Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)
Language: English.
Directed by Jim Jarmusch
I was hooked as soon as I saw this and I've seen it many times since. The music and Ghost Dog's stare are hypnotic. I love the way the pigeons fly to the music like it's a dance. The readings from Hagakure work perfectly. Then there is the friendship with Raymond with no common language and complete understanding. I can't say enough about this film. — Bill
Forest Whitaker
Ghost Dog
John Tormey
Louie
Cliff Gorman
Sonny Valerio
Frank Minucci
Big Angie
Richard Portnow
Handsome Frank
Tricia Vessey
Louise Vargo
Henry Silva
Ray Vargo
Gene Ruffini
Old Consigliere
Frank Adonis
Valerio's Bodyguard
Victor Argo
Vinny
Isaach de Bankolé
Raymond
Camille Winbush
Pearline
Cast
- Forest Whitaker as Ghost Dog
- John Tormey as Louie
- Cliff Gorman as Sonny Valerio
- Frank Minucci as Big Angie
- Richard Portnow as Handsome Frank
- Tricia Vessey as Louise Vargo
- Henry Silva as Ray Vargo
- Gene Ruffini as Old Consigliere
- Frank Adonis as Valerio's Bodyguard
- Victor Argo as Vinny
- Isaach de Bankolé as Raymond
- Camille Winbush as Pearline
- Damon Whitaker as Young Ghost Dog
- Vince Viverito as Johnny Morini
- Chuck Jeffreys as Mugger
- Dennis Liu as Chinese Restaurant Owner
- Kenny Guay as Boy in Window
- Gano Grills as Gangsta in Red
- Touché Cornel as Gangsta in Red
- Jamie Hector as Gangsta in Red
- Yan Ming Shi as Kung Fu Master
- Vinny Vella as Sammy the Snake
- Joseph Rigano as Joe Rags
- Roberto Lopez as Punk in Alley
- Salvatore Alagna as Punk in Alley
- Jerry Todisco as Punk in Alley
- Dreddy Kruger as MC in Blue
- Timbo King as MC in Blue
- Clay Da Raider as MC in Blue
- Dead and Stinking as MC in Blue
- Deflon Sallahr as MC in Blue
- Gary Farmer as Nobody
- Clebert Ford as Pigeonkeeper
- José Rabelo as Rooftop Boatbuilder
- Jerry Sturiano as Lefty
- Tony Rigo as Tony
- Alfred Nittoli as Al
- Angel Caban as Social Club Landlord
- Luz Valentin as Girl in Silver
- Renee Bluestone as Club Couple
- Jordan Peck as Club Couple
- Jonathan Teague Cook as Bear Hunter
- Tracy Howe as Bear Hunter
- Harry Shearer as Voice of Scratchy (voice) (archive footage)
- Vanessa Hollingshead as Female Sheriff
- Sharon Angela as Blonde with Jaguar
- RZA as Samurai in Camouflage
- Scott Bryce as Accountant (scenes deleted)
- Paul Diomede as Young Gangster (uncredited)
Crew
- Jim Jarmusch — Director
- Jim Jarmusch — Producer
- Robby Müller — Director of Photography
- Jay Rabinowitz — Editor
- Ted Berner — Production Design
- Mario Ventenilla — Art Direction
- Richard Guay — Producer
- RZA — Original Music Composer
- Drew Jiritano — Special Effects Coordinator
- John Furniotis — Visual Effects
- Don Nolan — Visual Effects
- Adenike Wright — Hairstylist
- Gabrielle Mahon — Post Production Supervisor
- Stacey Smith — Post Production Supervisor
- Karen L. Thorson — Post Production Supervisor
- Bill Cassidy — Key Construction Grip
- Peter DeCurtis — Set Dresser
- Mario Herrera — Charge Scenic Artist
- Richard S. Kamin — Construction Foreman
- Louis Mucci — Carpenter
- Joseph Proscia — Leadman
- Danny Rovira — Construction Coordinator
- Phil Saccio — Set Dresser
- Jennifer Snoeyink — Scenic Artist
- Steve Swanson — Set Dresser
- Thomas Hocking — Construction Grip
- David Boulton — ADR Mixer
- Jason Canovas — ADR Editor
- John Chamberlain — ADR Recordist
- Eric A. Christoffersen — Dolby Consultant
- Ryan Collison — Foley Artist
- Keith Culbertson — Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Joe Dohner — Foley Recordist
- Thomas A. Gulino — Dialogue Editor
- Ann Hadsell — ADR Mixer
- Yvette Nabel — Foley Editor
- Alex Raspa — ADR Recordist
- Lynn Sable — Assistant Sound Editor
- Brian Vancho — Foley Artist
- John Werner — Assistant Sound Editor
- David Kleinstein — Special Effects Assistant
- John Stifanich — Special Effects Assistant
- Andrew Mortelliti — Special Effects Assistant
- Gray Miller — Opening/Ending Animation
- Mark Tureski — Visual Effects
- Norman Douglass — Stunt Coordinator
- Manny Siverio — Stunt Coordinator
- Jeff Ward — Stunt Coordinator
- Gary Lamantia — Camera Technician
- David Norris — Camera Operator
- Christopher Porter — Gaffer
- Nicolas L. Charuet — Grip
- Chaim Kantor — Second Unit Director of Photography
- Anthony Ortiz — Extras Casting
- Jessy Terrero — Extras Casting
- Ulysses Terrero — Extras Casting
- Blythe Cappello — Casting Associate
- Gayle Keller — Casting Associate
- Jeanne McCarthy — Casting
- Jeanne McCarthy — Casting Director
- Kevin Brainerd — Assistant Costume Designer
- David Davenport — Wardrobe Supervisor
- Amy Habacker — Wardrobe Supervisor
- Jennifer Apel — Assistant Editor
- Tony Grocki — First Assistant Editor
- Ricardo Olivero — Color Timer
- Catherine Rankin — Negative Cutter
- Peter Phillips — Post Production Coordinator
- Carl Archibald — Location Assistant
- Ged Dickersin — Location Manager
- Tom Jarmusch — Location Scout
- Suk Yi Mar — Assistant Location Manager
- Kevon Murphy — Location Assistant
- Kate Schultz — Location Scout
- Demond Stafford — Location Assistant
- Mimi Turner — Location Scout
- Jay Rabinowitz — Music Editor
- Akira Kurosawa — Thanks
- Jean-Pierre Melville — Thanks
- Mary Shelley — Thanks
- Bart Walker — Thanks
- Cynthia Bauer — Intern
- Jesse Bodine — Production Office Assistant
- Brian Cantaldi — Set Production Assistant
- Jen Cox — Payroll Accountant
- Aaron Douglas — Accountant
- Sara Driver — Story Consultant
- Jennifer Ehman — Intern
- Joe Facey — Craft Service
- Orlando Ferreyra III — Intern
- Kathleen Gallagher — Intern
- Mara Galus — Set Production Assistant
- Jeff Gilbert — Intern
- Jill Goldstein — Legal Services
- Ariel Greene — Intern
- Joe Guest — Intern
- Richard Heller — Legal Services
- Vanessa Jacobs — Assistant Production Coordinator
- Paul Johnson — Security
- Damon Keller — Intern
- Brian Lampf — Production Office Assistant
- Susan Lawlor — Production Secretary
- Gabrielle Mahon — Producer's Assistant
- Steve McAuliff — Animal Wrangler
- Tony McKray — Security
- Kelly Mearkle — Production Office Assistant
- Macho Mendez — Security
- Jennifer Pietzryh — Set Medic
- Reid Rosefelt — Publicist
- Harris Smith — Intern
- Michele Soddano — Assistant Accountant
- Thea St. Omer — Intern
- Eliza Thomas — Intern
- Daira Torres — Intern
- Alfonso Trinidad — Key Set Production Assistant
- Dana Wisher — Set Production Assistant
- Heathar Wynne — Set Medic
- Randall Balsmeyer — Title Designer
- Michael K. Reynolds — Chef
- John Arena Jr. — Driver
- Ralph Astarita — Driver
- Tom Buckman Jr. — Driver
- Bill Buckman — Driver
- Christopher Cilento — Driver
- Danny Houghton — Driver
- Joe Irwin — Driver
- Bob Lansing — Driver
- Leonard Luizzi — Driver
- John Lynch Jr. — Driver
- Joe Mallon — Driver
- George Moran — Driver
- John Raffone — Driver
- Ed Stewart — Driver
- Francis Volpe — Driver
- Louis Volpe — Transportation Captain
- Ralph Volpe — Transportation Co-Captain
- Ron von Blomberg — Set Decoration
- John Dunn — Costume Design
- Judy Chin — Makeup Artist
- Anthony J. Ciccolini III — Sound Designer
- Anthony J. Ciccolini III — Sound Effects Editor
- Drew Kunin — Sound Mixer
- Daniel Pagan — Sound Effects Editor
- Dominick Tavella — Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Ellen Lewis — Casting
- Laura Rosenthal — Casting
- Diana Schmidt — Co-Producer
- Jim Jarmusch — Writer
- Diana Schmidt — Unit Production Manager
- Jude Gorjanc — First Assistant Director
- Cindy Craig — Second Assistant Director
- Jessica Piscitelli — Second Second Assistant Director
- Lonnie Kandel — Production Supervisor
- Victor De Jesus — Production Supervisor
- Chaim Kantor — Camera Operator
- Douglas C. Hart — First Assistant Camera
- Katherine M. Butler — First Assistant Camera
- Christian Carmody — Second Assistant Camera
- Scott Maguire — Camera Loader
- Rick Raphael — Steadicam Operator
- Abbot Genser — Still Photographer
- Chiemi Karasawa — Script Supervisor
- Mark Schwentner — Gaffer
- Ray Flynn — Best Boy Electric
- Francesca Cobaco — Electrician
- Jon Delgado — Electrician
- Michael J. Maurer — Electrician
- Gary Martone — Key Grip
- Pedro Hernández — Best Boy Grip
- Rick Marroquin — Dolly Grip
- Tally Morse — Dolly Grip
- Chris Beattie — Grip
- Sean O'Brien — Grip
- Tim Kelly — Grip
- Josh Steinberg — Grip
- Kevin Meehan — Boom Operator
- Jeanne Gilliland — Cableman
- Neal Martz — Special Effects Makeup Artist
- Todd Kleitsch — Special Effects Makeup Artist
- Clifford Booker — Hairstylist
- Jeff Butcher — Property Master
- Shirley Belwood — Assistant Property Master
- Philip Saccio Jr. — On Set Dresser
- Nathalie Cassegrain — Art Department Coordinator