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Jacob's Ladder
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Jacob's Ladder (1990/I) More at IMDbPro »

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Jacob's Ladder (1990) -- A traumatized Vietnam war veteran finds out that his post-war life isn't what he believes it to be when he's attacked by horned creatures in the subway and his dead son comes to visit him.
Jacob's Ladder (1990) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   26,216 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Bruce Joel Rubin (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Jacob's Ladder on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 November 1990 (USA) more
Tagline:
The most frightening thing about Jacob Singer's nightmare is that he isn't dreaming.
Plot:
A traumatized Vietnam war veteran finds out that his post-war life isn't what he believes it to be when he's attacked by horned creatures in the subway and his dead son comes to visit him. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
2 wins more
NewsDesk:
(17 articles)
Stahl, McGowan & Smart Join Wake
 (From EmpireOnline. 21 September 2009, 11:10 PM, PDT)

Lists of Doom Xxv: Evil J of Otep
 (From Fangoria. 16 September 2009, 12:28 AM, PDT)

User Reviews:
More to be felt through than thought through. more (299 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Tim Robbins ... Jacob Singer
Elizabeth Peña ... Jezzie

Danny Aiello ... Louis

Matt Craven ... Michael
Pruitt Taylor Vince ... Paul

Jason Alexander ... Geary

Patricia Kalember ... Sarah

Eriq La Salle ... Frank

Ving Rhames ... George

Brian Tarantina ... Doug

Anthony Alessandro ... Rod
Brent Hinkley ... Jerry
S. Epatha Merkerson ... Elsa
Suzanne Shepherd ... Hospital Receptionist
Doug Barron ... Group Leader
Jan Saint ... Santa
Kisha Skinner ... Street Singer
Dion Simmons ... Street Singer
Sam Coppola ... Taxi Driver
Patty Rosborough ... Drunk
Evan O'Meara ... Sam
Kyle Gass ... Tony

Gloria Irizarry ... Mrs. Carmichael
Lewis Black ... Jacob's Doctor
Raymond Anthony Thomas ... Policeman

Christopher John Fields ... Field Medic (as Christopher Fields)
Jaime Perry ... Field Medic

Michael Tomlinson ... Field Doctor
A.M. Marxuach ... Field Doctor
Antonia Rey ... Woman on Subway
John Capodice ... Army Officer
John Patrick McLaughlin ... Army Officer

Bellina Logan ... Emergency Ward Nurse

Scott Cohen ... Resident Doctor
Davidson Thomson ... Evil Doctor
Bryan Larkin ... Jed
B.J. Donaldson ... Eli
Thomas A. Carlin ... Doorman

Carol Schneider ... Nurse
Becky Ann Baker ... Nurse
Diane Kagan ... Nurse
Billie Neal ... Della
Mike Stokie ... Field Sergeant
James Ellis Reynolds ... EMT Bearer
Dennis Rubin Green ... Attendant (as Dennis Green)
Brad Hamler ... Orderly
Byron Minns ... Orderly (as Byron Keith Minns)
Reggie McFadden ... Partygoer
Stephanie Berry ... Partygoer
Chris Murphy ... Partygoer
John-Martin Green ... Partygoer
Arleigh Richards ... Paul's Wife
Ann Pearl Gary ... Mourner

Barbara Gruen ... Mourner
Joe Quintero ... Street Kid

John Louis Fischer ... Machine Gunner
Alva Williams ... Masked Man
Elizabeth Abassi ... Hospital Patient
Nora Burns ... Hospital Patient
Alison Gordy ... Hospital Patient
Jessica Roberts ... Hospital Patient
Holly Kennedy ... Hospital Patient
Blanche Irwin Stuart ... Hospital Patient
Perry Lang ... Jacob's Assailant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Baglia ... Tommy, Patient (uncredited)

John D. Bair ... Commuter (uncredited)

Steve Baker ... Pool Player (uncredited)

Orson Bean ... Himself - Game Show Panelist (archive footage) (uncredited)

Macaulay Culkin ... Gabe (uncredited)
Ed Jupp Jr. ... Eyeless Doctor (uncredited)
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Directed by
Adrian Lyne 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Bruce Joel Rubin (written by)

Produced by
Mario Kassar .... executive producer
Alan Marshall .... producer
Bruce Joel Rubin .... associate producer
Andrew G. Vajna .... executive producer (as Andrew Vajna)
 
Original Music by
Maurice Jarre 
 
Cinematography by
Jeffrey L. Kimball 
 
Film Editing by
Tom Rolf 
 
Casting by
Risa Bramon Garcia 
Billy Hopkins 
Heidi Levitt 
 
Production Design by
Brian Morris 
 
Art Direction by
Jeremy Conway (principal art director)
W. Steven Graham  (as Wray Steven Graham)
 
Set Decoration by
Kathleen Dolan 
 
Costume Design by
Ellen Mirojnick 
 
Makeup Department
Arline .... special makeup
Russell Cate .... special makeup effects artist
Tom Czarnopys .... key sculptor
Richard Dean .... makeup artist
Don McLeod .... special makeup
Lyndell Quiyou .... hair stylist
Gordon J. Smith .... special prosthetic effects designer
 
