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ERA
Did you know
36 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
The Comfort of Strangers
"A story of passionate obsession."
1990 1h 47m EN
😐
5.9
MID
🥫
54%
ROTTEN
👌
61
METACRITIC
⭐
6.3
IMDB
★5.9TMDB · 133🥫54%Rotten Tomatoes●61Metacritic★6.3IMDB · 7,285
ThrillerDramaCrimeFantasy
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
An Italian diplomat's son follows and seduces English lovers in Venice.
“A story of passionate obsession.”
Cast
Christopher Walken
Robert
Rupert Everett
Colin
Natasha Richardson
Mary
Helen Mirren
Caroline
Manfredi Aliquò
Concierge
David Ford
Waiter
Daniel Franco
Waiter
Rossana Canghiari
Hotel Maid
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Paul Schrader
- Writers
- Harold Pinter
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- Italy, 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 🍿
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 3 countries: Italy, United Kingdom, United States of America.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Paul Schrader, shot by Dante Spinotti. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Angelo Badalamenti. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Bill Pankow shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Christopher Walken and Rupert Everett and Natasha Richardson carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "A story of passionate obsession.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0099292 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Paul Schrader directs. Dante Spinotti behind the camera. Angelo Badalamenti scores. Bill Pankow cuts. Produced in Italy, United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 136 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 2International production across 3 countries: Italy, United Kingdom, United States of America.
- 3Directed by Paul Schrader, shot by Dante Spinotti. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Original score by Angelo Badalamenti. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 5Editor Bill Pankow shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Christopher Walken and Rupert Everett and Natasha Richardson carry the top of the cast.
- 7Marketing tagline: "A story of passionate obsession.".
- 8IMDB entry: tt0099292 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Dante Spinotti
- Original score
- Angelo Badalamenti
- Editing
- Bill Pankow
- Production design
- Gianni Quaranta
- Costume design
- Giorgio Armani
- Makeup / hair
- Paolo Franceschi
- Sound
- Mel Zelniker
- Runtime
- 107 min · 1h 47m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Box office
- $1,244,381
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 54% 🥫 Rotten
- Metacritic
- 61/100
- IMDB rating
- 6.3/10 · 7,285 votes
- MPAA
- R
Awards
1 win total
Also by
Paul Schrader
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- SO
Sovereign Pictures
- ER
Erre Produzioni
IT
- TH
The Rank Organisation
GB
Reteitalia
IT
Key crew
- NovelIan McEwan
- Executive ProducerMario Cotone
- Associate ProducerLinda Reisman
- Associate ProducerJohn Thompson
- CastingMary Selway
- Production SupervisorFabrizio Sergenti Castellani
- First Assistant DirectorGiacomo Lesina
- Steadicam OperatorNicola Pecorini
- Special EffectsGiovanni Corridori
- Script SupervisorRachel Griffiths
- Costume SupervisorMariolina Bono
- ProducerAngelo Rizzoli Jr.
- EditorBill Pankow
- Production DesignGianni Quaranta
- Art DirectionLuigi Marchione
- Set DecorationStefano Paltrinieri
- Costume DesignGiorgio Armani
- Sound Effects EditorLuca Anzellotti
- Sound EffectsMassimo Anzellotti
- Sound Effects EditorJames Beshears
- Sound EditorBruce Kitzmeyer
- Sound MixerDrew Kunin
- Supervising Sound EditorMaurice Schell
- Sound Re-Recording MixerMel Zelniker
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- venice, italy
- lover
- seduction
Release history · US
When it landed
- Premiere1990-09-01· Telluride Film Festival
- Theatrical1991-04-01R
Also known as
International titles
- Утешение незнакомцевRU
- Estranha SeduçãoBR
- 迷情杀机CN
- 陌生人的安慰CN
- Netter i VeneziaNO
