13 Details in Silence of the Lambs That Many People Overlooked

      Here are some aspects of Silence of the Lambs that you may have overlooked, unless you are an avid fan or a bit eccentric.

      If you haven’t watched the 1991 classic, I recommend you do. Directed by Jonathan Demme, the film depicts young FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) as she is sent to engage with imprisoned serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to gain insight about a series of murders committed by Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). The movie is adapted from Thomas Harris's excellent novel and was written by Ted Tally.

      Now, here are 12 details from Silence of the Lambs that you might have missed.

      The ‘Bill Skins Fifth’ Article Is Actually About Hannibal Lecter, Not Buffalo Bill

      Orion – Credit: C/O

      In the opening minutes of Silence of the Lambs, while Clarice waits for Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) in his Quantico office, she examines the disturbing photographs and newspaper articles on the wall. One headline from the National Inquisitor stands out: BILL SKINS FIFTH.

      However, if you pause and take a closer look at the article, you'll find it isn't about Bill at all; it's about Lecter, detailing his arrest and background, along with quotes from both Lecter and Crawford.

      The creator of the news article for Silence of the Lambs either never thought anyone would scrutinize the text or is playing with us. We'll delve deeper into the article’s specifics shortly, as it’s quite peculiar.

      Clarice’s Political Views

      Orion – Credit: C/O

      Silence of the Lambs doesn’t overtly showcase any political leanings, yet its theme of compassion and strength against abhorrent adversity is universal. However, we get a glimpse into Clarice Starling’s beliefs during a brief dialogue when she first arrives at Crawford’s office.

      “I remember you from my seminar at UVA,” he says, referring to her university. “You questioned me quite intensely on the bureau’s Civil Rights record in the Hoover years.”

      While we can't be certain, the mention of Civil Rights likely refers to Hoover’s surveillance of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s one of many hints in the film about Clarice’s empathy and support for the marginalized.

      Lecter Provides Clarice With a Major Hint During Their Initial Meeting

      Orion – Credit: C/O

      Less than two minutes into their first exchange, Clarice inquires about one of the detailed pencil sketches in Lecter's cell. “That is the Duomo, seen from the Belvedere,” he replies. Lecter already knows that Jame Gumb — aka Buffalo Bill — resides in Belvedere, Ohio.

      A belvedere is a structure designed to capture specific views, in this case, the duomo, or cathedral, in Florence, Italy. “Do you know Florence?” Lecter asks.

      Not only is he giving Clarice a clue about Jame Gumb, but he might also be hinting at his own intentions if he were to escape Dr. Chilton’s confines: At the beginning of the Silence of the Lambs sequel, Hannibal, Lecter is found living in Florence, employed as a museum curator.

      Museum Curator

      MGM – Credit: C/O

      Speaking of museum curators, we previously mentioned elaborating on the “BILL SKINS FIFTH” article — which actually pertains to Lecter despite the Buffalo Bill headline.

      The opening line of the article states: “Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a medical and societal figure in Baltimore for many years, has been charged with the brutal murder of a museum curator at his home…”

      This is intriguing since Hannibal does kill a museum curator and takes over his job, but that occurs in the film Hannibal, which is set after Silence of the Lambs.

      In the TV series Hannibal, Lecter similarly kills a curator and assumes his role. Perhaps Lecter has a pattern of targeting museum curators.

      Crosses

      Orion

      After Clarice shares the tragic story that lends the film its title, Lecter sketches her alongside a lamb in his Memphis prison cell.

      His drawing features three intriguing crosses in the background. A perceptive Redditor noted that these resemble Coffindaffer’s Crosses, which a West Virginia native began erecting in the 1980s to spread Jesus’ message. These crosses likely refer to Clarice’s West Virginia heritage. Additionally, in the Bible, a lamb symbolizes Jesus.

      On a darker note, Jesus signifies resurrection, and this drawing could symbolize Hannibal’s revival after years of confinement. When Sgt. Pembry and Lt. Boyle bring Lecter his second dinner of lamb chops, Lecter bides his time by requesting Boyle to avoid placing his plate on his drawings. Boyle pauses to admire Clarice’s portrait.

      During this moment, Lecter is subtly picking the lock on his cuffs and soon after horrifically overpowers Pembry and Boyle