20th Century Fox DVD Clearance Sale (series)

Get Shorty

Starring: John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo & Danny Devito Director: Barry Sonnenfeld  Rated:

DVD Features:

Audio:

• Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
• Dolby Digital 5.1 - French
• Dolby Digital Stereo - Spanish

Additional Release Material:

• Trailer

Additional Products:

• Collectible Booklet

Product Description:

This slick adaptation of Elmore Leonard's 1990 novel features John Travolta as Chili Palmer, a Miami loan shark who's been sent to L.A. to collect on a bad debt from trash movie producer Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman), the maker of the stunning flops "Grotesque" and "Slime People." But this is Harry's lucky day, because Chili is also a film buff, and when he's done talking tough he starts pitching Harry a script idea. As everyone knows, the best background for the motion picture industry is the criminal underworld, and Chili is smoothly launched into the life of a producer: romancing a B-movie scream queen, schmoozing superstars, getting reservations in the hottest restaurants in town. However, Chili's not the only mobster wanting to turn producer. It seems that a thug named Bo Catlett (Delroy Lindo), another of Harry's lenders, also wants a piece of the action. Add in a group of angry drug smugglers and there is an abundance of double- and triple-crosses, as well as plenty of wisecracks and Hollywood insider jokes. GET SHORTY crosses the line of life imitating art--and vice versa--many times, including the real Ernest "Chili" Palmer (on whom the character is based) playing a Mafia henchman. Barry Sonnenfeld's entertaining romp is a wild look at the celebrity life in Hollywood, featuring numerous cameos of stars playing themselves.

Plot Synopsis:

Loan shark Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is ready for a new career, so when he's sent to L.A. to collect on a bad debt from trash filmmaker Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman), he decides to get into the movie industry. The skills Chili learned in the criminal underworld launch his successful start as a film producer: schmoozing superstars, romancing B-movie bimbos, actually getting reservations at the hottest restaurants in town. It would all be easy for Chili if it weren't for the angry gangsters and the drug smugglers who keep getting in the way.

Plot Keywords:

Betrayal | Comedy | Organized Crime | Recommended | Romance | Scams And Cons | Showbiz | Suspense | Theatrical Release

Production Notes:

• Theatrical release: October 20, 1995.
• The real-life Ernest "Chilli" Palmer (on whom the lead character is based) plays a bit part in the film as one of Bones's buddies.
• The film grossed $68.8 million domestically.
• Continuity error: After Chili's bag is searched at the airport, he carefully repacks it and then leaves the room without it.

Cast and Crew: