Down by Law
By October 21, 2002
Down by Law, released in 1986, was Jim Jarmusch’s third movie. Unlike its predecessors, Permanent Vacation and Stranger Than Paradise, it did not take off from a semi-documentary Read more »
- United States
- 1986
- 107 minutes
- Black and White
- 1.77:1
- English
- Spine #166
SYNOPSIS: When fate lands three hapless men—an unemployed disc jockey (Tom Waits), a small-time pimp (John Lurie), and a strong-willed Italian tourist (Roberto Benigni)—in a Louisiana prison, their singular adventure begins. Described by director Jim Jarmusch as a “neo–Beat noir comedy,” Down by Law is part nightmare and part fairy tale, featuring fine performances and crisp black-and-white photography by esteemed cinematographer Robby Müller.
Cast & CreditsOpen
Cast
| Zack | Tom Waits |
| Jack | John Lurie |
| Roberto | Roberto Benigni |
| Nicoletta | Nicoletta Braschi |
| Laurette | Ellen Barkin |
| Bobbie | Billie Neal |
| Gig | Rockets Redglare |
| Preston | Vernel Bagneris |
| Julie | Timothea |
| L.C. | L.C. Drane |
Credits
| Director | Jim Jarmusch |
| Cinematography | Robby Müller |
| Music | John Lurie |
| Editing | Melody London |
| Songs | Tom Waits |
| Producer | Alan Kleinberg |
| Co-producers | Tom Rothman and Jim Stark |
| Executive producers | Otto Grokenberger, Cary Brokaw and Russell Schwartz |
| Production manager | Rudd Simmons |
| Unit manager | David Ross McCarty |
| Set dresser | Janet Densmore |
| Assistant director | Claire Denis |
| Production troubleshooter | Sara Driver |
| First assistant camera | Jack Anderson |
| Sound | Drew Kunin |
| Gaffer | Christopher Porter |
| Key grip | Paul Ferrera |
| Supervising sound editor | John Auerbach |
| Sound editing | Frank Kern |
| Music recorded and mixed by | Tom Lazarus |
Disc Features
- New high-definition digital transfer, enhanced for widescreen televisions
- Thoughts & reflections by Jim Jarmusch
- 2002 video interview with director of photography Robby Müller
- 1986 Cannes Film Festival press conference with Jarmusch and stars John Lurie, Roberto Benigni, and Nicoletta Braschi
- 1986 John Lurie interview with commentary
- Outtakes
- Music video of Tom Waits singing Cole Porter’s “It’s All Right with Me,” directed by Jarmusch
- Q&A with Jarmusch
- Jarmusch’s phone calls with Waits, Benigni, and Lurie
- Isolated music track
- Production Polaroids
- Location stills
- Original theatrical trailer
- Optional French dub track, featuring Roberto Benigni
- Optional French subtitles
- English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
From the CurrentView the Current »
Film Essays
Announcements
Ask Jim Jarmusch
December 22, 2009
When we released Jim Jarmusch’s films Down by Law and Night on Earth, the supplement Ask Jim, in which he answered questions viewers wrote in about his films, was so popular Read more »
News
Jamming with Jim
August 20, 2010
As we’ve mentioned, Jim Jarmusch will be a guest curator at this year’s All Tomorrow’s Parties, the independent music festival that takes place in Monticello, New York, over Read more »
Dear John
July 15, 2010
The latest artwork by Criterion friend John Lurie—saxophonist in the erstwhile “fake jazz” outfit the Lounge Lizards, actor in such films as Stranger Than Paradise, Down by Law, and Read more »
Jarmusch to Guest Curate ATP New York 2010
February 17, 2010
The organizers of All Tomorrow Parties in New York have tapped Jim Jarmusch to be a guest curator at this year’s event. The independent music festival Read more »
Clippings
THE DEVIL AND TOM WAITS
October 16, 2009
Whatever Tom Waits is up to—be it music or acting (Down by Law, Short Cuts)—is bound to be interesting, so we can’t wait to see him in the role of a lifetime, as the Read more »
