Fails the Bechdel test
American Gangster
2007. Directed by Ridley Scott, written by Steven Zaillian and Mark Jacobson.
The Bechdel test
Bechdel score
1 / 3
Fails
-
Yes
1. At least two women
34 women characters. 4 of them speak. -
No
2. Who talk to each other
Our parser found no scene where two women talk to each other. -
No
3. About something besides a man
Not reached: the film fails an earlier rule.
Second opinion
Agree bechdeltest.com readers give it 1 out of 3.
The film
Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs into the United States. As a result, his product is superior to what is currently available on the street and his prices are lower. His alliance with the New York Mafia ensures his position. It is also the story of a dedicated and honest policeman, Richie Roberts, who heads up a joint narcotics task force with the Federal government. Based on a true story.
- Released
- 02 Nov 2007
- Genres
- Biography, Crime, Drama
- Rated
- R
- IMDb
- 7.8 / 10
- Metascore
- 76 / 100
- Awards
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. 12 wins & 38 nominations total
- Elsewhere
- View on IMDb
Starring, by lines spoken
- Women
- Men
- Not in the cast list
- Bigger name, more lines
- Frank 205 lines, man
- Richie 184 lines, man
- Ana 32 lines
- Rivera 28 lines, man
- Toback 26 lines, man
- Trupo 25 lines, man
- Teddy 21 lines, man
- Tosca 21 lines, man
- Tony 20 lines, man
- Nate 18 lines, man
Full cast, 158 people
- Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas
- Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts
- Josh Brolin as Detective Trupo
- Chiwetel Ejiofor as Huey Lucas
- Cuba Gooding Jr. as Nicky Barnes
- Lymari Nadal as Eva
- Ted Levine as Lou Toback
- Armand Assante as Dominic Cattano
- John Ortiz as Javier J. Rivera
- John Hawkes as Freddie Spearman
- RZA as Moses Jones
- Yul Vazquez as Alfonso Abruzzo
- Ruby Dee as Mama Lucas
- Idris Elba as Tango
- Carla Gugino as Laurie Roberts
- Joe Morton as Charlie Williams
- Common as Turner Lucas
- Ritchie Coster as Joey Sadano
- Jon Polito as Rossi
- Kevin Corrigan as Campizi
- Roger Guenveur Smith as Nate
- Malcolm Goodwin as Jimmy Zee
- Ric Young as Chinese General
- Roger Bart as US Attorney
- T.I. as Stevie Lucas
- KaDee Strickland as Richie's Attorney
- Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Doc
- Norman Reedus as Detective in Morgue
- Kathleen Garrett as Mrs. Dominic Cattano
- Albert Jones as Terrence Lucas
- J. Kyle Manzay as Dexter Lucas
- Melissia Hill as Redtop
- Skyler Fortgang as Michael Roberts
- Bari K. Willerford as Joe Louis
- Warner Miller as Melvin Lucas
- Quisha Saunders as Darlynn
- Robert Funaro as McCann
- Tom O'Rourke as Banker
- Robert C. Kirk as Police Captain
- Tom Stearns as 2-Star General
- Jon DeVries as Judge James Racine
- Jim R. Coleman as Bailiff
- Lee Shepherd as Laurie's Attorney
- Gavin Grazer as Mike Sobota
- Linda Powell as Social Worker
- Roxanne Amandez as Paramedic
- Pierra Francesca as Stewardess
- Eddie Rouse as Detective at Party
- Maryann Urbano as Real Estate Broker
- Cedric Sanders as Serviceman in Cafe
- Jason Veasey as Serviceman in Cafe
- Roosevelt Davis as Army Captain
- Eric Silver as White Kid
- Saycon Sengbloh as Tango's Woman
- Conor Romero as Tough Teenager
- Daniel Hilt as Tough Teenager
- Daniel Farcher as Tough Teenager
- David Spearman as Civilian Cleaning Staff
- Maurice Ballard as Civilian Cleaning Staff
- Paul Doherty as Newscaster
- William C. Tate as Baptist Minister
- George Lee Miles as Frank's Lawyer
- Jason Furlani as Bailiff
- Chris McKinney as Reporter on TV
- David Wayne Britton as Army Colonel
- Tommy Guiffre as Medical Examiner
- Laurence Lowry as Paramedic
- Dan Moran as Army Captain
