This World, Then the Fireworks

1997
R
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

5.2/10

1.4K

YOUR RATING

Gina Gershon and Billy Zane in This World, Then the Fireworks (1997)

In 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-minded mother begins to suspect something.

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Dark Comedy Crime Drama

In 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-mi... Read allIn 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-minded mother begins to suspect something.In 1950s, two incestuous lovers, a depraved suave journalist and his equally depraved prostitute sister, plan to get rich through seduction and murder. Things complicate when their feeble-minded mother begins to suspect something.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.2/10

1.4K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Trivia
Pete Rugolo, the great jazz composer who wrote the music for this film was 88 years old at the time. He was the choice of both actor Billy Zane and Director Michael Oblowitz, who felt that he was the perfect choice for the film.

Goofs
When Marty shoots the serviceman three times at the end of the movie, he charges his weapon before each shot is fired. The weapon is an M1 Carbine, which is semi-automatic and therefore self-loading after each round is fired. Charging the weapon the second and third times would eject two live rounds from the weapon.

Quotes
Marty Lakewood: One gets work readily when the penalty for failure was a clubbing. You learn not to take 'no' for an answer.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Contact/This World, Then the Fireworks/A Simple Wish/4 Little Girls/The Big Sleep/Shall We Dance? (1997)

Soundtracks
Strollin' on the Strip
Written by Shakey Jake (as Jimmie D. Harris)
Performed by Shakey Jake

User reviews33

Review

Featured review

8/10

Marvellous

I really can't understand why this film has such a poor rating. I rented it totally randomly years ago and was absolutely entranced. It's about good people who do bad things, and bad people who do good things, and about the moral values of society. It has a wonderful visual style, portrays an amazingly consistent world.

The whole film has an air of sadness pervading it that sticks with me five years on.

Difficult viewing, but wonderful.

If you see this for rent or cheap purchase anywhere, grab it and see one of the most individual and haunting films ever.