Known for Directing
Robert Jonathan Demme (February 22, 1944 – April 26, 2017) was an American filmmaker, producer and screenwriter. He was best known for directing The Silence of the Lambs, which won him the Academy Award for Best Director. He also directed the acclaimed films Something Wild (1986), Married to the Mob (1988), Philadelphia (1993), and Rachel Getting Married (2008), as well as the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense (1984), which is widely considered to be one of the greatest concert films of all time.
Born
February 22, 1944
Died
April 26, 2017 (age 73)
Birthplace
Baldwin, Long Island, New York, USA
Filmography
129 films, 14 shows


The Power of Rock
2017 · 12m
country: Unknown
Oscar-winning producer and director Jonathan Demme's final film is just 12 minutes, but "The Power of Rock" is several lifetimes worth of music.


Protection Not Protest: The People of Standing Rock
2016 · 25m
country: Unknown
One of Jonathan Demme's last works, a 2016 short documentary hosted by Tavis Smiley.


Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids
2016 · 1h 30m
country: United States
In January 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the final nights of the "20/20 Experience World Tour", director Jonathan Demme captures what makes the show soar: gifted musicians, deft dancers and a magnetic star.


Ricki and the Flash
2015 · 1h 40m
country: United States
Meryl Streep stars as Ricki Rendazzo, a guitar heroine who made a world of mistakes as she followed her dreams of rock-and-roll stardom. Returning home, Ricki gets a shot at redemption and a chance to make things right as she faces the music with her family.


Another Telepathic Thing
2015 · 45m
country: Unknown
A live performance film documenting Big Dance Theater's production Another Telepathic Thing, a piece partially inspired by Mark Twain's "The Mysterious Stranger."


What's Motivating Hayes
2015 · 15m
country: United States
After Tyrone Hayes said that a chemical was harmful, its maker pursued him.


A Master Builder
2014 · 2h 10m
country: United States
A successful, ego-maniacal architect who has spent a lifetime bullying his wife, employees and mistresses wants to make peace as his life approaches its final act.


Enzo Avitabile Music Life
2013 · 1h 19m
country: Italy
Jonathan Demme helms this musical documentary that shines a light on the eclectic sounds of songwriter-musician Enzo Avitabile.


Neil Young Journeys
2012 · 1h 27m
country: United States
In May of 2011, Neil Young drove a 1956 Crown Victoria from his idyllic hometown of Omemee, Ontario to downtown Toronto's iconic Massey Hall where he intimately performed the last two nights of his solo world tour. Along the drive, Young recounted insightful and introspective stories from his youth to filmmaker Jonathan Demme. Through the tunes and the tales, Demme portrays a personal, retrospective look into the heart and soul of the artist.


I'm Carolyn Parker
2011 · 1h 31m
country: United States
A documentary about a survivor of Hurricane Katrina.


Joe and Linda Flooded Out of Holy Cross
2010 · 22m
country: United States
A heartbreaking, must-see Jonathan Demme documentary on a proud New Orleans couple coming to terms with their post-Katrina loss.


Neil Young Trunk Show
2009 · 1h 22m
country: Canada
The second of Jonathan Demme's three Neil Young performance docs.


Rachel Getting Married
2008 · 1h 53m
country: United States
A young woman who has been in and out from rehab for the past 10 years returns home for the weekend for her sister's wedding.


Jimmy Carter Man from Plains
2007 · 2h 5m
country: United States
A chronicle of the former president's tour recent for his book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid."


Neil Young: Heart of Gold
2006 · 1h 39m
country: United States
In March 2005, Neil Young was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. Four days before he was scheduled for a lifesaving operation, he headed to Nashville, where he wrote and recorded the country folk album Prairie Wind with old friends and family members. After the successful operation and recovery period, he returned to Nashville that August to play at the famed Ryman Auditorium, once again gathering together friends and family for this special performance.


The Manchurian Candidate
2004 · 2h 10m
country: United States
Years after his squad was ambushed during the Gulf War, Major Ben Marco finds himself having terrible nightmares. He begins to doubt that his fellow squad-mate Sergeant Raymond Shaw, now a vice-presidential candidate, is the hero he remembers him being. As Marco's doubts deepen, Shaw's political power grows, and, when Marco finds a mysterious implant embedded in his back, the memory of what really happened begins to return.


