Paul Krendler
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Paul Krendler is a fictional character appearing in the latter two novels in Thomas Harris's Hannibal Lecter series, The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. In the film adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs, Krendler is played by Ron Vawter. In the years between this film and the sequel, Hannibal, Vawter had died of AIDS, so he was replaced by Ray Liotta.
Krendler is an agent of the U.S. Department of Justice. In The Silence of the Lambs the FBI is attempting to track down serial killer Jame Gumb, also known as "Buffalo Bill." Jack Crawford has sent trainee Clarice Starling to interview Hannibal Lecter to gain a psychological profile of the killer. The case gains new urgency when Gumb kidnaps Catherine Martin, the daughter of a Republican senator. Crawford figures the best way to secure Lecter's cooperation is to offer him a transfer to another mental hospital, away from the ambitious and self-serving Dr. Chilton. Lecter accepts, but the offer turns out to be fake. Although Starling's meetings were supposed to be confidential, Dr. Chilton has been taping her conversations with Lecter, and he engineers his own transfer plan with Senator Martin, promising Lecter a transfer in exchange for Buffalo Bill's identity. Lecter accepts, and the case is taken out of the FBI's hands and placed under the jurisdiction of the Justice Department, led by Krendler. Gumb had been the lover of one of Lecter's former patients, so he provides truthful information about him, except for his name. The crucial evidence, however, he reserves for Starling, and it is she who tracks Gumb down, not Krendler.
Hannibal picks up after one of Starling's arrests, which results not only in the death of the suspect, Evelda Drumgo, but also a fellow field officer, a good friend of Starling, John Brigham.. Krendler is called in to investigate any reckless or negligent behavior on Starling's part, and sees this as an opportunity to destroy her career. The publicity that Starling receives attracts the attention of one of Lecter's former victims, Mason Verger, and he recruits Krendler in his scheme to incriminate Starling in a bid to lure Lecter out of hiding so that Verger can exact his revenge. To this end, Krendler plants incriminating (and forged) letters from Lecter, indicating an intimate relationship between him and Starling, and creating the appearance that she is withholding evidence from the FBI.
As planned, this scheme does attract Lecter's attention. In an attempt to contact Starling, Lecter is captured by Verger. Starling rescues him but is wounded in the attempt. Verger is killed by his sister, Margot, while Lecter takes Starling back to his rented home. Having figured out Krendler's role in the conspiracy, Lecter recruits Starling in avenging themselves on him. He kidnaps Krendler, drugs him, and performs a craniotomy upon him. Lecter and a drugged Starling then feast upon the brains of the alive-but-delirious Krendler. Krendler is eventually shot with a crossbow and killed.
For the film, this scene was slightly changed, with the feast happening after Lecter caught Krendler at his own vacation home. Also, Starling is not made to partake in eating his brain. Instead, Lecter feeds Krendler his own brain until he bleeds to death.
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The Hannibal Tetralogy |
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The Books Red Dragon | The Silence of the Lambs | Hannibal | Hannibal Rising The Films Red Dragon | The Silence of the Lambs | Hannibal | Hannibal Rising |
Main Characters Secondary Characters |
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The Directors Other |
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