Bang the Drum Slowly 1973  PG, 96 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: John D. Hancock
Cast: Robert De Niro, Michael Moriarty, Vincent Gardenia, Phil Foster, Ann Wedgeworth, Patrick McVey, Danny Aiello, Barbara Babcock, Barton Heyman, Heather MacRae, Danny Burks, Selma Diamond, Maurice Rosenfield, Tom Signorelli, Marshall Efron
"Just one more season," is what Bruce Pearson (Robert De Niro) wants. He is a baseball catcher who knows that he has a fatal disease.
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 Death Wish 1974  R, 93 min.
Genre: Action
Director: Michael Winner
Cast: Charles Bronson, Hope Lange, Vincent Gardenia, Jeff Goldblum, Steven Keats, William Redfield, Stuart Margolin, Stephen Elliott, Olympia Dukakis, Christopher Guest, Kathleen Tolan, Jack Wallace
When a liberal architect's (Charles Bronson) wife (Hope Lange) is murdered and his daughter (Kathleen Tolan) is terrorized into a comatose state by muggers, he takes the law into his own hands and becomes an urban vigilante. A fascinating, almost terrifying, statement about gun control laws.
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Death Wish II 1982  R, 91 min.
Genre: Action
Director: Michael Winner
Cast: Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Vincent Gardenia, J.D. Cannon, Anthony Franciosa, Robert F. Lyons, Ben Frank, Robin Sherwood, Laurence Fishburne
Charles Bronson is back as the urban vigilante; this time his daughter has been killed, and he hits the streets again. His lovely, real-life wife, the late Jill Ireland, plays the woman he loves. A disappointing sequel.
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Fire Sale 1977 PG, 88 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Alan Arkin
Cast: Alan Arkin, Rob Reiner, Vincent Gardenia, Anjanette Comer, Kay Medford, Sid Caesar, Barbara Dana, Alex Rocco, Richard Libertini
The Fikus family owns a retail business and has opted for the crime of arson to collect insurance money on their store. Anything worse than Bomb? If so, here it is.
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Firepower 1979  R, 100 min.
Genre: Adventure
Director: Michael Winner
Cast: Sophia Loren, James Coburn, O.J. Simpson, Eli Wallach, Anthony Franciosa, George Grizzard, Vincent Gardenia, Fred Stuthman, Billy Barty, Dominic Chianese
As Adele Tasca (Sophia Loren) seeks revenge for her husband's murder, her search leads to the Caribbean where the villain, a tycoon, hides out. While the plot lacks insight, the scenery is gorgeous.
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The Front Page 1974 PG, 105 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Billy Wilder
Cast: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Carol Burnett, Susan Sarandon, Vincent Gardenia, David Wayne, Allen Garfield, Charles Durning, Martin Gabel, Harold Gould
This is the third filming (the 1940 version was titled "His Girl Friday") of the Ben Hecht-Charles MacArthur play about the intrigue in a Chicago pressroom as news of a jail break brings matters to a head in this excellent comedy/drama. Again remade in 1988 as "Switching Channels."
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 Heaven Can Wait 1978 PG, 110 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Warren Beatty, Buck Henry
Cast: Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, James Mason, Jack Warden, Dyan Cannon, Buck Henry, Charles Grodin, Vincent Gardenia, Joseph Maher, Hamilton Camp, Arthur Malet, Harry D.K. Wong, Stephanie Faracy, Jeannie Linero, George J. Manos
Whoops! Due to some bungling by an overzealous angel (Buck Henry), L.A. Rams football star Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty) dies before he is supposed to. Joe's body is cremated before the error can be corrected, and, to make up for the error, archangel Mr. Jordan (James Mason) offers to place his soul in the body of Leo Farnsworth whose wife Julia (Dyan Cannon) and secretary Tony Abbott (Charles Grodin) have plotted his demise. Environmentalist Betty Logan (Julie Christie) convinces Joe to assume Leo's body, and, because he is attracted to her, he agrees. The deed is done. Joe hires his coach Max Corkle (Jack Warden) to get him in shape, straightens out Farnsworth's affairs, and struggles to get on the Rams' line-up. Meanwhile, Julia and Tony, who are sure they murdered Farnsworth, are trying to figure out just what is happening. The film won an Oscar for Best Art Direction and was nominated for eight others, including Best Picture, Actor (Beatty), Supporting Actor (Warden), Supporting Actress (Cannon), and Director.
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Home Movies 1979 PG, 90 min.
