Title cards with the names of different characters are interspersed throughout the film to introduce flashbacks. According to production notes in AMPAS library files, writer-directorQuentin Tarantino wanted the film to feel like a book, with title cards acting as “chapter headings.” He named Stanley Kubrick’sThe Killing (1956, see entry) as a source of inspiration.
       Tarantino wrote the script in Oct 1990 while working as a video store clerk in Manhattan Beach, CA. Although he planned to directReservoir Dogs himself on a $10,000 budget, his friend, fledgling actorLawrence Bender, argued the project was too good to be made on such a low budget, as noted in a 2 Feb 1992LAT article, and asked to send the script to some of his Hollywood contacts, including acting coaches Lily Parker and Peter Floor. Tarantino originally intended to play “Mr. Pink,” and cast Bender as “Nice Guy Eddie,” but when Lily Parker sent the script toHarvey Keitel, Tarantino and Bender’s first choice for “Mr. White,” Keitel signed on to star and the scope of the project changed. Around the same time, Bender made a deal with executive producersMonte Hellman andRichard N. Gladstein, who agreed to finance the film through his LIVE America, Inc. The budget was estimated to be between $1.5 and $3 million.
      Harvey Keitel helped raise money for the production, and personally funded a casting trip to New York City, where Tarantino foundSteve Buscemi for the role of Mr. Pink. For “Mr. Blonde,” Keitel suggestedMichael Madsen, with whom he had co-starred in 1991’sThelma & Louise (see entry). As stated in several contemporary ...

Title cards with the names of different characters are interspersed throughout the film to introduce flashbacks. According to production notes in AMPAS library files, writer-directorQuentin Tarantino wanted the film to feel like a book, with title cards acting as “chapter headings.” He named Stanley Kubrick’sThe Killing (1956, see entry) as a source of inspiration.
       Tarantino wrote the script in Oct 1990 while working as a video store clerk in Manhattan Beach, CA. Although he planned to directReservoir Dogs himself on a $10,000 budget, his friend, fledgling actorLawrence Bender, argued the project was too good to be made on such a low budget, as noted in a 2 Feb 1992LAT article, and asked to send the script to some of his Hollywood contacts, including acting coaches Lily Parker and Peter Floor. Tarantino originally intended to play “Mr. Pink,” and cast Bender as “Nice Guy Eddie,” but when Lily Parker sent the script toHarvey Keitel, Tarantino and Bender’s first choice for “Mr. White,” Keitel signed on to star and the scope of the project changed. Around the same time, Bender made a deal with executive producersMonte Hellman andRichard N. Gladstein, who agreed to finance the film through his LIVE America, Inc. The budget was estimated to be between $1.5 and $3 million.
      Harvey Keitel helped raise money for the production, and personally funded a casting trip to New York City, where Tarantino foundSteve Buscemi for the role of Mr. Pink. For “Mr. Blonde,” Keitel suggestedMichael Madsen, with whom he had co-starred in 1991’sThelma & Louise (see entry). As stated in several contemporary sources and production notes,Eddie Bunker, who was cast as “Mr. Blue,” was an ex-convict in real life. Although Christopher Walken was listed as a cast member in the 11 Jan 1991Screen International, he did not appear in the film.
       Shortly before filming began, Tarantino participated in the Sundance Institute Director’s Workshop and Lab in early Jul 1991. There, he received creative input from veteran directors including Terry Gilliam and Jon Amiel. Two weeks of rehearsals followed.
       Principal photography was initially slated to begin 22 Jul 1991, according to a 12 Jun 1991DV item, but was delayed one week to 29 Jul 1991. The five-week shoot took place in Los Angeles, CA, where locations included a bathroom in the Park Plaza Hotel, a mortuary at Figueroa Street and 59th Street which doubled as the warehouse rendezvous point, and an embalming room in the same mortuary which stood in for “Mr. Orange’s” apartment. Set decorations included a poster and comic book for a made-up character, “Kamikaze Cowboy,” created by artists Manuel and Daniel Villalovos.