The Agronomist
2004 · 1h 30m
country: United States
Documentary on Jean Dominique, Haitian radio personality and human rights activist.


The Truth About Charlie
2002 · 1h 44m
country: United States
Regina meets charming Joshua while vacationing in Martinique, as she contemplates ending her whirlwind marriage to enigmatic Charlie. Upon her return to Paris, she finds that both her apartment and her bank account have been emptied, and her husband has been murdered. Stuck in ever-increasing danger and with four men pursuing her, another stranger offers assistance - but who can she trust?


Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000
2001 · 1h 40m
country: Unknown
The video kicks off from a 1978 performance of 'Rosalita' with a 29 year old Bruce wailing away with chicks jumpin' on the stage grabbing him! Lucky guy! The other songs featured include all the popular tunes like 'Born To Run', 'Born In The USA', 'I'm On Fire' and 'Glory Days'. Even some lesser known songs such as 'Spare Parts' (from 'Tunnel Of Love' album) and 'Tougher than the rest' from 'Tunnel Of Love' also which are both live. I like Bruce Springsteen a lot. He has the edge as a showman and musical innovator without losing the plot onstage. Fans will love this video for it's authentic live performances, music videos and classic Springsteen songs. Great


Storefront Hitchcock
1998 · 1h 17m
country: United States
Live performance by Robyn Hitchcock, in... well, a storefront.


Beloved
1998 · 2h 52m
country: United States
After Paul D. finds his old slave friend Sethe in Ohio and moves in with her and her daughter Denver, a strange girl comes along by the name of "Beloved". Sethe and Denver take her in and then strange things start to happen...


Subway Stories
1997 · 1h 21m
country: United States
An anthology of 10 stories depicting real-life incidents of subway riders in New York City, which range from compassion and love to violence and loss.


Neil Young and Crazy Horse: The Complex Sessions
1995 · 28m
country: United States
This half-hour documentary by acclaimed director Jonathan Demme ("The Silence of the Lambs") captures singer-songwriter Neil Young and his hard-rocking backing band Crazy Horse "live" in the studio playing a set of four songs. These sessions took place at the Complex Recording Studios in Los Angeles on October 3, 1994, just one day after Young's critically-lauded Bridge School Benefit concert. Earlier that year, Young and his band had recorded the studio album "Sleeps with Angels" at the Complex studios and came back to film a series of music videos. Jonathan Demme was there to document the recording session, which began at 6:30 pm on a Monday evening and concluded at 4:30 am the next day. "The Complex Sessions" is the result of these sessions. Set List: 1. My Heart (3:08), 2. Prime of Life (4:44), 3. Change Your Mind (14:56), 4. Piece of Crap (3:08).


Philadelphia
1993 · 2h 6m
country: United States
Two competing lawyers join forces to sue a prestigious law firm for AIDS discrimination. As their unlikely friendship develops, their courage overcomes the prejudice and corruption of their powerful adversaries.


Cousin Bobby
1992 · 1h 10m
country: Spain
Robert Castle is the idealistic pastor of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Harlem, and also the cousin of filmmaker Jonathan Demme. Demme's affectionate portrait of his cousin traces Castle's story, beginning with his first parish assignment, in New Jersey in the early 1960s, in an increasingly African-American-populated neighborhood rocked by violence and civil rights protests. The film raises intimate discussions of race, faith and family, while also showing Castle's daily routine as a pastor.


The Silence of the Lambs
1991 · 1h 59m
country: United States
Clarice Starling is a top student at the FBI's training academy. Jack Crawford wants Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath, serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism. Crawford believes that Lecter may have insight into a case and that Starling, as an attractive young woman, may be just the bait to draw him out.


Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter
1990 · 1h 28m
country: France
This music special is dedicated to dispelling the prejudices associated with the HIV infection and raising money for AIDS research and relief. Some of today's most celebrated recording artists performing their interpretations of the classic songs of Cole Porter.


Haiti: Dreams of Democracy
1988 · 52m
country: United Kingdom
This film captures a key moment in the country’s history, as its people celebrate the ousting of the authoritarian Duvalier regime. Music is central to the film, with performances from street drummers and politically engaged artists interwoven throughout, capturing the hearts and hopes of the Haitian people.


