The Spanish Prisoner (1997) (David Mamet)

[zorbonaut]

The Spanish Prisoner is one of those films that has been under the radar for many years. It didn't do well at the Box office (Gross: $10,200,000 USA) but has consistently been one of my all-time favorite Mystery/Thrillers.

It wasn't always this way. Initially I was bored and disappointed with this film. It was slow paced, the dialogue that Mamet wrote was very unique as it doesn't even contain one curse word and obtained a PG rating which is crazy for this genre. Of course Mamet has always been known for his unique writing style and this film is no exception. I listed a few examples of this unique writing style below:

"Worry is like interest paid in advance on a debt that never comes due."

"Nobody going on a business trip would have been missed if he never arrived."

"Stun gun? What if you missed?
Well then, it would be back to the range for me..."


Roger Ebert had a great review of the film back in 1998. He compares the film to something that Alfred Hitchcock would have directed and I can see the reasoning behind that comparison. If you have a second, I would encourage you to read the review that I've linked below.

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/th...-prisoner-1998

It is a shame that this title has never received a treatment on Blu-Ray and only exists on the DVD format. I fell in love with this film in the HD format as I watched it on HDnet many years ago.

Mamet gets praise for his writing in films such as Glengarry Glen Ross and The Untouchables and this praise is rightfully deserved. I just wish The Spanish Prisoner received this same type of acclaim as it is worthy as well.

Any one else enjoy this film?

I may get no comments in this thread as I'm sure many have not even seen this film. If you haven't, I would recommend giving it a chance.

[BagheeraMcGee]

Originally Posted by zorbonaut

The Spanish Prisoner is one of those films that has been under the radar for many years. It didn't do well at the Box office (Gross: $10,200,000 USA) but has consistently been one of my all-time favorite Mystery/Thrillers.

It wasn't always this way. Initially I was bored and disappointed with this film. It was slow paced, the dialogue that Mamet wrote was very unique as it doesn't even contain one curse word and obtained a PG rating which is crazy for this genre. Of course Mamet has always been known for his unique writing style and this film is no exception. I listed a few examples of this unique writing style below:

"Worry is like interest paid in advance on a debt that never comes due."

"Nobody going on a business trip would have been missed if he never arrived."

"Stun gun? What if you missed?
Well then, it would be back to the range for me..."


Roger Ebert had a great review of the film back in 1998. He compares the film to something that Alfred Hitchcock would have directed and I can see the reasoning behind that comparison. If you have a second, I would encourage you to read the review that I've linked below.

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/th...-prisoner-1998

It is a shame that this title has never received a treatment on Blu-Ray and only exists on the DVD format. I fell in love with this film in the HD format as I watched it on HDnet many years ago.

Mamet gets praise for his writing in films such as Glengarry Glen Ross and The Untouchables and this praise is rightfully deserved. I just wish The Spanish Prisoner received this same type of acclaim as it is worthy as well.

Any one else enjoy this film?

I may get no comments in this thread as I'm sure many have not even seen this film. If you haven't, I would recommend giving it a chance.

I saw this during its theatrical run. I remember enjoying it quite a bit and really liked Steve Martin in it.

Of all of the filmmakers who I would consider favorites of mine, I think David Mamet is one of the most under-represented on Blu-ray. In addition to "The Spanish Prisoner", these are all Mamet films not available on Blu-ray:

"House of Games" and "Homicide": I'm still waiting for Criterion to upgrade these two from DVD to Blu-ray.

"Things Change": a great movie IMO. I harbor hope that, given it's a Sony release, perhaps Twilight Time could release this one; it seems to me this would be in their wheelhouse.

"Heist" and "Spartan": these are Warner releases. Perhaps Warner Archive?

"Glengarry Glen Ross": I know he didn't direct "GGR", but with all due respect to James Foley, it's way more Mamet's film than Foley's. I believe Lionsgate still has the rights to this, which means it may never see the light of day on Blu-ray.

"The Winslow Boy", a G-rated Mamet feature, which is also not available. I think, like "The Spanish Prisoner", this is a Sony Classics release, but I could be wrong.

And again, I could be wrong, but I think the only Mamet feature available on Blu-ray is "Redbelt", which is a damn shame.

[zorbonaut]

Originally Posted by BagheeraMcGee

I saw this during its theatrical run. I remember enjoying it quite a bit and really liked Steve Martin in it.

Of all of the filmmakers who I would consider favorites of mine, I think David Mamet is one of the most under-represented on Blu-ray. In addition to "The Spanish Prisoner", these are all Mamet films not available on Blu-ray:

"House of Games" and "Homicide": I'm still waiting for Criterion to upgrade these two from DVD to Blu-ray.