Genre: Comedy
aka: The Maestro
Director: Brian De Palma
Cast: Kirk Douglas, Nancy Allen, Keith Gordon, Gerrit Graham, Vincent Gardenia, Mary Davenport, Loretta Tupper, Captain Haggerty, Theresa Saldana, Kari Borg
Egomaniacal Dr. Tuttle (Kirk Douglas) leads the Star Therapy Cult. A film student (Keith Gordon) gets advice from Dr. Tuttle on how to live his mixed-up life.
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 The Hustler 1961   N/R, 135 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Robert Rossen
Cast: Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Murray Hamilton, Michael Constantine, Stefan Gierasch, Jake LaMotta, Vincent Gardenia, Myron McCormick, Clifford A. Pellow, Gordon B. Clarke, Alexander Rose, William Duell, Charles Dierkop
Paul Newman plays pool shark "Fast" Eddie Felson who yearns to beat Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) for the thrill of hitting the big time instead of hustling in sleazy pool halls. Minnesota Fats: "No bar, no pinball machine. Just pool. This here is Ames, son." The story involves Eddie's match with Minnesota Fats and also covers his romance with alcoholic Sarah (Piper Laurie), his teaming up with backer Bert Gordon (George C. Scott), and the tragic trip to Louisville for a big match with Findlay (Murray Hamilton). The film received Oscar nominations in all of the top six categories (nine total), but won only two: Best Art Direction/Set Decoration and Cinematography. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | Don Nunn 08/20/2007 | | terrific pool movie |
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Il Grande Racket 1976  N/R, 105 min.
Genre: Foreign / Action / Drama
aka: The Big Racket
Director: Enzo G. Castellari
Cast: Fabio Testi, Vincent Gardenia, Renzo Palmer, Orso Maria Guerrini, Glauco Onorato, Sal Borgese, Romano Puppo, Antonio Marsina, Daniele Dublino, Massimo Vanni, Salvatore Billa, Joshua Sinclair, Marcella Michelangeli, Roberto Dell'Acqua
Rome police Inspector Nico Palmieri (Fabio Testi) uncovers the work of racketeers in his home town but has problems because the citizens live in terror of the vicious gang. Just as Palmieri closes in, he is fired. Forced to take matters into his own hands, Palmieri gives the gang a lesson in street justice when he and his own newly formed gang raid the meeting of mob bosses, and a bloody massacre ensues. "The Big Racket" is the title of the English-dubbed version.
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The Last Flight of Noah's Ark 1980 G, 97 min.
Genre: Family / Adventure
Director: Charles Jarrott
Cast: Elliott Gould, Genevieve Bujold, Rick Schroder, Vincent Gardenia, Tammy Lauren, John Fujioka, Yuki Shimoda, John P. Ryan, Dana Elcar, Ruth Manning, Austin Willis, Peter Renaday
Following their forced landing on a Pacific island, Noah Dugan (Elliott Gould) is faced with the dilemma of how to survive with two stow-away kids and a cargo of animals. The solution is to convert the plane into a seaworthy vessel and sail home. Fair Disney.
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Little Murders 1971 PG, 110 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Alan Arkin
Cast: Elliott Gould, Marcia Rodd, Vincent Gardenia, Elizabeth Wilson, Jon Korkes, John Randolph, Doris Roberts, Donald Sutherland, Lou Jacobi, Alan Arkin
This Jules Feiffer comedy, set in a depressing atmosphere of urban blight, features Elliott Gould as Alfred Chamberlain whose wife is murdered on their wedding night, which leads to Alfred falling into a "new" world as an assassin.
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 Little Shop of Horrors 1986 PG-13, 88 min.
Genre: Comedy / Horror / Sci-Fi / Musical
Director: Frank Oz
Cast: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, James Belushi, John Candy, Bill Murray, Christopher Guest, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Michelle Weeks, Levi Stubbs, Stan Jones, Bertice Reading, Ed Wiley
An orphan, Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis), is working in Mr. Mushnik's (Vincent Gardenia) flower shop when he finds a mysterious plant that he names Audrey II–after Audrey (Ellen Greene) on whom he has a crush. The plant sings for its supper. The problem is that Audrey II requires human flesh to live. Seymour uses Audrey's boyfriend Dr. Orin Scrivello (Steve Martin) as the source of food for Audrey II. After Orin dies, Seymour realizes the dangers wrought by Audrey II, and he and Audrey try to defeat Audrey II before it takes over the world. This film has good music, enough humor to please almost anyone, and is a good remake of the 1960 classic.
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Mad Dog Coll 1961  N/R, 88 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Burt Balaban
Cast: John Davis Chandler, Neil Nephew, Brooke Hayward, Joy Harmon, Jerry Orbach, Telly Savalas, Kay Doubleday, Vincent Gardenia, Gene Hackman, Ron Weyand
This is the biography of the life of Vincent Coll (John Davis Chandler) and his career as a mobster who moves in on gangster families' territories in New York City.
