The Silence of the Lambs turns 30
Feb 20, 2021
The Silence of the Lambs was released 30 years ago on February 14, 1991. In this newly posted audio from a Museum talk in July 2019, you can hear the film's production designer Kristi Zea discuss making the Oscar-winning film and working with Jonathan Demme. Zea donated materials to our collection related to The Silence of the Lambs before the film opened, including concept art (shown above), along with the note “Thank you for your interest in the film. We are all hoping it is a success.” The film was a critical and commercial sensation, a riveting psychological thriller turned cultural touchstone. It won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director, and Adapted Screenplay.
Listen to a conversation between Zea and curator Barbara Miller: