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The Pawnbroker (1964)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
20 April 1965 (USA)
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Tagline:
The Most Talked About Picture!
Plot:
A Jewish pawnbroker, victim of Nazi persecution, loses all faith in his fellow man until he realizes too late the tragedy of his actions. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Concentration Camp
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Nazi
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Jewish
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Pawnbroker
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Lawnmower
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Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 7 wins
&
5 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
The Pawnbroker Movie Review
(From MoviesOnline. 22 April 2009, 8:00 PM, PDT)
The Pawnbroker Movie Review
(From MoviesOnline. 19 April 2009, 8:00 PM, PDT)
(From MoviesOnline. 22 April 2009, 8:00 PM, PDT)
The Pawnbroker Movie Review
(From MoviesOnline. 19 April 2009, 8:00 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Visually stunning, provocative drama.
more (54 total)
Cast
(Complete credited cast) | Rod Steiger | ... | Sol Nazerman |
 | Geraldine Fitzgerald | ... | Marilyn Birchfield |
 | Brock Peters | ... | Rodriguez |
 | Jaime Sánchez | ... | Jesus Ortiz (as Jaime Sanchez) |
| Thelma Oliver | ... | Ortiz' Girl |
| Marketa Kimbrell | ... | Tessie |
| Baruch Lumet | ... | Mendel |
| Juano Hernandez | ... | Mr. Smith |
| Linda Geiser | ... | Ruth |
| Nancy R. Pollock | ... | Bertha |
| Raymond St. Jacques | ... | Tangee |
| John McCurry | ... | Buck |
| Ed Morehouse | ... | Robinson |
| Eusebia Cosme | ... | Mrs. Ortiz |
| Warren Finnerty | ... | Savarese |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
116 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:12 |
Canada:R (Ontario) |
Norway:16 |
UK:12 (1998) |
UK:X (1965) |
Finland:K-16 |
Sweden:15 |
West Germany:16 (bw) |
USA:Approved
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
In a 1999 interview with Robert Osborne, Rod Steiger said he based the silent scream at the end of the film on the faces in Pablo Picasso's masterpiece "Guernica".
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Goofs:
Continuity: As Jesus runs down the street, his shirt changes from a V-neck to a turtle neck, and then back again.
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Quotes:
Sol Nazerman:
I do not believe in God, or art, or science, or newspapers, or politics, or philosophy.
Jesus Ortiz: Then, Mr. Teacher, ain't there nothing you do believe in?
Sol Nazerman: Money.
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Jesus Ortiz: Then, Mr. Teacher, ain't there nothing you do believe in?
Sol Nazerman: Money.
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Movie Connections:
Featured in Indie Sex: Censored (2007) (TV)
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Soundtrack:
Soul Bossa Nova
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (54 total)
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Powerful drama centering around elderly NYC slum-area pawnbroker (Rod Steiger in Oscar nominated performance), tormented by his painful memories of Nazi concentration camp nightmare. Embittered, he brushes off all friendly people in his life, insisting that nothing matters and emotions are wasted.
Apparently "playing the system" for years, allowing king-pin thugs to use his store as a money laundering "front", while collecting his "cut", the no-nonsense pawnbroker is suddenly plagued by flashbacks, showing how his young wife and son are killed, and at once wanting to stop the evil workings of his hoodloom infested slum neighborhood. When the young "apprentice" he hired lays his own life on the line to protect him from being shot during a robbery, the pawnbroker shows his first human emotions since the horrific day he lost his family.
The flawless direction, masterful black & white cinematography, haunting Jazz score, along with innovative handling of the themes (racism, prostitution, social reforms, etc.), make this nothing less than a masterpiece. There is a sequence with prolonged nudity, considered daring during the "Hayes Code" years, even if it appears tame by today's standards. The scenes are not gratuitous, but essential to the plot. Still these scenes may make this film unsuitable for pre-teens.
Like Shindler's List, this is a film many may find painful to watch. By 1965 standards, the mere attempt of giving insight into the evils of the Holocaust was a strong move. The resulting product withstood the test of time and will endure. Named as his personal favorite work, "The Pawnbroker" gives us Rod Steiger's finest performance! Highly recommended.