Married to the Mob
1988 · 1h 44m
country: United States
Angela de Marco is fed up with her gangster husband's line of work and wants no part of the crime world. When her husband is killed for having an affair with the mistress of mob boss Tony "The Tiger" Russo, Angela and her son depart for New York City to make a fresh start. Unfortunately, Tony has set his sights upon Angela -- and so has an undercover FBI agent looking to use her to bust Tony.


Swimming to Cambodia
1987 · 1h 25m
country: United States
Spalding Gray sits behind a desk throughout the entire film and recounts his exploits and chance encounters while playing a minor role in the film 'The Killing Fields'. At the same time, he gives a background to the events occurring in Cambodia at the time the film was set.


Something Wild
1986 · 1h 54m
country: United States
A free-spirited woman "kidnaps" a yuppie for a weekend of adventure. But the fun quickly takes a dangerous turn when her ex-con husband shows up.


Trisha Brown's Accumulation with Talking Plus Watermotor
1986 · 11m
country: Unknown
Demme captures the late choreographer Trisha Brown performing a meta-narrative dance work.


The Perfect Kiss
1985 · 11m
country: Unknown
A raw, live-in-studio performance of "The Perfect Kiss" by New Order.


Stop Making Sense
1984 · 1h 28m
country: United States
A concert film documenting Talking Heads at the height of their popularity, on tour for their 1983 album "Speaking in Tongues." The band takes the stage one by one and is joined by a cadre of guest musicians for a career-spanning and cinematic performance that features creative choreography and visuals.


Swing Shift
1984 · 1h 40m
country: United States
In 1941 America, Kay and her husband are happy enough until he enlists after Pearl Harbor. Against his wishes, she takes a job at the local aircraft plant where she meets Hazel, the singer from across the way. The two soon become firm friends and with the other girls become increasingly expert workers. As the war drags on, Kay finally dates her trumpet-playing foreman and life gets more complicated.


Who Am I This Time?
1982 · 53m
country: United States
Harry is a shy hardware store employee. But whenever he takes a part in a local amateur theater production, he becomes the part completely--while on stage. Helene is new in town, a lonely itinerant telephone company employee. On a whim, she auditions for and gets the part of Stella to Harry's Stanley when the theater group performs A Streetcar Named Desire. Before anyone realizes the growing affection between Helene and Stanley, she falls deeply in love with the sexy brute, not knowing what the real man is like.


Melvin and Howard
1980 · 1h 35m
country: United States
The story of hard-luck Melvin Dummar, who claimed to have received a will naming him an heir to the fortune of Howard Hughes. Inspired by real events.


Last Embrace
1979 · 1h 42m
country: United States
Secret agent Harry Hannan suffers a mental breakdown when a botched mission in Mexico results in the death of his wife. He is sent to a mental asylum, after which he eventually returns to work. But, once again, he begins to doubt his sanity when he receives a bizarre death threat written in Hebrew. Not knowing which of his colleagues wants to kill him, Hannan teams up with pretty young college student Ellie Fabian to attempt to unravel the mystery.


Citizens Band
1977 · 1h 38m
country: United States
The interlaced stories of several characters in a small town united by their use of CB (citizen's band) radio.


Fighting Mad
1976 · 1h 30m
country: United States
An evil corporation tries to pressure a bunch of Arkansas farmers and ranchers to sell their land so they can strip-mine it for coal. The fiercely proud and stubborn Hunter family refuse to give in. This leads to a bitter conflict that results in several casualties. Eventually the take-charge no-nonsense Tom Hunter exacts a harsh revenge on the villains with the help of his bow and arrow.


Crazy Mama
1975 · 1h 23m
country: United States
Melba Stokes, her mother Sheba and daughter Cheryl embark on a crime spree after their California beauty parlor is repossessed. Their destination is Arkansas, where the three generations of women want to reclaim the family farm.


Caged Heat
1974 · 1h 23m
country: United States
A young woman is convicted on drug offenses and sent to a women's penitentiary run by a repressed and oppressive female warden. When the prison's sadistic doctor begins conducting illegal "therapeutic" experiments on the inmates, the ladies plot their revenge.