       The end of principal photography was announced in a 10 Sep 1991DV item, which claimed thatSeven Arts would distribute the film throughNew Line Cinema. However, a 7 Apr 1992HR news brief reported Miramax Films’ acquisition of North American distribution rights, and announcedReservoir Dogs would be screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
       WithReservoir Dogs still in post-production, a 23 Dec 1991Var item reported that Tarantino andLawrence Bender had formed A Band Apart Productions and negotiated a deal with Danny DeVito and Michael Shamberg’s Jersey Films to producePulp Fiction (1994, see entry), set to be Tarantino’s first major studio film.
      Reservoir Dogs debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on 18 Jan 1992. There, several screenings generated a lot of buzz, both positive and negative, as many viewers were reported to have walked out during violent scenes.
       As stated in the 12 Oct 1992LAT, the Los Angeles premiere took place on 8 Oct 1992 at the Hollywood Galaxy Theatre, with an after-party at the Roxbury nightclub.
       Critical reception was mixed. Reviewers consistently praised Tarantino’s directing style, but complained of the film’s violence. A 3 May 1994DV item noted accusations that Tarantino’s script plagiarizedCity on Fire, a 1987 Hong Kong film about a “robbery gone awry.” Tarantino dismissed the accusations, but admitted he was a big fan ofCity on Fire and had a poster of the film at his home.
      Steve Buscemi won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, and the film received Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best First Feature and Best Director.Reservoir Dogs also won first prize at the Avignon French-American Film Workshop, for which Tarantino received $10,000 of Eastman Kodak film, as noted in a 14 Jul 1992HR brief.
       Despite modest box-office returns of $2.8 million, as cited in the 12 Oct 2003South Florida Sun-Sentinel,Reservoir Dogs developed a cult following. Beginning in 1993, the film was screened regularly at midnight showings at the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles, as noted in the 30 Jan 1994LAT, and, later, in London, England, according to the 17 Apr 1995DV. Nearly ten years after the film’s release, collectible, seven-inch dolls modeled after Mr. Pink, Mr. White, Mr. Blonde, and “Mr. Brown,” were created by Mezco Toyz, which licensed the rights from Artisan Entertainment, Inc. The dolls debuted at the New York City Toy Fair, and Musicland retailers ordered the first 30,000 dolls, to be sold for $12-$15. Mezco had plans for more dolls, including the policeman “Marvin Nash” whose ear is cut off. Meanwhile, another toy company, Palisades Marketing LLC, planned to release its own line ofReservoir Dogs dolls later that year, as noted in a 13 Feb 2001WSJ brief.
       An unauthorized Bollywood version ofReservoir Dogs, titledKaante, was produced in 2002, according to a 15 Sep 2002Sunday Times (UK) article.
       On 5 Jul 2000, an article inThe Times (London) stated three teenage boys were charged with murdering their peer, fifteen-year-old Michael Moss. The accused claimed the crime was inspired byReservoir Dogs. The boys allegedly tortured Moss for two hours, in the style of the scene in which Mr. Blonde tortures Marvin Nash, and finally stabbed him to death. One of the defendants admitted to singing “Stuck In The Middle With You,” a song that played over the scene, during the assault.
       A 24 Oct 2012HR item announced the film, along withPulp Fiction, would return to theaters for two nights, beginning 4 Dec 2012, to mark its twentieth anniversary. Shortly before the reissue, on 20 Nov 2012, Miramax and Lionsgate releasedTarantino XX: 8-Film Collection, a home video career retrospective of Tarantino’s films on Blu-ray disc.
       End credits include the following statements: “Special Thanks: Greta Vonsteinbauer, Michelle Satter, Todd Thaler, Tony Safford, Becka Boss, Stephen Sacks, Cathryn James, Laurie Post, Mike Carlon, Alison Howard, Merry Cheers, Kenneth McGregor, Peter Flood, Lilly Parker, Harry Nilsson, Sundance Institute, Terry Gilliam, Ulu Grossbard, Tony Scott, Bill Unger and Stacy Sher”; “Promotional Thanks: Judy Garland & Associates; Quaker Oats; Mr. John Lieberman; NBA Properties, Inc.; Pepsi-Cola”; “Dog Eat Dog logo created byRoger Avary”; “The Kamikaze Cowboy: TM & © 1991, Poster & Collector Comic Books, courtesy of Daniel and Manuel Villalovos. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved; The Thing & The Silver Surfer: TM & © 1991 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved.”

In Los Angeles, California, Joe Cabot and his son, “Nice Guy Eddie,” organize a six-man jewelry heist. The six gangsters dress in matching black suits and use the following aliases: “Mr. White,” “Mr. Pink,” “Mr. Orange,” “Mr. Blonde,” “Mr. Brown,” and “Mr. Blue.” On the morning of the heist, the men gather at a diner. Over breakfast, they discuss the meaning of the song “Like A Virgin” by pop singer Madonna. The garrulous Mr. Brown argues the song is about sex with a well-endowed man who makes Madonna feel the same pain she felt when losing her virginity. When it is time to pay the bill, the anxious Mr. Pink claims he never leaves a tip, but the older, wiser Mr. White reprimands him for disrespecting hard-working waitresses. Joe Cabot, who pays the bill, forces Pink to tip, and they leave. Later that day, as they flee the botched heist, Mr. Orange writhes in pain in back of a car driven by Mr. White, who promises his wounded comrade that Joe Cabot will arrange for a doctor. At a warehouse rendezvous point, White lays Orange on the ground, and determines he was shot in the gut. Orange begs White to drop him off at the hospital, promising not to “snitch.” Mr. Pink bursts in, demanding to know what happened back at the jewelry store. He is convinced one of their men is a police informant, because droves of police swarmed the crime scene just one minute after the store alarm was tripped. Pink and White rehash the events of the robbery. White saw Mr. Brown shot dead by police, and recalls that Mr. Blonde began shooting employees when police ...

In Los Angeles, California, Joe Cabot and his son, “Nice Guy Eddie,” organize a six-man jewelry heist. The six gangsters dress in matching black suits and use the following aliases: “Mr. White,” “Mr. Pink,” “Mr. Orange,” “Mr. Blonde,” “Mr. Brown,” and “Mr. Blue.” On the morning of the heist, the men gather at a diner. Over breakfast, they discuss the meaning of the song “Like A Virgin” by pop singer Madonna. The garrulous Mr. Brown argues the song is about sex with a well-endowed man who makes Madonna feel the same pain she felt when losing her virginity. When it is time to pay the bill, the anxious Mr. Pink claims he never leaves a tip, but the older, wiser Mr. White reprimands him for disrespecting hard-working waitresses. Joe Cabot, who pays the bill, forces Pink to tip, and they leave. Later that day, as they flee the botched heist, Mr. Orange writhes in pain in back of a car driven by Mr. White, who promises his wounded comrade that Joe Cabot will arrange for a doctor. At a warehouse rendezvous point, White lays Orange on the ground, and determines he was shot in the gut. Orange begs White to drop him off at the hospital, promising not to “snitch.” Mr. Pink bursts in, demanding to know what happened back at the jewelry store. He is convinced one of their men is a police informant, because droves of police swarmed the crime scene just one minute after the store alarm was tripped. Pink and White rehash the events of the robbery. White saw Mr. Brown shot dead by police, and recalls that Mr. Blonde began shooting employees when police arrived. Pink corrects him, stating that Blonde started shooting beforehand. He suspects police were waiting outside, even before the alarm was tripped. Mr. White almost reveals his real name, but Pink stops him from sharing any incriminating information. Still reeling from the botched heist, Pink recalls shooting two policemen as he carjacked a getaway car. White also shot policemen. They agree Mr. Blonde should not have shot the jewelry clerks. They suspect he and “Mr. Blue” did not make it out alive. Pink reports he made it out with a bag of diamonds, and stashed them at a secret location. He does not plan to share them with everyone, however, until they determine who the “rat” is. White cannot believe Joe Cabot had anything to do with a set-up. Sometime earlier, Cabot meets with White, whose real name is Larry, to discuss the upcoming heist. He describes it as a difficult two-minute robbery which will take place during business hours, and require six men to steal a shipment of polished diamonds from Israel. Back in the present, Pink suggests hiding out at a motel, but White persuades him to stay until Cabot arrives. Meanwhile, Orange has lost consciousness. Larry worries he might not live, and feels