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An American Crime

  • 20072007
  • RR
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
35K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,735
768
An American Crime (2007)
Home Video Trailer from First Look
Play trailer1:17
1 Video
98 Photos
BiographyCrimeDrama
The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s.The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s.The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
35K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,735
768
    • Tommy O'Haver
    • Tommy O'Haver
    • Irene Turner
  • Stars
    • Elliot Page
    • Hayley McFarland
    • Nick Searcy
    • Tommy O'Haver
    • Tommy O'Haver
    • Irene Turner
  • Stars
    • Elliot Page
    • Hayley McFarland
    • Nick Searcy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 185User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy

    Videos1

    An American Crime
    Trailer 1:17
    Watch An American Crime

    Photos98

    Elliot Page in An American Crime (2007)
    Catherine Keener and Elliot Page in An American Crime (2007)
    Elliot Page and Evan Peters in An American Crime (2007)
    Catherine Keener and James Franco in An American Crime (2007)
    James Franco in An American Crime (2007)
    Catherine Keener in An American Crime (2007)
    Bradley Whitford in An American Crime (2007)
    Elliot Page in An American Crime (2007)
    Elliot Page at an event for An American Crime (2007)
    Ari Graynor at an event for An American Crime (2007)
    Ari Graynor at an event for An American Crime (2007)
    Ari Graynor at an event for An American Crime (2007)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Elliot Page
    Elliot Page
    • Sylvia Likens
    • (as Ellen Page)
    Hayley McFarland
    Hayley McFarland
    • Jennie Likens
    Nick Searcy
    Nick Searcy
    • Lester Likens
    Romy Rosemont
    Romy Rosemont
    • Betty Likens
    Catherine Keener
    Catherine Keener
    • Gertrude Baniszewski
    Ari Graynor
    Ari Graynor
    • Paula Baniszewski
    Scout Taylor-Compton
    Scout Taylor-Compton
    • Stephanie Baniszewski
    Tristan Jarred
    Tristan Jarred
    • Johnny Baniszewski
    Hannah Leigh
    Hannah Leigh
    • Shirley Baniszewski
    • (as Hannah Leigh Dworkin)
    Bradley Whitford
    Bradley Whitford
    • Prosecutor
    Michael O'Keefe
    Michael O'Keefe
    • Reverend Bill Collier
    Carlie Westerman
    Carlie Westerman
    • Marie Baniszewski
    Michelle Benes
    Michelle Benes
    • Hope Orbach
    Patricia Place
    • Mrs. Doyle
    Calvin Keet
    • Mr. Doyle
    Jeremy Sumpter
    Jeremy Sumpter
    • Coy Hubbard
    James Franco
    James Franco
    • Andy
    Brian Geraghty
    Brian Geraghty
    • Bradley
      • Tommy O'Haver
      • Tommy O'Haver
      • Irene Turner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The real-life daughter, Paula Baniszewski, was released from prison and changed her name. She ended up getting a job as a guidance counselor aide in an Iowa school and worked there for 14 years before anyone found out about her real past. She was immediately fired.
    • Goofs
      James Franco tells Catherine Keener that he needs money to visit his brother in Le-ba-NON, as in the country. Anyone from Indianapolis would correctly refer to that small Indiana town, just west of Indianapolis, as Leb-a-NONE. The two are spelled the same, but pronounced differently.
    • Quotes

      Sylvia Likens: Reverend Bill used to say, "For every situation God always has a plan." I guess I'm still trying to figure out what that plan was.

    • Crazy credits
      The final credit states "Sylvia Likens, 1949-1965".
    • Connections
      Featured in The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Downtown
      Written by Tony Hatch

      Performed by Petula Clark

      Courtesy of Disques Vogue and Sony BMG Music Entertainment (France)

      By Arrangement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment

    User reviews185

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Wallowing Down With the Sickness
    What a tragedy that I will never have an opportunity to see this film in a theatre. The cast alone that includes the currently very popular Ellen Page should have merited something better than Saturday night Showtime.

    Because of this, the impact will be blunted, however even in its limited presentation, the film was stunning and will easily end up among my favorites for the year. The quiet contemplation of the mood and the selection of a hideous story from post-Beaver Cleaver trivial innocence, pre-late 1960s tumult creates a moment so far outside our expectations of this nonsense daily on 24/7 news channels that its impact nails you full frontal.

    I particularly like some of the discussions of this film that complain that it was not graphic enough and because of this, didn't hit people 'in the gut.' This alone warrants a short meditation.

    To paraphrase one of the best commentaries I've read on this thing, there is an inner sadist in all of us. America's history of violence and tolerance of violence just gives license to bring it out more often and intensely. And despite our strong sense of individuality and our braggadocio about freedom, we have this very strange conformist streak. The confluence of these two conflicted tendencies can lead to bad places.

    This film meditates subtly and, yes, beautifully on all of this. By eschewing potential excesses that some complaining viewers apparently desired, the story puts us in a disturbing place where we might not suspend disbelief and acknowledge the raw emotions as something potentially alive within.

    I believe it is this troubling recognition of possibility that branded this film in various ways keeping it from ever being seen in a theatre. By exposing it first on pay TV, the unwashed masses might easily mistake it for a poorly done version of sensational MSNBC serial killer crap. Stuff like this is pleasurable to many because it lets them wallow 'down with the sickness' while pretending they are above it.

    There is a wonderful moment in the story when the almost involuntarily sadistic mother utters 'there are things in life we have to do whether we like them or not.' I can't help but think this was borrowed from the sadistic father figure in the original 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre,' a film that many wanted this to be so as to give them some form of absolution from their own demons 'An American Crime' exposes.
    helpful•81
    27
    • dalefried
    • May 11, 2008

    FAQ13

    • Was this really based on a true story?
    • Is Sylvia's sister Jenny still alive?
    • Is Gertrude Baniszewski still alive?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 7, 2007 (Sweden)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • First Look International
      • Killer Films
      • Showtime Networks
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 38 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital

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