The humid New Orleans air hangs heavy as two Supreme Court Justices are assassinated, their deaths shrouded in mystery. At Tulane Law School, the brilliant and fiercely independent Darby Shaw, portrayed by Julia Roberts, pieces together a daring legal brief, a speculative theory linking the assassinations to a powerful, shadowy figure. Her professor and lover, Thomas Callahan, a man with connections and a checkered past, recognizes the danger in Darby’s “Pelican Brief,” urging caution, but it’s too late. The brief has already landed on dangerous desks, attracting the attention of Washington Herald investigative journalist Gray Grantham, a seasoned reporter hungry for the truth, and the ruthless Fletcher Cole, an operative whose allegiances are as murky as the Louisiana bayou. As Darby and Gray delve deeper, uncovering layers of political corruption and corporate greed, they realize that someone wants the brief buried, and they will stop at nothing to silence them both. The stakes are impossibly high, the truth a deadly weapon, and time is running out.
Movie Overview
| Title | The Pelican Brief |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 1993-09-17 |
| Runtime | 141 minutes |
| Genre | Thriller |
Movie Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Julia Roberts | Darby Shaw |
| Denzel Washington | Gray Grantham |
| Sam Shepard | Thomas Callahan |
| John Heard | Gavin Vereek |
| Tony Goldwyn | Fletcher Cole |
| James B. Sikking | FBI Director Denton Voyles |
| William Atherton | Bob Gminski |
| Robert Culp | The President |
| Stanley Tucci | Khamel |
| Hume Cronyn | Justice Rosenberg |
| John Lithgow | Smith Keen |
| Anthony Heald | Marty Velmano |
| Nicholas Woodeson | Stump |
| Stanley Anderson | Edwin Sneller |
| John Finn | Matthew Barr |
| Cynthia Nixon | Alice Stark |
| Jake Weber | Curtis Morgan / Garcia |
| Casey Biggs | Eric East |
| Christopher Murray | Rupert |
| Sonny Jim Gaines | Sarge |
| Kevin Geer | K.O. Lewis |
| Joe Chrest | Song and Dance Man from Bar |
| Richard Bauer | Managing Editor |
| Ralph Cosham | Justice Jensen |
| Tom Quinn | Sara Ann Morgan’s Father |
| Michelle O’Neill | Sara Ann Morgan |
| Edwin Newman | Self |
| Helen Carey | Federal Clerk |
| Howard Shalwitz | Washington Herald Journalist |
| Carol Sutton | New Orleans Policewoman |
| Magee Hickey | Self |
| Ellie K. Wang | Reporter at National Cathedral |
| Franchelle Stewart Dorn | University Registrar |
| Karen Bralove | University Placement Clerk |
| Teagle F. Bougere | Male University Student |
| Carey Varner | Female University Student |
| Sandra Quarterman | Laura Kass |
| Cynthia Hood | Parklane Receptionist |
| Beverly Brigham | Safe Deposit Teller |
| Doug Coleman | Male Pursuer with Gun |
| Eliza Coleman | Female Pursuer with Gun |
| Carrie Boren | Reporter |
| Amber Nelson | Teen Bicyclist |
| Kelly Lynn Richards | Protester |
| Greta Valenti | Kid at Parade |
| Jerry Van Dyke | Assistant Coach Luther Horatio Van Dam in Coach (archive footage) |
| Harold Surratt | Parklane Security Officer |
| Shanna Connell | Tulane Law Student |
| Michael Port | Tulane Law Student |
| Gene Babb | Reporter |
| Kyle Duvall | Reporter |
| Karl Warren | Reporter |
| James Earl Reed | Reporter |
| Kyle Prue | News Desk Reporter |
| Jurian Hughes | White & Blazevich Receptionist |
| Peter Carlin | Edward Linney |
| Terrence Currier | Rosenberg’s Nurse |
| Jewell Robinson | Senior Washington Herald Editor |
| Kim Peter Kovac | Senior Washington Herald Editor |
| Norman Aronovic | Senior Washington Herald Editor |
| Carl Palmer | Cop in Cowboy Boots |
| Scott M. Jefferson | Lt. Olsen |
| Danny Kamin | Hooten |
| Mark McLaughlin | CIA Agent in Hotel Room |
| Robert Pavlovich | CIA Agent in Hotel Room |
| Constance Yelverton | Clerk at Sheraton Hotel |
| Kim Kettle | Gavin Verheek’s Wife |
| Alan Wade | Parklane Administrator |
| Paul Morella | White & Blazevich Attorney |
| Ed Johnson | White & Blazevich Security Guard |
| Dick Stilwell | White & Blazevich Security |
| Deborah Ben-Eliezer | Marie Halliburton – Protester |
| Catherine Boyd | Protester |
| Keith Fluker | Agent |
| Marianne Hettinger | Eyewitness |
| Joe James | Runner (voice) |
| Shane LeCocq | Mardi Gras Party Patron |
