Dino De Laurentis was a Hollywood icon. An Italian producer whose career spanned over seven decades, he often stayed in the background, letting his directors take center stage. To most people, he's probably best known as the grandfather of Food Network celebrity and restauranteur Giada De Laurentis.
Okay what were we talking about? Dinosaurs or something?
Mr. De Laurentis produced it all; in 1986 alone, he produced the critically acclaimed Blue Velvet as well as the lowbrow King Kong Lives. From high end art house to low budget cheapies.
In case you were interested, here's Dino.
One film he produced that year was a disappointment at the box office, but attracted a lot of attention from critics- Manhunter, based on a book by a writer who Dino had high esteem for- Thomas Harris. The book introduced a chilling character who would haunt the nightmares of those who read of his murderous sprees- "Hannibal Lektor" (that's not a spelling error)
Yes, it's Hannibal Lektor- played by Brian Cox. Is he not as you remember him?
It's the young Gil Grissom, calling himself Will Graham.
Years before Silence of the Lambs, Dino had adapted the book Red Dragon into Manhunter, where Will Graham ventures into Hannibal's world to get insight into a horrific serial killer. The book had been dynamite. The movie not so much. The film failed at the box office and Dino put his option on the shelf. When Orion Pictures approached him three years later to rent the rights to the second Hannibal book for Jonathan Demme to direct, Dino eagerly jumped at the chance to salvage his investment. He let Orion use the rights for a pittance. The results were a bit different this time.
Now this looks more familiar...
Featuring a completely new cast and a new spelling for Hannibal Lecter's name, The Silence of the Lambs was a sensation, mainly due to the new Hannibal.
Brian who?
Anthony Hopkins made the character of Hannibal Lecter his own, making him a devilish psychopath who haunted everyone's dreams. Sir Hopkins elevated everyone in the production, carrying both Jodie Foster and the film all the way to the Academy Awards where they all won the major categories.
Now then, tell me what Miggs said to you?
This made Mr. De Laurentis angry at first. He had sold the rights for a pittance, assuming that it wouldn't be much of a success. Now he looked foolish. His anger subsided, however, after he realized that he still held the character rights. He produced two successful films- a remade Red Dragon, but with Hopkins as Lecter, and Hannibal, a sequel. In the end, things turned out quite well for him.