Production Management
Michael R. Sloan .... post-production supervisor
Clayton Townsend .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vebe Borge .... second assistant director
Harvey Epstein .... dga trainee
Deborah Lupard .... second second assistant director
Joseph P. Reidy .... first assistant director
 
Art Department
Conrad V. Brink Jr. .... swing gang
Clive Brown .... construction coordinator: Puerto Rico
Diana Davila .... scenic artist: Puerto Rico
Claudette Didul .... art department coordinator
Dominick Direnzi .... scenic artist
Edward Garzero .... stand-by scenic artist
Joseph Garzero .... scenic chargeman
Peter Garzero .... scenic artist
Kevin Golden .... scenic artist
Cathy Ippolito .... scenic artist
Mathew Loeb .... scenic artist
Giovanni Rodriguez .... carpenter
Louis Sanchez .... construction coordinator
Manny Sanchez .... carpenter
Chris Shriver .... assistant art director
Leticia Stella-Serra .... set decorator: Puerto Rico
Paul Tappenden .... scenic artist
Thomas Wright .... property master
Tony Wright .... illustrator
Lauren Doner .... scenic artist (uncredited)
Henry Mayo .... storyboard artist (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
David Augsburger .... apprentice sound editor
Scott Boyd .... assistant sound editor
Milton C. Burrow .... supervising sound editor
Neil Burrow .... sound editor
Richard Burrow .... sound editor
Scott Burrow .... sound editor
Gordon Davidson .... sound editor
Steve Dewey .... special sound effects
Mike Getlin .... sound re-recording mixer
Mark Gordon .... sound editor
Robert Heffernan .... adr editor
Richard Mader .... sound technician
Tod A. Maitland .... production sound recordist
Andy Nelson .... sound re-recording mixer
T.J. O'Mara .... boom operator (as Terence J. O'Mara)
Greg Orloff .... foley mixer
Anthony Ortiz .... sound assistant: Puerto Rico
Steve Pederson .... sound re-recording mixer
Edward L. Sandlin .... sound editor
Solange S. Schwalbe .... foley editor (as Solange Schwalbe Boisseau)
Gary Shepherd .... sound editor
Chester Slomka .... sound editor
Steve F.B. Smith .... stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Jerry Trent .... foley artist
John Roesch .... foley artist (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
William Bishop .... special effects assistant
Connie Brink .... special effects (as Conrad Brink)
Fausto Ferrer Cruz .... special effects assistant: Puerto Rico
Mike Maggi .... special effects assistant
Harold McConnell Jr. .... special effects
 
Visual Effects by
Jay McClennen .... model maker
Brian Ripley .... visual effects production assistant
Paul Swendsen .... pre-production conceptual designer: ILM (uncredited)
Christopher Francis Woods .... visual effects producer (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Danny Aiello III .... stunts
Bill Anagnos .... stunts (as Billy Anagnos)
Peter Bucossi .... stunts
Danny Dod .... stunts
Andy Duppin .... stunts
Joe Fitos .... stunts
Gene Harrison .... stunts
Peter Hock .... stunts
David S. Lomax .... stunts
Jim Lovelett .... stunts
John Patrick McLaughlin .... stunts
Cynthia Neilson .... stunts
Phil Neilson .... stunt coordinator
Mick O'Rourke .... stunts
Don Picard .... stunts
Pee Wee Piemonte .... stunts
Michael Russo .... stunts (as Michael C. Russo)
Manny Siverio .... stunts
Gregg Smrz .... stunts
Gary Tacon .... stunts
Jeff Ward .... stunts
Deborah Watkins .... stunts
Joel David Webster .... stunts
Ron Michaels .... utility stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
A. Anthony Cappello .... second assistant camera: "b" camera
Christopher Dolan .... electrician
James P. Dolan .... best boy
James 'Packy' Dolan .... chief electrician
Richard Dolan .... electrician
Ronald Dolan .... generator operator
Johnathan Ercole .... first assistant camera: "b" camera
James W. Finnerty .... grip
John 'Spike' Finnerty .... rigging electrician
Joseph Finnerty .... grip
Raymond Fortune .... electrician
Bill Gerardo .... second assistant camera
Vinnie Gerardo .... assistant camera
Dennis Green .... 24 frame video operator
Richard Guinness Jr. .... dolly grip
Craig Haagensen .... camera operator
Larry Houston .... Steadicam assistant: Puerto Rico
Larry Huston .... Steadicam focus puller
Thomas Jirgal .... best boy
Gábor Kövér .... camera operator: "b" camera
Gábor Kövér .... director of photography: second unit
Larry McConkey .... Steadicam operator: Puerto Rico
Jim Miller .... grip
Mike Miller .... key grip
Enrique Puig .... assistant camera: Puerto Rico
Frank Rinato .... camera trainee
Andrew D. Schwartz .... still photographer
Rafael Amaral Sein .... assistant camera: Puerto Rico
 
Casting Department
Riccardo Bertoni .... extras casting
Barbara Harris .... voice casting
Suzanne Smith .... casting assistant
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Dennison .... costume supervisor
Cynthia L. Hamilton .... assistant costume designer
 
