Looking At Silence Of The Lambs Behind The Scenes!

Looking At Silence Of The Lambs Behind The Scenes!

The Silence of the Lambs is undoubtedly one of the most iconic horror films of all time. But even diehard fans might not know about the real-world research, on-set pranking, and bizarre costume choices that went into its production. Here’s the untold truth of Hannibal Lecter’s finest hour.

Although Dino de Laurentiis bought the rights to the name Hannibal Lecter when his studio made 1986’s Manhunter, the very nature of the beast kept other filmmakers away for years. It makes sense, after all: A cannibal psychiatrist is a tough sell for a movie. That is, until Gene Hackman and Arthur Krim of Orion Pictures teamed up to buy the rights. Hackman was originally interested in directing, and wanted to play Lecter at the same time, but he later dropped out after his daughter read the book and objected to the story’s heavy violence. Krim bought Hackman’s half of the rights, and Jonathan Demme, intrigued by the unusual story, signed on as director.

Demme initially considered a number of actresses to play Clarice Starling, including Michelle Pfeiffer, Meg Ryan, and Laura Dern. But Jodie Foster, who had just won an Oscar for The Accused, lobbied hard for the part. Her grit, talent, and intelligence shone through, and ultimately landed her the role.

For Hannibal Lecter, almost every single prestige actor of the day was on the table. Sean Connery, Robert De Niro, and Dustin Hoffman were all under consideration. By now, of course, it’s impossible to picture anyone but Hopkins wearing that infamous muzzle.

By the end of The Silence of the Lambs, Clarice Starling has taken down Buffalo Bill and saved Catherine Martin’s life. As she officially receives her FBI credentials, however, she gets a phone call. It’s an escaped Dr. Lecter, telling her not to expect him, and to return the courtesy by leaving him alone. Keep watching the video to learn the untold truth of Silence of the Lambs.