Heavy Traffic (1973)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Ralph Bakshi

Writer:

Ralph Bakshi (writer)

Release Date:

17 November 1973 (Sweden)

Genre:

Animation | Drama

Tagline:

Heavy Entertainment!

Plot:

An "underground" cartoonist contends with life in the inner city, where various unsavory characters serve as inspiration for his artwork.

Plot Keywords:

Cartoonist | Jewish | Underground | Jewish Mother | Black Woman

Cast

Joseph Kaufmann	...	Michael Corleone
Beverly Hope Atkinson	...	Carole
Frank DeKova	...	Angelo "Angie" Corleone (voice)
Terri Haven	...	Ida Corleone (voice)
Mary Dean Lauria	...	Molly (voice)
Jacqueline Mills	...	Rosalyn Schecter (voice)
Lillian Adams	...	Rosa (voice)
Jamie Farr
Robert Easton
Charles Gordone	...	(voice)
Michael Brandon	...	Voice characterization
Morton Lewis	...	(voice)
Bill Striglos	...	(voice)
Jay Lawrence	...	(voice)
Lee Weaver	...	(voice)

Runtime:

77 min | Argentina:79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian | Yiddish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Canada:14A | West Germany:18 | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (edited for re-rating) | USA:X | Argentina:18

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Trivia:

The album cover for the soundtrack to George and Ira Gershwin's legendary opera, "Porgy and Bess" hangs on the wall of Michael's bedroom.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Michael: What makes you happy? What makes you happy? Where do you go? Where do you go? Where do you hide? Where do you hide? Who do you see? Who do you see? Who do you trust? Who do you trust? Who do you screw? Who do you screw? What kills the pain? What kills the pain? Game up, game win. Bug around, set it straight. Transaction. Play it hard, hurts so bad. Gotta win. Everyone loses. Everthing loses. Gotta win big. Sick and tired of losing. Where does it all go? Where does it all go? Where does it lead us? Where does it lead us? Tilt City, Pinball Alley. Blinkin' lights shot to Hell, fuck it all!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cool and the Crazy (1994) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Twist & Shout

What the* did I just see?

I just finished watching this film, and I couldn't be more in awe. It's definitely one of the most bizarre pieces of true Art that I have seen in recent years, and yet the naked honesty is instantly resonant on a very deep level. This a a very dark look at one short period in a young artist's life in what seems to be New York. Ralph is not afraid to show the extreme in the ordinary, the sublime in the tragic, the sparkling filth that charges the air with horror and magic. This is our world, and his, with all the petty bitterness and hope that goes with it. I am saddened by those who say this film is garbage; I was at times horrified, laughing, moved, angered, and yet I emerged from the experience hopeful. I have rarely ever seen such a pure and rich depth of feeling as with this film. Ralph Bakshi is indeed a Master of our time, and the fact that he is still fairly obscure is a terrible waste. See this film, but keep the kids far away, it's rated R for a reason.