Editorial Department
Peter Amundson .... additional editor
Donah Bassett .... negative cutter
Christopher E. Bennett .... assistant film editor
Jennifer Davidoff Cook .... apprentice editor
Noori Dehnahi .... post-production coordinator
Vicki Hiatt .... associate editor
Robert Raring .... color timer
Jimmy Sandoval .... assistant editor
B.J. Sears .... additional editor
Rachel Shaw .... assistant editor
Joe Shugart .... assistant editor
Donna Stern .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Dan Carlin Sr. .... music editor
Kitka Eastern European Women's Choir .... choral ensemble
Leslie Morris .... music contractor
Leslie Morris .... music coordinator
Shawn Murphy .... music mixer
Shawn Murphy .... music recordist
Patrick Russ .... orchestrator
 
Transportation Department
Miguel Castañeda .... picture car wrangler
Hierson Garcia .... driver
Duamel Gonzalez .... driver
Edward O'Donnell .... transportation captain
Raúl Rivera .... transportation coordinator: Puerto Rico
 
Other crew
Frans J. Afman .... financial services
Michael Barnes .... legal attorney
Adam Brightman .... assistant location manager
Kathy Cossu .... medical coordinator
Patricia Anne Doherty .... location manager
Dale Dye .... military consultant (as Capt. Dale Dye)
John Fischer .... production assistant
Jeff Flach .... location manager: Puerto Rico
Juan Hernández .... location coordinator: Puerto Rico
Joseph E. Iberti .... location coordinator
Raymond Mackintosh .... special prosthetic effects
Trong Nguyen .... technical advisor: Vietnam
Ben Oliver .... head pilot
Gaspar Ponce .... location assistant
Reid Rosefelt .... unit publicist
Juan Ros .... set production assistant
Robert Smith .... head pilot
Mike Stokey .... military advisor
Mike Stokie .... military consultant
Christopher Swartout .... production assistant
Richard Tedesco .... parking wrangler
Neal Thompson .... title designer
Captain Russell Ray Thurman .... military consultant
Jane Tsighis .... production accountant
Michael Viglietta .... production assistant
Joe Violante .... dailies advisor
Darren Wiseman .... location assistant
Corey B. Yugler .... script supervisor
Gustave Doré .... illustrations: Dante's Inferno (uncredited)
David Lanphier Jr. .... production assistant (uncredited)
 

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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Dante's Inferno
more
Runtime:
113 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Don Johnson and Mickey Rourke both turned down the lead role. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: When Jake puts his son to bed, there is a crew member visible in the mirror behind him when he leans down. more
Quotes:
Jacob: You know you look like an angel, Louie? Like an overgrown cherub. Anyone ever tell you that?
Louis: [smiling] Yeah, you. Every time you see me.
Jacob: You're a lifesaver, Louie.
Louis: [smiling] Yeah, I know.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Wicker Park (1999) more
Soundtrack:
SONNY BOY more

FAQ

What is the significance of the title?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
What is BZ?
more
103 out of 115 people found the following review useful.
More to be felt through than thought through., 13 October 2001
Author: travisgentry from USA

After reading several reviews on this film I thought I would add my two cents. This remains one of my favorite movies and I never hesitate to take in another viewing. A lot of people seem to be noting the loose script and story elements as the film's weaknesses, going so far as to call it messy and incoherent. The fact that even after seeing it several times there's still some mystery in it, still some ambiguity as to the possible meanings to all of the things that go on with Jacob, is what I find most appealing. It's not a film like the Sixth Sense where all of the pieces fall into place at just the right time and you know exactly where you stand. It's something rather that is left to the imagination of the viewer, a rare thing when audiences en mass want clear cut explanations and easy answers (hence the success of Sixth Sense, a great film in it's own right, but the complete opposite of this one).

The visuals are incredible and highly influential. The techniques used in this film have since been overused and distilled throughout various horror movies and music videos, but without ever coming close to the power of the original, which presents some of the most psychologically terrifying images ever to appear on screen. I think it's hard to come to this movie for the first time today and experience it the way you could have eleven years ago, when these type of images had yet to be seen and were exposed to completely unsuspecting audiences. The best way to see this movie is with absolutely no knowledge of it beforehand.

The mood is perfect. The acting is great, the dialogue is outstanding. Danny Aielo explaining to Jacob about angels and demons still moves me to this date and the two simple words suddenly spoken to a disbelieving Jacob from some unseen source while in the Asylum scene still terrify like no other movie can. Also this may be the Home Alone kid's best film.

The extra scenes on the DVD range from average to terrifying, including the omitted "antidote" scene, something I'm glad I didn't see when I was younger because it might have scarred me for life :). Also there is a perplexing and scary scene omitted at the end where Jacob confronts Jezebel. There is alot of digital grain in some of the shots. I would like to see a better quality DVD put out for this one, but I'll take what I can get with the added scenes.

See this movie then see it again and then see it three years later. Don't over-analyze and worry if some of it doesn't make sense, after all it's not all supposed to.

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