The Silence of the Lambs

Jack Crawford sends FBI trainee Clarice Starling to interview Hannibal Lecter, a cannibal psychiatrist locked up in Baltimore. The real goal is getting leads on Buffalo Bill, who abducts women and skins them. When a senator's daughter, Catherine Martin, is taken, Lecter agrees to help in exchange for Clarice's childhood memories, like the night she tried to save a lamb from slaughter. Moved to Memphis, Lecter kills his guards and escapes wearing one of their faces. Clarice follows the first victim's trail to Jame Gumb's house, kills him in his pitch-black basement and saves Catherine. At her graduation, Lecter calls her from a faraway island, just before he goes after Chilton.

1. Behind the scenesThe Big Five

   The film won Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Adapted Screenplay, only the third ever to sweep the Big Five.

   source ↗
2. CameoRoger Corman at the FBI

   Roger Corman, who gave Demme his start, plays FBI Director Hayden Burke. Chris Isaak is the SWAT commander, and George A. Romero shows up uncredited as a jailer.

   source ↗
3. Behind the scenesIt was going to be Hackman's

   Gene Hackman planned to direct and star, but dropped out when his kids asked him to quit violent films. Michelle Pfeiffer was Demme's first pick for Clarice and said no.

   source ↗