The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)

After his mistress runs over a young teen, a Wall Street hotshot sees his life unravel in the spotlight and attracts the interest of a down-and-out reporter.

Trivia

The 330-second Steadicam shot of Peter Fallow arriving at the Palm Court of the Winter Garden was a tour de force for operator Larry McConkey. He had to track backwards, get on a golf cart, ride it for 380 feet, get off of it, track backwards 234 feet, get into the elevator, get out, and track for another 250 feet.

Steadicam operator Larry McConkey coordinated the complex, nearly 5-minute opening tracking sequence that included a cramped ride in a service elevator. It was the first of McConkey's collaborations with Brian De Palma.

Brian De Palma: In the opening tracking shot, dressed as a security guard, when Bruce Willis gets in the elevator. It was physically impossible for the camera crew and De Palma to stay off camera in that shot, so De Palma chose to do a cameo. To be unrecognizable, he shaved off his trademark beard.

The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) Elevator Scene

The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) Film Poster

Director

• Brian De Palma

Writers

Screenplay

• Michael Cristofer

Based on The Bonfire of the Vanities

• Tom Wolfe

Cast

• Tom Hanks as Sherman McCoy

• Bruce Willis as Peter Fallow

• Melanie Griffith as Maria Ruskin

• Kim Cattrall as Judy McCoy

• Saul Rubinek as Jed Kramer

• Morgan Freeman as Judge Leonard White

• John Hancock as Reverend Bacon

• Kevin Dunn as Tom Killian

• Clifton James as Albert Fox

• Louis Giambalvo as Ray Andriutti

• Donald Moffat as Mr. McCoy

• Adam LeFevre as Rawlie Thorpe

• Alan King as Arthur Ruskin

• Kurt Fuller as Pollard Browning

• Richard Libertini as Ed Rifkin

• Andre Gregory as Aubrey Buffing

• Beth Broderick as Caroline Heftshank

• Mary Alice as Annie Lamb

• Robert Stephens as Sir Gerald Moore

• Kirsten Dunst as Campbell McCoy

• F. Murray Abraham as D.A. Abe Weiss (uncredited)

Source: IMDB & WIKI