griffin dunne be bear into a cultural family . his father be a playwright and i think that his background have a lot of similarity with scorsese favorite and de niro . maybe that why he be so good in this because he look like such an ordinary guy . he be slightly more handsome than de niro but in a crowd he would totally melt in . the film be not one that scorsese have decide to film himself from an early stage but i think that without him it could have be a terrible bore . scorsese have a rapport with actor that be totally unique . that why so many of the actor in the movie give the best performance of their career here . let me name just a few represent1 ) rosanna arquette represent this and her performance in desperately seek susan go hand in hand here . she have be kind of lose since then but the way she play totally clueless and still manipulative be really superb . it also help that she be extremely hot . 2 ) catherine ohara represent her insanity be set in stone almost from the first time we hear her speak . it odd that she have be mostly know a a comedienne . 3 ) teri garr represent another comedienne . sidesplittingly funny in young frankenstein and here demonstrate an untapped range which have go unused to this day . 4 ) john hear represent his sinister personality be not apparent but you can almost feel that he be about to burst into a fit at any moment . it also funny to think that five year later and he and ohara would play the most loving parent to a boy who would be the big box office draw in the early part of the 90 . there be also a few cameo from actor who be primarily know in underground movie where scorsese start his career and even a few second with cheech and chong . so i will say that have scorsese not make so many other memorable film this would have be his crown achievement . it do have a few moment where it go a little over the top and like when we meet the character horst and play by perennial weirdo will patton and but those scene be such a small part of the whole that it can be overlook . for the most part it a fascinating experience and one that can never be duplicate .