"Things Change": a great movie IMO. I harbor hope that, given it's a Sony release, perhaps Twilight Time could release this one; it seems to me this would be in their wheelhouse.

"Heist" and "Spartan": these are Warner releases. Perhaps Warner Archive?

"Glengarry Glen Ross": I know he didn't direct "GGR", but with all due respect to James Foley, it's way more Mamet's film than Foley's. I believe Lionsgate still has the rights to this, which means it may never see the light of day on Blu-ray.

"The Winslow Boy", a G-rated Mamet feature, which is also not available. I think, like "The Spanish Prisoner", this is a Sony Classics release, but I could be wrong.

And again, I could be wrong, but I think the only Mamet feature available on Blu-ray is "Redbelt", which is a damn shame.

You are right, I don't believe that any of these other than Redbelt have been released on Blu-Ray.

I will always see Glengarry Glen Ross as Mamet's even though he didn't direct the film. What dialogue in that film!

Classic lines:

[Show spoiler]Dave Moss: What's your name?

Blake: F*** you. That's my name. You know why, mister? You drove a Hyundai to get here. I drove an eighty-thousand dollar BMW. THAT'S my name. And your name is you're wanting...

[KRW1]

Glengarry Glen Ross has UK blu release, I've got the steelbook, not sure if it's still available....it went OOP for a bit...it seems to have gone for good now One of my all time favourite movies. It's here at the usual silly price https://www.amazon.co.uk/Glengarry-G...=1&*entries*=0

As for Spanish Prisoner, I love that. Saw it theatrically, didn't know anything about it beyond the title and I still think that's the best way to see it. I'd love a bluray release. I got excited when I saw this thread as I thought it had come out somewhere.

Steve Martin is fantastic in it, one of his best roles.

[klauswhereareyou]

I haven't seen this since 1998, but I remember liking it.

[Coenskubrick]

I saw this film a while back. In parts the film was great and suspenseful, but the story never really came together in a natural way, felt very contrived, nonsensical and pointless, in the end.

[EvilAshLives]

One of my favorite films. Saw it in the theater and revisit it often on DVD. I would LOVE a blu-ray release with Mamet and Ricky Jay commentary.

[Clark Kent]

One of the first movies I bought on DVD when it first came out. It's a criminally underrated movie and probably my favorite Mamet.

[Franchot]

I'm also a fan of Mamet's films and have collected all of them. Most on DVD, unfortunately. State and Main, in my opinion, is his weakest film.

Like the previous poster, I also own Glengarry Glen Ross on Blu ray. I picked it up cheap back in the day when it was available.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

I'm a huge fan of TSP, though I've only seen it around 3 times. Great story, and I like the elements of misdirection/deception that are at play throughout the film. It's definitely a movie that requires at least 2-3 viewings to fully appreciate.

[movielib]

Originally Posted by BagheeraMcGee

"The Winslow Boy", a G-rated Mamet feature, which is also not available.

The Winslow Boy is a fantastic film. Don't be put off by the G rating. It's not a children's film but a damn fine drama based on a play which was based on a true story. Totally atypical Mamet but one of his best.

I also love House of Games and The Spanish Prisoner. Glengarry Glen Ross goes without saying.

[English Patient]

Originally Posted by movielib

The Winslow Boy is a fantastic film. Don't be put off by the G rating. It's not a children's film but a damn fine drama based on a play which was based on a true story. Totally atypical Mamet but one of his best.

I agree. The Winslow Boy has become my all-time favorite film. The dialogue is beautiful (Mamet respectfully fine-tuned Terrence Rattigan's original play), Nigel Hawthorne and Jeremy Northam were unforgettable, and the story is heartwarming and uplifting without ever being corny or sentimental. The Spanish Prisoner is an interesting, entertaining movie, but The Winslow Boy is a masterpiece, in my opinion. It also has a beautiful production design, which is another reason this should be on blu-ray. The DVD transfer doesn't do it justice.

[R0CK0X]

I just watched this again for the first time in at least 10 years. I still really like it, but the first 45 minutes is a bit tough to get through, due to the performances. I know it's Mamet, but it just feels like a play, and a few of the actors seem a little too self-aware of how clever the dialogue is. I'm a huge fan of Steve Martin, so he's my favourite part of the flick. But it'd be interesting to see this material with a different lead cast, or maybe even with a different director, who would hopefully get a better performances out of the actors.