- Marjorie Johnson as Charlene
- Larry Mitchell as FBI Agent
- Chuck Cooper as Private Doctor
- Kevin Geer as Law School Professor
- Chance Kelly as MP
- Hamilton Clancy as Seller
- Sam Freed as Judge
- Joey Klein as Chemist
- Scott Dillin as 4th Amigo
- Anthony Hamilton as Funk Band Singer
- Sarah Hudnut as Assistant Prosecutor
- Jeff Greene as Metal Door Worker
- Tyson Hall as Drug Dealer
- Kirt Harding as Drug Dealer
- Bryant Pearson as Drug Dealer
- Al Santos as Mechanic
- Christopher A. Sawyer as Dealer
- Dylan Gallagher as Casket Loader
- Jehan-Pierre 'The Preacher' Vassau as Narc Officer
- Dawn A. Douglas as Narc Officer
- Robbie Neigeborn as Cop in Narc Headquarters
- Clinton Lowe as Man Arrested in Elevator
- Wilhelm Lewis as Head Wedding Photographer
- James Hunter as Deacon
- Neville White as Deacon
- Lonnie Gaetano as Prison Guard
- Jeff Mantel as Officer Walsh
- Serena Joan Springle as The Proctor
- Ron Piretti as Judge
- Nino Del Buono as Announcer
- Panama Redd as Policeman
- Arthur M. Mercante as Referee
- Fab 5 Freddy as Smalls Patron
- Jonah Denizard as Store Manager
- Steve McAuliff as Mounted Policeman
- Bill Richards as Helicopter Pilot
- Fatima Robinson as Dancer
- Celestine Rae as Dancer
- Monique Lea-Gall as Dancer
- Shannon MacMillan as Dancer
- Latonya Tolbert as Dancer
- Cicily Daniels as Dancer
- Sandra Park as Singer
- Yuri Kamino-Fennell as Singer
- Clarence Williams III as Bumpy Johnson (uncredited)
- Brian Albanese as Spectator (uncredited)
- Brian Keith Allen as Narc Squad Detective (uncredited)
- Ephraim Benton as Thug #4 (uncredited)
- Myo Campbell as Red Carpet Walker (uncredited)
- John Cenatiempo as Cop #1 (uncredited)
- J.W. Cortes as Narc Officer in Hallway (uncredited)
- Cris D'Annunzio as Frank McNamara (uncredited)
- Ernest Dancy as Hustler (uncredited)
- Michael Den Dekker as Undercover Cop (uncredited)
- Mark DiConzo as Soldier (uncredited)
- Kevin van Doorslaer as Student (uncredited)
- Monique Dupree as Club Dancer (uncredited)
- Joseph Ferrante as Gangster at Funeral (uncredited)
- Eddie Goines as Hallway Guy (uncredited)
- Kelvin Hale as Drug room door security (uncredited)
- Gabriel Hansen as Mechanic Drug Dealer (uncredited)
- Jermel Howard as Kid gangster #1 (uncredited)
- Hristo Hristov as Bookie / Soldier (uncredited)
- Atif Lanier as Frank Lucas Bodyguard (uncredited)
- Tina Lorraine as Harlem Junkie (uncredited)
- Artie Pasquale as Mobster (uncredited)
- Nick Poltoranin as Mobster (uncredited)
- Kevin Pinassi as Building Maintenance Guy (uncredited)
- Louis Rosario as Teenage Vandal (uncredited)
- Paula Rittie as Maid of Honor (uncredited)
- Billy Smith as Bookkeeper (uncredited)
- Aija Terauda as Nicky's Girl (uncredited)
- Tammy Vaughn as Diana Ross (uncredited)
- Philippe Vonlanthen as Skeet Shoot Handler (uncredited)
- Brad Lee Wind as Trupo's detective in library (uncredited)
- Ray Wineteer as Photographer (uncredited)
- Frances Mignano as Marie Saldano (uncredited)
- Joe James as Nicky Barnes Right Hand Man (uncredited)
- Nikolett Lemmon as Elevator Mom with Kids (uncredited)
- Mitchell Green as Tango Bodyguard
- Chuuch as Dealer (as William Hudson)
- Robert Wiggins as Piano Player
- Autavia Bailey as Dancer
- Janelle Cambridge as Dancer
- Marielys Molina as Dancer
- Kesha Nichols as Dancer
- Nefertiti Robinson as Dancer
- Krista Saab as Dancer
- Luis Salgado as Dancer
- Carlos Sierra Lopez as Dancer
Who talks, scene by scene
Lines of dialogue in every 6 scenes, start to finish. Women above the line, men below. 12% of lines come from characters we couldn't match to the cast list and aren't shown.
Women
Men
Scene 1 Scene 275
Hover, tap or tab to a bar to see those scenes: where they happen and who's talking.
Show the numbers
| Scenes | Women's lines | Men's lines |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 6 | 0 | 10 |
| 7 to 12 | 0 | 26 |
| 13 to 18 | 0 | 9 |
| 19 to 24 | 1 | 11 |
| 25 to 30 | 0 | 34 |
| 31 to 36 | 0 | 10 |
| 37 to 42 | 0 | 5 |
| 43 to 48 | 8 | 54 |
| 49 to 54 | 0 | 33 |
| 55 to 60 | 3 | 19 |
| 61 to 66 | 1 | 19 |
| 67 to 72 | 0 | 12 |
| 73 to 78 | 1 | 16 |
| 79 to 84 | 0 | 17 |
| 85 to 90 | 1 | 17 |
| 91 to 96 | 0 | 0 |
| 97 to 102 | 0 | 0 |
| 103 to 108 | 0 | 25 |
| 109 to 114 | 0 | 2 |
| 115 to 120 | 0 | 43 |
| 121 to 126 | 1 | 29 |
| 127 to 132 | 0 | 9 |
| 133 to 138 | 0 | 6 |
| 139 to 144 | 0 | 4 |
| 145 to 150 | 0 | 4 |
| 151 to 156 | 0 | 10 |
| 157 to 162 | 0 | 18 |
| 163 to 168 | 0 | 10 |
| 169 to 174 | 0 | 0 |
| 175 to 180 | 0 | 31 |
| 181 to 186 | 0 | 43 |
| 187 to 192 | 3 | 28 |
| 193 to 198 | 0 | 8 |
| 199 to 204 | 0 | 27 |
| 205 to 210 | 0 | 10 |
| 211 to 216 | 0 | 16 |
| 217 to 222 | 0 | 1 |
| 223 to 228 | 0 | 2 |
| 229 to 234 | 0 | 4 |
| 235 to 240 | 5 | 28 |
| 241 to 246 | 0 | 0 |
| 247 to 252 | 0 | 9 |
| 253 to 258 | 0 | 3 |
| 259 to 264 | 0 | 0 |
| 265 to 270 | 0 | 45 |
| 271 to 275 | 0 | 19 |
The evidence
- Straight from the script
- Counted from the script and the credits
Tap an exhibit to open it.
Exhibit A: every 100 lines
Out of every 100 lines with a known speaker, 3 are women's.
24 lines from women, 726 from men.
- Women
- Men
Exhibit B: who's in it
34 women and 94 men in the cast. 4 women and 45 men from it get lines.
Characters
With lines
- Women
- Men
Exhibit C: who gets heard
The first woman speaks at line 54 of 856.
The longest stretch with no woman speaking runs 185 lines.
Every line of dialogue, first to last
- First line by a woman
- Longest stretch with no woman speaking
Words spoken
Women speak 4% of the words (401), men 96% (9,096). Women have 3% of the lines, so their lines run longer than men's.
Exhibit D: the test the other way
Two named men talk to each other about something besides a woman. It passes the reverse test.
Conversations between two named characters
Two women
0
Two men
72
Exhibit E: behind the camera
2 of the 10 people in these jobs are women.
Across the whole crew, 24% of the people whose gender is listed are women.
- Directed by
- Ridley Scott (man)
- Written by
- Steven Zaillian (man)
- Produced by
- Brian Grazer (man), Ridley Scott (man)
- Shot by
- Harris Savides (man)
- Edited by
- Pietro Scalia (man)
- Music by
- Marc Streitenfeld (man)
- Production design by
- Arthur Max (man)
- Costumes by
- Janty Yates (woman)
- Cast by
- Avy Kaufman (woman)
The crew, department by department
-
Sound
5 women, 16 men, 7 not listed
-
Other crew
7 women, 12 men, 1 not listed
-
Production
2 women, 9 men, 2 not listed
-
Art
2 women, 5 men
-
Camera
0 women, 6 men
-
Costume & Make-Up
1 women, 3 men, 2 not listed
-
Directing
2 women, 3 men
-
Editing
0 women, 3 men
- Women
- Men
- Gender not listed on TMDB
Exhibit F: how old the stars were
Women: 29 on average. Men: 44 on average.
The top-billed cast, at the film's release.
Women
Lymari Nadal 29
Men
Chiwetel Ejiofor 30, Josh Brolin 39, Cuba Gooding Jr. 39, John Ortiz 39, Russell Crowe 43, John Hawkes 48, Ted Levine 50, Denzel Washington 52, Armand Assante 58
Exhibit G: the money
It made 2.7 times what it cost.
- Budget
- $100 million
- Box office
- $270 million
From TMDB, not adjusted for inflation.
About this analysis
Our parser read the script: 275 scenes and 856 lines of dialogue. The bechdeltest.com rating comes from that site’s readers. How the test works
