Top 36 The Silence Of The Lambs Movie Facts

Following is our collection of The Silence Of The Lambs facts. Handpicked and verified, these little-known details can be obscure enough most people will miss. These behind the scene easter eggs and hidden messages will give you another view of The Silence Of The Lambs film message.

Clarice fails an FBI drill by forgetting to look over her left shoulder when entering a room. Later, she misses a hint to her suspect's identity by making the same mistake.
Clarice fails an FBI drill by forgetting to look over her left shoulder when entering a room. Later, she misses a hint to her suspect's identity by making the same mistake.
In the Goodbye Horses scene Buffalo Bill IS WEARING A WOMAN'S SCALP.
In the Goodbye Horses scene Buffalo Bill IS WEARING A WOMAN'S SCALP.

The Silence Of The Lambs Trivia

These trivia from Reddit and other sources can be used as questions with answers in quizzes or games.

  1. In preparation for his role as Jack Crawford, Scott Glenn listened to the infamous Van Killers Tape the FBI uses to desensitize their agents. After a few minutes of listening, he broke down crying

The Silence Of The Lambs Easter Eggs

Hidden objects, characters, easter eggs, and their meanings are wonderful ways to discover the filmmaker's perspectives of any given movie.

  • The skull on the moth is actually made up of seven naked women and is inspired by 'In Voluptas Mors', a photograph of Salvador Dali posing next to the same skull.

The Silence Of The Lambs Hidden Details

1 - Hannibal Lecter tells Clarice that he ate a man's liver with fava beans and "a nice Chianti." All of these foods interfere with MAOI antidepressants, which are used to treat various personality disorders as well. In other words, Hannibal wasn't taking his meds.
Hannibal Lecter tells Clarice that he ate a man's liver with fava beans and "a nice Chianti." All of these foods interfere with MAOI antidepressants, which are used to treat various personality disorders as well. In other words, Hannibal wasn't taking his meds.
1 - Hannibal Lector gives Clarice the location of Buffalo Bill in there first meeting
Hannibal Lector gives Clarice the location of Buffalo Bill in there first meeting
1 - Buffalo Bill's tattoo on his chest is a bloody rib. Buffalo Bill believes he is transgender, but he was denied for reassignment surgery at three different hospitals. In the Bible, Adam gives his rib to make Eve so with the 'extra rib' it makes Buffalo Bill feel more female.
Buffalo Bill's tattoo on his chest is a bloody rib. Buffalo Bill believes he is transgender, but he was denied for reassignment surgery at three different hospitals. In the Bible, Adam gives his rib to make Eve so with the 'extra rib' it makes Buffalo Bill feel more female.
1 - Clarice withdraws her FBI badge before Buffalo Bill has opened the door and can see it. Earlier on in the film, Dr Lector points out that she isn't a real FBI agent, by looking closer at it's expiry date when she presents it to him.
Clarice withdraws her FBI badge before Buffalo Bill has opened the door and can see it. Earlier on in the film, Dr Lector points out that she isn't a real FBI agent, by looking closer at it's expiry date when she presents it to him.
1 - This scene where Buffalo Bill abducts the senator's daughter was inspired by the famous real life serial killer Ted Bundy who would wear fake plasts to make himself look weak while loading things into his car so as to lure victims.
This scene where Buffalo Bill abducts the senator's daughter was inspired by the famous real life serial killer Ted Bundy who would wear fake plasts to make himself look weak while loading things into his car so as to lure victims.

When Buffalo Bill is dancing and pretending to be a woman he's not wearing a wig, he's wearing the scalp from of one of his victims.

1 - A moth cocoon is removed from one of Buffalo Bills victims mouths. The "cocoon" is actually made of a tootsie roll exterior and a gummy bear interior, just in case the actress swallowed it.
A moth cocoon is removed from one of Buffalo Bills victims mouths. The "cocoon" is actually made of a tootsie roll exterior and a gummy bear interior, just in case the actress swallowed it.

Hannibal says he "ate [the census taker's] liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti". Pythagoras refused to eat fava beans as he thought they could contain the souls of the dead due to their texture being too "flesh-like".

When Dr. Chilton was describing Lector's gruesome attack on a nurse he said that "his pulse never went above 85". Later when Lector is in the ambulance about to attack the EMT, his pulse is 84.

