The Element of Crime (1984) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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In a futuristic metropolis, Fisher, a revered detective, returns from Cairo to sift through the clues surrounding the latest in a series of strange murders. In desperation, he turns to his mentor, a once brilliant criminal theoretician who has since gone mad, for advice on how to catch the killer. What he learns is a disturbing method of criminal osmosis which requires him to re-enact elements of the crime by merging souls with the murderer.

Cast & Crew

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Lars Von Trier

Michael Elphick

Esmond Knight

Me Me Lai

Gerald Wells

Ahmed El-shenawi

Film Details

Also Known As

Element of Crime, Forbrydelsens Elements, L'elemento del crimine, Last Tourist in Europe, The, To stoiheio tou eglimatos, elemento del crimen, El

Genre

Crime

Drama

Fantasy

Thriller

Release Date

1984

Production Company

Danish Film Institute (Dfi)

Distribution Company

Palace Pictures; Realfiction Filmverleih

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 40m

Synopsis

In a futuristic metropolis, Fisher, a revered detective, returns from Cairo to sift through the clues surrounding the latest in a series of strange murders. In desperation, he turns to his mentor, a once brilliant criminal theoretician who has since gone mad, for advice on how to catch the killer. What he learns is a disturbing method of criminal osmosis which requires him to re-enact elements of the crime by merging souls with the murderer.

Directors

Lars Von Trier

Åke Sandgren

2nd Unit Director (2nd Unit)

Cast

Michael Elphick

Esmond Knight

Me Me Lai

Gerald Wells

Ahmed El-shenawi

Astrid Henning-jensen

Janos Hersko

Stig Larsson

Coroner'S Assistant

Camilla Overbye Roos

Maria Behrendt

Lars Von Trier

Schmuck Of Ages

Harry Harper

1st Hotel Clerk

Roman Moszkowicz

2nd Hotel Clerk

Frederik Casby

White Policeman

Leif Magusson

Preben Lerdorff Rye

Mogens Rukov

Gotha Anderson

Jon Bang Carlsen

Ars Nova

Crew

Iben Haahr Andersen

Sound Recording; Sound Rerecording

Waltraut Andersen

Music Translation

Per Arman

Production Manager

Soren Berthelin

Camera Operator; Camera Operator 2nd Unit (2nd Unit)

Henrik Blichman

Song ("Der Letzte Tourist In Europa")

Birte Christensen

Mogens Dam

Song ("Der Letzte Tourist In Europa")

Morten Degnbol

Sound Recording; Sound Rerecording

Tom Elling

Director Of Photography

Tom Elling

Shooting Screenplay

Willy Flint

Consultant (Japanese)

Tomas Gislason

Shooting Screenplay

Tomas Gislason

Tomas Gislason

Peter Hoimark

Production Designer

Peter Hoimark

Special Effects

Per Holst

Executive Producer

Bo Holten

Music; Music Director

Sonja Kehler

Song Performer ("Der Letzte Tourist In Europa")

Poul Kristensen

Eg Norre

Lighting Engineer

Lasse Spang Olsen

William Quarshie

William Quarshie

Dialogue Consultant

William Quarshie

Dialogue Translation

Manon Rasmussen

Steen Moller Rasmussen

Camera Operator

Jan Richter-friis

Production Assistant

Åke Sandgren

Assistant Director

Otto Srenov

Camera Operator 2nd Unit (2nd Unit)

Leif Stubkjaer

Underwater Photography

Susanne Arnt Torp

Production Manager

O J Victor

Niels Voersel

Niels Voersel

Lars Von Trier

Camera Operator 2nd Unit (2nd Unit)

Lars Von Trier

Lars Von Trier

Screenplay; Shooting Screenplay

Steven Wakelam

Steven Wakelam

Dialogue Translation

Film Details

Also Known As

Element of Crime, Forbrydelsens Elements, L'elemento del crimine, Last Tourist in Europe, The, To stoiheio tou eglimatos, elemento del crimen, El

Genre

Crime

Drama

Fantasy

Thriller

Release Date

1984

Production Company

Danish Film Institute (Dfi)

Distribution Company

Palace Pictures; Realfiction Filmverleih

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 40m

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States 1984

Released in United States 1999

Released in United States March 1985

Released in United States Spring May 1, 1987

Shown at 1984 Cannes Film Festival.

Shown at Seattle International Film Festival (Flashback) May 13 - June 6, 1999.

Feature directorial debut for Lars von Trier and the first installment in his trilogy on the theme of Europe. The others are "Epidemic" (Denmark/1987) and "Zentropa" (Denmark/France/Sweden/Germany/1991).

Released in United States 1984 (Shown at 1984 Cannes Film Festival.)

Released in United States 1999 (Shown at Seattle International Film Festival (Flashback) May 13 - June 6, 1999.)

Released in United States March 1985 (Shown at FILMEX: Los Angeles International Film Exposition (International Cinema) March 14-31, 1985.)

Released in United States Spring May 1, 1987

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