The Bonfire of the Vanities is a 1990 American satirical crime drama film directed by Brian De Palma and based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Tom Wolfe. It stars Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith, and Morgan Freeman. The film tells the story of Sherman McCoy (Hanks), a wealthy and successful Wall Street bond) trader, who becomes embroiled in a scandal when his mistress, Maria Ruskin (Griffith), accidentally runs over a black teenager in the South Bronx.
The film follows McCoy's descent from grace as he is pursued by the media, the police, and the black community. He is eventually arrested and charged with murder, despite his protests of innocence. The case becomes a media circus, with McCoy and his lawyers portrayed as symbols of white privilege and the black community demanding justice.
The film also follows the story of Peter Fallow (Willis), a down-and-out journalist who sees the McCoy case as his chance to make a comeback. Fallow becomes obsessed with the case, and his coverage helps to fuel the media frenzy.
The Bonfire of the Vanities is a scathing indictment of greed, privilege, and racism in American society. It is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris and the importance of staying grounded.
The film was a critical and commercial failure, but it has since gained a cult following. It is considered to be a prescient satire of the greed and excess of the 1980s, and it remains relevant today as it explores themes of social inequality, media manipulation, and the corruption of the American Dream.
Cast
- Tom Hanks as Sherman McCoy
- Bruce Willis as Peter Fallow
- Melanie Griffith as Maria Ruskin
- Kim Cattrall as Judy McCoy
- Morgan Freeman as Judge Leonard White
- Saul Rubinek as Jed Kramer
- John Hancock as Reverend Bacon
- Kevin Dunn as Tom Killian
- Clifton James as Albert Fox
- 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
Director: Brian De Palma
Writer: Michael Cristofer
Box Office Gross: $15,691,192
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: December 22, 1990