personally responsible for his getting shot. He informs Pink that Orange wanted to be dropped at a hospital. Pink suggests they do it, since Orange does not know any of their personal information and cannot incriminate them. However, White confesses he told Orange his first name and where he is from. Mr. Blonde appears, acting strangely calm. White accuses him of being a “trigger-happy madman.” Blonde defends his actions, arguing that whoever set off the alarm deserved what they got. White and Blonde begin to tussle, but Pink breaks up the fight. Blonde leads them outside to his car, and reveals a policeman tied up in his trunk. He suggests his captive might help them determine the rat. Earlier, Blonde, whose real name is Vic Vega, reunites with Joe Cabot and Nice Guy Eddie shortly after being paroled. Blonde thanks Cabot for sending him care packages in prison and tussles with Nice Guy Eddie, a good friend. Blonde wants to come back to work, and Cabot offers him a job working with five other guys. Back in the present, Pink and White help Blonde beat up his police captive. Nice Guy Eddie arrives. When Pink tells him they were set up, Eddie refuses to believe it. He warns that his father is upset and on his way to the warehouse. Nice Guy Eddie enlists Pink and White to help him move the cars parked outside the warehouse and retrieve the jewels Pink stashed. He leaves Blonde with the policeman and promises to call medical help for Orange. White worries what the psychotic Blonde will do to the policeman when left alone. With only the dying Orange present, Blonde turns on the radio and dances to deejay K-Billy’s “Super Sounds of the Seventies” radio show as he removes a switchblade from his boot and slices off the policeman’s ear. Next, he douses him in gasoline and the policeman howls in pain. Orange revives, grabs his gun, and shoots Blonde dead. He identifies himself as an undercover cop. The mangled policeman, Marvin Nash, recognizes him as Officer Freddy Newandyke from an earlier meeting. Orange instructs Marvin not to move until Joe Cabot shows up. Earlier, Orange rehearses a fake story about a drug deal to tell Joe Cabot when he meets him. At a nightclub, he uses the story to impress Cabot, Nice Guy Eddie, and White, who enlist him to be part of the six-man crew. Cabot gathers the men together, assigns them aliases, and forbids them from sharing personal information. He goes over the plan to rob Karina’s Wholesale Diamonds: Orange will act as lookout, Brown will be the getaway driver, Blonde and Blue will provide “crowd control,” and White and Pink get the diamonds from the manager. Alone in a car together, Orange asks White what he will do if the manager refuses to cooperate, and White calmly explains his intimidation tactics. When the heist is thwarted, Brown is shot dead in the getaway car. White and Orange escape down an alley and steal a woman’s car at gunpoint. The woman shoots Orange in the gut, and he retaliates. White fails to notice when Orange exhibits guilt over shooting the innocent woman. Back in the present, White, Pink, and Nice Guy Eddie return to the warehouse to find Blonde dead. Orange explains that Blonde went crazy and was going to burn the policeman alive, so he shot him. Upset over the death of his friend, Nice Guy Eddie shoots Marvin Nash point-blank. Orange defends himself further by saying Blonde was going to kill everyone and steal the diamonds. Nice Guy Eddie doesn’t believe him. White defends Orange’s integrity, but Nice Guy Eddie stresses that Blonde has always been loyal to him and his father. Joe Cabot arrives, and fingers Orange for setting them up. White refuses to believe Cabot’s accusation that Orange is a police detective. Cabot confirms Mr. Blue was killed, and draws his gun on Orange. White steps in, and points his gun at Cabot. Nice Guy Eddie then points his gun at White. Pink tries to stop them all, but takes cover under a ramp. Simultaneously, everyone shoots and drops to the ground. Pink emerges unscathed, takes the jewels, and flees. Still conscious, White recovers his gun. He reaches for Orange, who is still alive after being shot a second time. As police sirens approach, Orange admits he is, in fact, a policeman. White cries and points his gun at Orange’s face, but police burst in and shoot him before he pulls the trigger.