Movie Description
When a bar owner discovers that one of his employees is having an affair with his wife, a complex web of deceit and double crosses ensues in a small Texas town. The Coen brothers' first picture is an intricately plotted film noir filled with surprises at each turn. The cast, largely unkown at the time, includes Dan Hedaya as the cuckolded bar owner, Frances McDormand as the cheating wife, John Getz as the adultering bartender, and the fabulously creepy M. Emmett Walsh as the slimy, sweaty private detective who should not be trusted. The film is a marvel to experience; director of photography Barry Sonnenfeld has created stunning compositions filled with open spaces, and the sound--from the slightest footsteps or dripping water to a sudden shotgun blast--reverberates ominously, as if it is a character unto itself. Directed by Joel Coen and cowritten by Joel and his brother Ethan, BLOOD SIMPLE is an eerie testament to the limitless possibilities of low-budget filmmaking.
| Credits | | Producer: | Ethan Coen | | Cast: | Dan Hedaya, Frances McDormand, John Getz, M. Emmet Walsh, Samm-Art Williams |
| Details | | Edition: | Subtitled Spanish; Collector's |
Notes
BLOOD SIMPLE is the debut of filmmaking brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. The pair have collaborated on several films since the making of BLOOD SIMPLE; they include RAISING ARIZONA (1987), MILLER'S CROSSING (1990) and BARTON FINK (1991). Ethan and Joel write the screenplays for their films together, then Ethan produces the film and Joel directs it.
The Coens consider BLOOD SIMPLE the first of their "hayseed" trilogy; the other two are RAISING ARIZONA and O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
In 1984 BLOOD SIMPLE was shown at both the New York Film Festival and the Independent Feature Film Market. The film appeared on several prestigious lists of top ten films in 1985, including Time Magazine, USA Today and The Washington Post. It was also honored as one of the year's best pictures by The National Board of Review. It was released to theaters nationally the following year.
BLOOD SIMPLE was the winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in its inaugural year.
The director's cut released in July 2000 has no additional footage; in fact, it is actually slightly shorter than the original. Ethan Coen explained it by saying, "The idea is, we've taken out some of the boring parts."
The movie was shot in DuArt color in 48 days on location in Austin, Texas.
The first voice heard on Meurice's answering machine is that of Holly Hunter.
The Coens wrote the role of the private detective specifically for character actor extraordinaire M. Emmet Walsh. At one point, Walsh's character was going to be known as Todor Zivkov Jr.
Roderick Jaynes, the editor, is a fictional person that the Coen brothers invented as both a pseudonym and a prank. They edited the film themselves.
Director and co-writer Ethan Coen is married to Frances McDormand, who won an Oscar for her starring role in the Coen brothers' film FARGO.
Joel Coen is credited as an assistant editor on Sam Raimi's cult classic THE EVIL DEAD (1983). Raimi is somewhat of a mentor to the Coens.
BLOOD SIMPLE was Director of Photography Barry Sonnenfeld's first film; he went on to direct such hits as MEN IN BLACK and GET SHORTY.
Cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld later went on to become a director. THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1992) was his first directorial assignment.
Prior to making films, Ethan Coen was a statistical typist at Macy's., DVD Features:
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Editorial Reviews
"Black humor, abundant originality and a brilliant visual style....A directorial debut of extraordinary promise..."
New York Times - p.C6 - Janet Maslin (01/18/1985)
"...Terrific....[The] performances are top-notch all around....A colorful, moody piece with a texture that's very true-to-life..."
Variety - Silv. (05/23/1984)
"...BLOOD SIMPLE becomes a dazzling comedie noire, a dynamic, virtuoso display by a couple of talented fledgling film makers who give the conventions of the genre such a thorough workout that the result is a movie that's fresh and exhilarating..."
Los Angeles Times - p.C1 - Kevin Thomas (02/28/1985)
"...The film itself remains sublime..."
Sight and Sound - Danny Leigh (03/01/2001)
"...Unpredictable at every turn..."
Premiere - p.22 - Premiere Staff
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