Principal cast
Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare and Harve Presnell
Film 84 of 498 on the Screen Path
Fargo
A lot can happen in the middle of nowhere.
About the film
Fargo at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1996 film at stop 84 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
Jerry, a small-town Minnesota car salesman is bursting at the seams with debt... but he's got a plan. He's going to hire two thugs to kidnap his wife in a scheme to collect a hefty ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. It's going to be a snap and nobody's going to get hurt... until people start dying. Enter Police Chief Marge, a coffee-drinking, parka-wearing - and extremely pregnant - investigator who'll stop at nothing to get her man. And if you think her small-time investigative skills will give the crooks a run for their ransom... you betcha!
Key craft credits
Roger Deakins (director of photography), Ethan Coen (editor), Joel Coen (editor), Carter Burwell (original music composer) and Rick Heinrichs (production design)
- Director
- Joel Coen
- Release
- 1996-03-08
- Runtime
- 98 minutes
- Genres
- Crime, Drama and Thriller
- Country
- United States
- Quiz
- 51 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 51 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
51 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- Frances McDormandCharacter: Marge Gunderson
- William H. MacyCharacter: Jerry Lundegaard
- Steve BuscemiCharacter: Carl Showalter
- Peter StormareCharacter: Gaear Grimsrud
- Harve PresnellCharacter: Wade Gustafson
- John Carroll LynchCharacter: Norm Gunderson
- Kristin RudrüdCharacter: Jean Lundegaard
- Bruce BohneCharacter: Lou
- Steve ReevisCharacter: Shep Proudfoot
- Steve ParkCharacter: Mike Yanagita
- Gary HoustonCharacter: Irate Customer
- Sally WingertCharacter: Irate Customer's Wife
Full crew
Full crew
- Joel CoenCredits: Director, Editor, Writer
- Ethan CoenCredits: Producer, Editor, Writer
- Carter BurwellCredits: Original Music Composer
- Roger DeakinsCredits: Director of Photography
- John S. LyonsCredits: Casting
- Michelangelo Csaba BollaCredits: First Assistant Director
- James Alan HenszCredits: Second Assistant Director
- Donald MurphyCredits: Second Second Assistant Director
- Brian O'KelleyCredits: Second Assistant Director
- Jim BridgesCredits: Still Photographer
- Robin BrownCredits: Camera Operator
- Peter ClemenceCredits: Best Boy Grip
- Milo DurbenCredits: Dolly Grip
- Adam GilmoreCredits: Second Assistant Camera
- Andy HarrisCredits: First Assistant Camera
- Mitch LillianCredits: Key Grip
- Bill O'LearyCredits: Chief Lighting Technician
- Michael TackettCredits: Still Photographer
- T. KukovinskiCredits: Script Supervisor
- Steve SpeersCredits: Set Dresser
- Marko CostanzoCredits: Foley Artist
- Ezra DweckCredits: Foley Mixer
- Eugene GeartyCredits: Sound Effects Editor
- Lewis GoldsteinCredits: Sound Effects Editor
- Frank KernCredits: Foley Editor
- Glenfield PayneCredits: Sound Effects Editor
- Bruce ProssCredits: Foley Editor
- Steven VisscherCredits: Foley Editor
- Jery HewittCredits: Stunt Coordinator
- Christine SheaksCredits: Casting Associate
- Sandra DawesCredits: Extras Casting
- Tricia CookeCredits: Associate Editor
- Gilly RubenCredits: Unit Production Manager
- Robert GrafCredits: Location Manager
- Karen Ruth GetchellCredits: Production Coordinator
- John David PaulCredits: Assistant Art Director
- J. Todd AndersonCredits: Storyboard Artist
- Ed DallyCredits: Camera Loader
- Allan ByerCredits: Sound Mixer
- Peter KurlandCredits: Boom Operator
- Keenan WyattCredits: Boom Operator
- John BlakeCredits: Key Makeup Artist
- Daniel CuretCredits: Key Hair Stylist
- Michael BarryCredits: Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Rick HeinrichsCredits: Production Design
- Mary ZophresCredits: Costume Design
- Lauri GaffinCredits: Set Decoration
- Thomas P. WilkinsCredits: Art Direction
- Skip LievsayCredits: Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Eric FellnerCredits: Executive Producer
- Tim BevanCredits: Executive Producer
- John CameronCredits: Line Producer
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.