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

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