Directed by Michael Roemer • 1969 • United States
Starring Martin Priest, Ben Lang, Maxine Woods
A treasure of American independent filmmaking that was neglected for decades until its triumphant rediscovery, writer-director-producer Michael Roemer’s feature follow-up to his landmark NOTHING BUT A MAN is a wryly observed, delectably deadpan comedy set in the world of New York’s Jewish community and the small-time mobsters operating within it. After two decades behind bars, low-level racketeer Harry Plotnick (memorably cow-eyed Martin Priest) is released into a changed city he hardly recognizes. As he attempts to reconnect with his estranged family, he finds himself launched on a subtly surreal journey through an unfamiliar, middle-class world that seems to have no place for him.
Up Next in Comedies
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The World’s Greatest Sinner
Directed by Timothy Carey • 1962 • United States
Starring Timothy Carey, Gil Barreto, Betty RowlandTimothy Carey—the unforgettable character actor whose weird, wiggy energy brought a manic edge to classics like THE KILLING and PATHS OF GLORY—wrote, produced, directed, and starred in this outrag...
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Miracles
Directed by Jackie Chan • 1989 • Hong Kong
Starring Jackie Chan, Anita Mui, Gua Ah-lehJackie Chan pays homage to classic Hollywood spectacle in this 1930s-set gangster-musical romp. An inspired reworking of a Damon Runyon story (previously filmed twice by Frank Capra as LADY FOR A DAY and POCKE...
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They Call Me Bruce
Directed by Elliott Hong • 1982 • United States
Starring Johnny Yune, John Louie, Bill CapizziThis unabashedly goofball martial-arts spoof gave an Asian American comedian a rare chance in the spotlight. Stand-up comic Johnny Yune stars as a Korean immigrant living in California whom everyone ca...