| Kimberley Roper | French Quarter Prostitute |
| Codie Scott | Man Partying in Quarter |
| William Shipman | Office Worker |
| Avo Shirazee | Teen Bicyclist |
| John A. Taylor | Law School Administrator |
| Jerry Van Dyke | Assistant Coach Luther Horatio Van Dam (archive footage) |
Storyline
In the heart of Washington D.C., Tulane law student Darby Shaw, a brilliant young mind, pieces together a legal brief connecting the assassinations of two Supreme Court Justices, a document she ominously titles “The Pelican Brief”. Her professor and lover, Thomas Callahan, initially dismisses her theories as far-fetched, but when he’s brutally murdered, Darby realizes she’s stumbled upon a dangerous truth that powerful people will stop at nothing to bury. Forced to go underground, she seeks help from Gray Grantham, a seasoned investigative journalist at the Washington Herald, who smells a Pulitzer-worthy story and potential scandal that reaches the highest echelons of power. As Darby and Gray delve deeper, they uncover a conspiracy involving a powerful oil tycoon, Victor Mattiece, and his influence on the appointment of judges favorable to his business interests. They are relentlessly pursued by a ruthless assassin named Khamel, hired to silence Darby permanently. Facing constant threats and betrayals, Darby and Gray navigate a treacherous landscape of political intrigue, corruption, and murder. With the FBI Director Denton Voyles seemingly compromised, Darby and Gray must work together to expose the truth to the world before they become the next victims, risking their lives to ensure that justice prevails and the forces behind the assassinations are brought to light, forever changing the course of American politics.
Details
In the heart of Washington D.C.’s legal and political landscape, *The Pelican Brief* unfolds as a gripping thriller, ignited by the assassination of two Supreme Court Justices. Darby Shaw, portrayed by Julia Roberts, a brilliant law student, crafts a legal brief outlining her theory behind the murders. This document, known as “The Pelican Brief,” lands her in the crosshairs of a deadly conspiracy that reaches the highest echelons of power. As Darby’s life is threatened, she finds an unlikely ally in Gray Grantham, played by Denzel Washington, an intrepid investigative journalist from the *Washington Herald*. Together, they navigate a treacherous maze of deceit, corruption, and murder, desperately seeking to expose the truth before they become the next victims. Their investigation leads them to uncover the involvement of powerful figures, including a shadowy operative, Fletcher Cole, played by Tony Goldwyn, who is tasked with silencing Darby permanently. The stakes escalate as they uncover a plot linked to a powerful oil tycoon and a clandestine agenda threatening the very foundations of the American justice system. With the help of sources like Thomas Callahan, Darby’s professor, portrayed by Sam Shepard, Darby and Gray risk everything to expose the truth, battling ruthless assassins and powerful enemies, all while racing against time to bring the conspirators to justice.
FAQs
“`html
What is “The Pelican Brief” about?
A law student’s brief about the deaths of Supreme Court justices leads her into a web of murder, corruption, and greed.
What genre is “The Pelican Brief”?
It is primarily a thriller.
Who are the main actors in “The Pelican Brief”?
The main actors are Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington.
When was “The Pelican Brief” released?
It was released on September 17, 1993.
What is the storyline of the film?
A law student discovers a conspiracy related to the assassination of Supreme Court justices and seeks help from an investigative journalist while being targeted by powerful, dangerous forces.
Who directed “The Pelican Brief”?
It was directed by Alan J. Pakula.
What is the runtime of “The Pelican Brief”?
The movie’s runtime is 141 minutes.
What was the budget for “The Pelican Brief”?
The film had a budget of 45 million US dollars.
What was the revenue generated by “The Pelican Brief”?
The film grossed 195,268,056 US dollars.
Is “The Pelican Brief” based on a book?
Yes, it is based on a novel by John Grisham.
“`
