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MONEY
Did you know
Mid-budget at $50M β the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#01
The Life of David Gale
"The crime is clear. The truth is not."
2003 2h 10m EN
π
7.4
SOLID
β
7.4TMDB Β· 2,271
DramaThrillerCrime
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
A man against capital punishment is accused of murdering a fellow activist and is sent to death row.
βThe crime is clear. The truth is not.β
Cast
Kevin Spacey
David Gale
Kate Winslet
Bitsey Bloom
Laura Linney
Constance Hallaway
Rhona Mitra
Berlin
Gabriel Mann
Zack Stemmons
Matt Craven
Dusty Wright
Jim Beaver
Duke Grover
Cleo King
Barbara Kreuster
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Alan Parker
- Writers
- Charles Randolph
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Countries
- Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts πΏ
2 / 8
MONEY
Did you know
Earned back only 78% of its budget on initial theatrical β a commercial disappointment on release.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#02
3 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Released 23 years ago.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#03
4 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#04
5 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 3 countries: Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Alan Parker, shot by Michael Seresin. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#06
7 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Jake Parker. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#07
8 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Gerry Hambling shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Alan Parker directs. Michael Seresin behind the camera. Jake Parker scores. Gerry Hambling cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English, Spanish.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Mid-budget at $50M β the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.
- 2Earned back only 78% of its budget on initial theatrical β a commercial disappointment on release.
- 3Released 23 years ago.
- 4Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.
- 5International production across 3 countries: Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America.
- 6Directed by Alan Parker, shot by Michael Seresin. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 7Original score by Jake Parker. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 8Editor Gerry Hambling shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 9Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet and Laura Linney carry the top of the cast.
- 10Marketing tagline: "The crime is clear. The truth is not.".
- 11IMDB entry: tt0289992 β still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 12Classified under 12 themes, including "prison", "journalist", "death penalty", "professor".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Michael Seresin
- Original score
- Jake Parker
- Editing
- Gerry Hambling
- Production design
- Geoffrey Kirkland
- Costume design
- Renee Ehrlich Kalfus
- Makeup / hair
- Martin Samuel
- Stunt coordinator
- Kerry Rossall
- Runtime
- 130 min Β· 2h 10m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $50,000,000
- Box office
- $38,955,598
- Return
- 78% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
Also by
Alan Parker
Stills Β· wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames β open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- MI
Mikona Productions
DE
Universal Pictures
US
Intermedia Films
GB
Saturn Films
US
- DI
Dirty Hands Productions
GB
Key crew
- ProducerAlan Parker
- Executive ProducerGuy East
- Executive ProducerNigel Sinclair
- ProducerNicolas Cage
- Executive ProducerMoritz Borman
- EditorGerry Hambling
- StuntsDiane Towery
- StuntsCarla Thorman
- Production DesignGeoffrey Kirkland
- Art DirectionSteve Arnold
- Costume DesignRenee Ehrlich Kalfus
- Art DirectionJennifer Williams
- Line ProducerDavid Wimbury
- ThanksBarbara Muschietti
- Co-Executive ProducerNorman Golightly
- Set DecorationJennifer Williams
- CastingHoward Feuer
- Unit Production ManagerAlma Kuttruff
- Executive In Charge Of ProductionTobin Armbrust
- Special Effects SupervisorYves De Bono
- Key Hair StylistMartin Samuel
- Special EffectsRussell Tyrrell
- StuntsRussell Towery
- Assistant DirectorK.C. Hodenfield
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- prison
- journalist
- death penalty
- professor
- texas
- death row
- interview
- murder
- reporter
- intern
- innocent
- activist
Release history Β· US
When it landed
- Theatrical2003-02-21R
Also known as
International titles
- David Gale'in HΙyatΔ±AZ
- David Galen elΓ€mΓ€FI
- A Vida de David GaleBR
