The Silence of the Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 American thriller film that blends elements of the crime and horror genres. It was directed by Jonathan Demme and stars Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Ted Levine and Scott Glenn. It is based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris.

The plot is based on the novel of the same name by Tom Harries. While writing his book he relied on real facts which were going on in the mid-eighties of 20-th cent.
The plot is based on the novel of the same name by Tom Harries. While writing his book he relied on real facts which were going on in the mid-eighties of 20-th cent.

*Dr. Hannibal Lecter* as a film character appeared 5 years earlier before the film The Silence of the Lambs was released. In 1986 the director Michel Mannproduced the motion «Manhunter» based on the same novel by Thomas Harris.

The prototype of Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a serial killer & hannibal Albert Fish, who was accused of more than 100 sexual harassments of children & some cruel murders.

The role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter was originally to be played by Gene Hackman, who also wished to direct; he later withdrew from the project.
There were 300 applicants for the role of Clarice Starling.

When The Silence of the Lambs was released on February 14, 1991, it received much critical acclaim. The film won the top five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.

In 1998, the film was listed as one of the 100 greatest movies in the past 100 years by the American Film Institute. In 2006, at the Key Art Awards, the original poster for The Silence of the Lambs was named best film poster "of the past 35 years".

The American Film Institute named Hannibal Lecter (as portrayed by Hopkins) the number one film villain of all time and Clarice Starling (as portrayed by Foster) the sixth greatest film hero of all time

Upon its release, The Silence of the Lambs was criticized by members of the gay community for its portrayal of Buffalo Bill as bisexual and transsexual. However, one scene makes clear that Buffalo Bill only believes himself to be transsexual, and that there is no link between transsexuality and violence.