began shooting April 18, 1995.
Completed shooting July 2, 1995.
Released in United States on Video January 28, 1997
Released in United States May 1996 (Shown at Cannes Film Festival (in competition) May 9-20, 1996.)
Released in United States Summer August 16, 1996
Released in United States November 1996 (Shown at London Film Festival November 7-24, 1996.)
