Sam Shepard as Dashiell Hammett

Judy Davis as Lillian Hellman

David Paymer as Arthur Kober

Laurence Luckinbill as Joseph Rauh

Zeljko Ivanek as Mel Berman

Bebe Neuwirth as Dorothy Parker

Alex Fallis as Bing Crosby

Stephanie Morgenstern as Studio Secretary

Bill Martin as Croupier

Barry Flatman as Man on Train

Toby Proctor as Delivery Boy

Maria Syrgiannis as Girl with Hammett

Stephanie Belding as Hospital Receptionist

Boyd Banks as Prison Guard

Ned Eisenberg as Bob Constantine

Barbara Gordon as Society Matron

Marie Dame as "Children's Hour" Actress #1

Sharon Bernbaum as "Children's Hour" Actress #2

Victor A. Young as Harvey Chernoff

Mark Zimmerman as Walter Winchell

Mark Ellis as Hollis

J. Craig Sandy as FBI Agent

Bob Land as Waiter

Paul Miller as Man at Airport

Roman Podhora as Chief FBI Agent

Ken Kramer as New York Lawyer

Peter Langley as HUAC Chairman

David Crean as HUAC Chief Counsel

Robert Buck as HUAC Committee Member

Yank Azman as Doctor

Caitriona Murphy as Nurse