1 - Hannibal Lecter gives away where Buffalo Bill by telling Clarice that his drawing is of "the Doumo as seen from the Belvedere."
Hannibal Lecter gives away where Buffalo Bill by telling Clarice that his drawing is of "the Doumo as seen from the Belvedere."
1 - After Clarice tells Dr. Lecter the story of her lambs, Lecter requests a dinner of lamb chops
After Clarice tells Dr. Lecter the story of her lambs, Lecter requests a dinner of lamb chops

When Clarice first meets him, Hannibal has sketched "a view of the Duomo from the roof of the Belvedere." Wild Bill is ultimately found in Belvedere, Ohio.

The primary clue used to solve the case was written on a map by Hannibal Lecter using a pen he stole from Dr. Chilton. The same pen he uses to escape.

1 - The way Lecter displays the guard he kills in Memphis subtly resembles a death's head hawkmoth. It's a clue he's leaving for Starling about the identity of Buffalo Bill, a moth breeder.
The way Lecter displays the guard he kills in Memphis subtly resembles a death's head hawkmoth. It's a clue he's leaving for Starling about the identity of Buffalo Bill, a moth breeder.
1 - The seemingly random final line of the scene between Hannibal Lecter and Senator Martin "one more thing senator... love your suit" references fact that Buffalo Bill uses the human skins to make suits for himself. ?
The seemingly random final line of the scene between Hannibal Lecter and Senator Martin "one more thing senator... love your suit" references fact that Buffalo Bill uses the human skins to make suits for himself. ?
1 - Hannibal Lector is reading Bon Appetit in his cell.
Hannibal Lector is reading Bon Appetit in his cell.
1 - One of the police officers serving dinner to Dr. Lecter uncovers a 'Bon App?tit' magazine just before Hannibal eats his partners face off.
One of the police officers serving dinner to Dr. Lecter uncovers a 'Bon App?tit' magazine just before Hannibal eats his partners face off.

Dr. Lecter states that Buffalo Bill thinks he is like a moth; going through a transition. After Buffalo Bill is killed his arms curl up like a dead insect, suggesting that upon death his transformation is complete

1 - Lecter's first appearance on screen is not actually the famous pan into his cell, but a minute earlier when he is seen on one of three security monitors, lounging on his cot.
Lecter's first appearance on screen is not actually the famous pan into his cell, but a minute earlier when he is seen on one of three security monitors, lounging on his cot.
1 - " when Clarice visits the home of the killer's first victim, a photo of the victim and her best friend can be seen next to a shepherdess watching over two lambs, symbolic of Clarice's role in protecting the young women targeted by Buffalo Bill.
" when Clarice visits the home of the killer's first victim, a photo of the victim and her best friend can be seen next to a shepherdess watching over two lambs, symbolic of Clarice's role in protecting the young women targeted by Buffalo Bill.
1 - Jack Crawford hands Clarice a questionnaire to give to Hannibal Lecter, the file name shown is VICAP. This stands for the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program which is a real unit of the FBI responsible for the analysis of serial violent and sexual crimes
Jack Crawford hands Clarice a questionnaire to give to Hannibal Lecter, the file name shown is VICAP. This stands for the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program which is a real unit of the FBI responsible for the analysis of serial violent and sexual crimes
1 - Slight hint that Clarice is right on spot before the "Freeze" moment (painting on the wall)
Slight hint that Clarice is right on spot before the "Freeze" moment (painting on the wall)

"That is the Duomo as seen from the Belvedere". More wordplay from Lecter.

1 - Hannibal probably wasn't taking his MAOI's. They are an older generation of antidepressants that aren't prescribed as often anymore but cool detail.
Hannibal probably wasn't taking his MAOI's. They are an older generation of antidepressants that aren't prescribed as often anymore but cool detail.

When Agent Mapp notifies Agent Starling of the phonecall, Mapp goes to grab Starling's wine glass but the man next to her grabs it first, startling Mapp.

The story from Clarice's youth with the lamb screaming foreshadows Clarice saving Catherine, except with a better result (explanation in comments)

When Hannibal Lecter is being transported, the plane that is used has the ID *NSIAN*, which looks a lot like the pronunciation of the word "insane"

1 - Clarice shoots out a window in the basement during the climax just so the audience can see what's going on.
Clarice shoots out a window in the basement during the climax just so the audience can see what's going on.

Anthony Hopkins misjudged how high the paper file was and missed it multiple times.

Clarice Starling finds racy photos in a music box belonging to the first Buffalo Bill victim, Fredrica Bimmel.

Anthony Hopkins misses the paper he's feeling for twice.

Cast and Details

Here are the full cast and crew of The Silence Of The Lambs. The goofs, crazy credits, and trivia they have performed may have not taken your attention. Some are hidden for a reason, while others randomly forgotten.

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