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 Moonstruck 1987 PG, 103 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Director: Norman Jewison
Cast: Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, Vincent Gardenia, Danny Aiello, John Mahoney, Julie Bovasso, Louis Guss, Joe Grifasi, Anita Gillette, Leonardo Cimino, Feodor Chaliapin Jr., Nada Despotovich, Helen Hanft, Robin Bartlett
Loretta (Cher) is a superstitious woman who feels that bad luck has caused her tragedies in life. She accepts Johnny Commarari's (Danny Aiello) marriage proposal because she wants the security of a husband. After Johnny leaves for a trip to Sicily to visit his dying mother, Loretta meets his brother Ronny (Nicholas Cage), and she finds the great love of her life. Cher and Olympia Dukakis (in the role of Loretta's mother) won Oscars for this film, as did the Writing-Screenplay. Nominations were received for Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Vincent Gardenia as Loretta's father) and Director.
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Movers and Shakers 1985  PG, 80 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: William Asher
Cast: Walter Matthau, Charles Grodin, Vincent Gardenia, Tyne Daly, Bill Macy, Gilda Radner, Steve Martin, Penny Marshall, Michael Lerner, William Prince
In this satire of the Hollywood scene, producer Joe Mulholland (Walter Matthau) buys the rights to a property and then hires Herb Derman (Charles Grodin) to write the script.
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Murder, Inc. 1960 N/R, 103 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Burt Balaban
Cast: Stuart Whitman, May Britt, Henry Morgan, Peter Falk, David J. Stewart, Simon Oakland, Sarah Vaughan, Morey Amsterdam, Warren Finnerty, Vincent Gardenia
Peter Falk earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in this true-life story. Falk plays the notorious Abe "Kid Twist" Reles who enjoyed the dubious honor of being named his crime syndicate's #1 killer.
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Skin Deep 1989 R, 102 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Blake Edwards
Cast: John Ritter, Vincent Gardenia, Alyson Reed, Julianne Phillips, Chelsea Field, Peter Donat, Don Gordon, Nina Foch, Denise Crosby, Michael Kidd
An alcoholic writer (John Ritter), constantly on the make, finds a new target in his wife's hairdresser (Julianne Phillips). His wife (Alyson Reed) finds out, and husband is out.
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The Super 1991 R, 84 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Rod Daniel
Cast: Joe Pesci, Vincent Gardenia, Madolyn Smith-Osborne, Ruben Blades, Stacey Travis, Carole Shelley, Kenny Blank, Paul Benjamin, Beatrice Winde, Carol Jean Lewis, Anthony Heald, Jack Hallett
Wealthy slumlord Louie Kritski (Joe Pesci) owns a rundown tenement building to which the court orders him to make needed repairs. But when he is also ordered to take up residence in the building for 120 days, Louie gets a firsthand look at life on the other side of the tracks.
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The Tragedy of Flight 103: The Inside Story 1990 TV, 89 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Leslie Woodhead
Cast: Vincent Gardenia, Ned Beatty, Peter Boyle, Michael Wincott, Timothy West, Harry Ditson, Aharon Ipale, Sean Pertwee, Sasson Gabai
Pan Am flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, in December 1988. This is the story of the events that led up to the bombing by terrorists. A good made-for-Cable TV effort.
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Where's Poppa? 1970 R, 82 min.
Genre: Comedy
aka: Going Ape
Director: Carl Reiner
Cast: George Segal, Ruth Gordon, Ron Leibman, Trish Van Devere, Barnard Hughes, Vincent Gardenia, Paul Sorvino, Rob Reiner, Rae Allen, Joe Keyes
This cult film involves Gordon Hocheiser's (George Segal) attempts to induce a heart attack in his nagging, senile mother (Ruth Gordon). Sick, but fun if you like that kind of humor.
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| 1. Bang the Drum Slowly (1973)
2. The Dark Mirror (1984)
3. Death Wish (1974)
4. Death Wish II (1982)
5. Fire Sale (1977)
6. Firepower (1979)
7. The Front Page (1974)
8. Greased Lightning (1977)
9. Heaven Can Wait (1978)
10. Home Movies (1979)
aka: The Maestro
11. The Hustler (1961)
12. Il Grande Racket (1976)
aka: The Big Racket
13. The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980)
14. Little Murders (1971)
15. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
16. Lucky Luciano (1974)
17. Mad Dog Coll (1961)
18. Moonstruck (1987)
19. Movers and Shakers (1985)
20. Murder, Inc. (1960)
21. Skin Deep (1989)
22. The Super (1991)
23. The Tragedy of Flight 103: The Inside Story (1990)
24. Where's Poppa? (1970)
aka: Going Ape
In The News
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