American History X
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American History X

Year:
Duration:
119 min
Genres:
Crime | Drama
IMDB rate:
8.6
Director:
Tony Kaye
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 9 nominations
Details
Country: USA
Release Date: 1998-11-20
Filming Locations: Johnie's Coffee Shop - 6101 Wilshire Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA
Earnings
Budget: $7,500,000
Opening Weekend: $1,340,166 (USA) (22 November 1998)
Gross: $6,712,241 (USA) (28 March 1999)
Cast
Actor
Character
Fairuza Balk
Fairuza Balk
American History X
Edward Norton
Derek Vinyard
Edward Furlong
Danny Vinyard
Beverly D'Angelo
Doris Vinyard
Jennifer Lien
Davina Vinyard
Ethan Suplee
Seth Ryan
Avery Brooks
Dr. Bob Sweeney
Elliott Gould
Murray
Stacy Keach
Cameron Alexander
William Russ
Dennis Vinyard
Guy Torry
Lamont
Joe Cortese
Rasmussen
Jason Bose Smith
Little Henry
Antonio David Lyons
Lawrence
Alex Sol
Mitch McCormick
Keram Malicki-Sánchez
Chris (as Keram Malicki-Sanchez)
Giuseppe Andrews
Jason
Jonathan Fowler Jr.
Jerome
Christopher Masterson
Daryl Dawson (as Chris Masterson)
Nicholas R. Oleson
Huge Aryan
Jordan Marder
Curtis
Paul Le Mat
McMahon
Thomas L. Bellissimo
Cop #2 (as Tommy L. Bellissimo)
Cherish Lee
Kammi
Sam Vlahos
Dr. Aguilar
Tara Blanchard
Ally Vinyard
Anne Lambton
Cassandra
Steve Wolford
Reporter
Richard Noyce
Desk Sergeant
Danso Gordon
Buddy #1
Jim Norton
Randy
David Basulto
Guard
Alexis Rose Coen
Young Ally Vinyard
Kiante Elam
Lawrence's Partner (as Kiant Elam)
Paul Hopkins
Student
Keith Odett
Random Skinhead
Paul E. Short
Stocky Buddy (as Paul Short)
Nigel Miguel
Basketball Player
Darrell Britt
White Supremicist (uncredited)
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter
Skinhead (uncredited)
Sydney 'Big Dawg' Colston
Prison Gang Leader (uncredited)
Hans Cozzens
Police Officer #2 (uncredited)
John Embry
Parking Lot Skinhead (uncredited)
Maximillian Kesmodel
Young Danny Vinyard
Barbie Marie
Student (uncredited)
Allie Moss
Skinhead Girlfriend (uncredited)
Denney Pierce
Arresting Officer (uncredited)
Glendon Rich
Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
Louis E. Rosas
Jail Inmate (uncredited)
Sam Sarpong
Jail Inmate (uncredited)
Mark Swanson
Skinhead in Store (uncredited)
Jeremy Sweet
Skinhead (uncredited)
Selwyn Ward
High School Student Leaving Bathroom (uncredited)
Did you know?
Trivia
During the party scene the swastika on the back of Seth's jacket is counter-clockwise. In the skinhead world the counter-clockwise swastika indicates that the person bearing it leads, not follows.
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Filmed early in 1997. The movie's release was delayed due to post-production and editing conflicts.
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The quotation that concludes Danny's paper is from the closing words of Abraham Lincoln's first Inaugural Address in 1861.
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Goofs
During the basketball game, a member of the crowd is present and then is not there between shots.
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After Danny is shot, we see his essay "fly" out from his hand and to the right of his body. When Derek goes into the bathroom there's a close-up of the paper on the same side of his body, but after we see Dr. Sweeney and then go back to Derek and Danny, the essay moves to the left of Danny's body.
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In the black vs. white basketball game, Derek makes a shot and then Seth says, "Should've passed it to me I was wide open." His mouth doesn't match these words.
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Quotes
Lamont: Just remember, in here, you the nigga. Not me.
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Seth: Are you calling me a blimp, you fucking democrat!
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Danny Vinyard: So I guess this is where I tell you what I learned - my conclusion, right? Well, my conclusion is: Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time. It's just not worth it. Derek says it's always good to end a paper with a quote. He says someone else has already said it best. So if you can't top it, steal from them and go out strong. So I picked a guy I thought you'd like. 'We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.'
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Faq
Q
A Note Regarding Spoilers
A
The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.
Q
Would the ending cause Derek to revert to his old ways?
A
In the trivia, it is stated that there was an extra scene at the end of the movie where Derek is seen shaving his head again, but the scene was cut because it was deemed 'pro-Nazi'. It is left ambiguous in the film as to whether or not Derek intends to revert to his old ways. While in prison, Derek learned that hate is a waste of time and that he only was acting out because he was pissed off at his father being murdered. He came to realize that not every black person was like the one who killed his father. He tells his story to Danny who, by the end of the film, obviously sees the light, but in a tragic twist of irony, Danny is gunned down by Henry, a black person he had earlier insulted. It isn't unthinkable that this would distort Derek's perception and make him believe he was previously right. However, once someone has an epiphany and their mind is opened up to such matters, it is rarely closed back up. Yes, Danny was killed by a black man, as was their father. However, Derek would still understand that not everyone was like that. Dr. Sweeney is a perfect example as he wanted to do nothing but good and help troubled youths. The last line Derek says in the film is "What have I done?". In this it could be implied he does not revert to his old ways but blames himself for what has happened. This would mean he would not revert to his old ways as his brother's death would be in vain. Henry killed Danny as his vengeance for Derek killing and curb stomping his brother. Derek would probably realize this not long after the situation and see it was his doing that led to his brother's death and he doesn't blame Henry as much as he blames himself and therefore would remain on his new path of righteousness.
Q
Is "American History X" based on a book?
A
No. American History X is based on a screenplay written by the movie's producer David McKenna.
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Photos from cast
Fairuza Balk Michelle Christine White
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