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Ulice nędzy (1973)

Mean Streets (original title)
A small-time hood struggles with a moral crisis regarding his friends, family, business, and his conflicting religious beliefs.

Director:

Writers:

(screenplay), (screenplay) | 1 more credit »
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Popularity
2,730 ( 171)
5 wins & 5 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Amy Robinson ...
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...
Mario (as Vic Argo)
George Memmoli ...
Lenny Scaletta ...
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Murray Moston ...
Oscar (as Murray Mosten)
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Boy With Gun
Lois Walden ...
Jewish Girl
...
Soldier
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Storyline

The future is set for Tony and Michael - owning a neighbour- hood bar and making deals in the mean streets of New York city's Little Italy. For Charlie, the future is less clearly defined. A small-time hood, he works for his uncle, making collections and reclaiming bad debts. He's probably too nice to succeed. In love with a woman his uncle disapproves of (because of her epilepsy) and a friend of her cousin, Johnny Boy, a near psychotic whose trouble-making threatens them all - he can't reconcile opposing values. A failed attempt to escape (to Brooklyn) moves them all a step closer to a bitter, almost preordained future. Written by Dave Cook <cookd@mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets...

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

14 October 1973 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Ulice nędzy  »

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$32,645 (USA) (13 March 1998)

Gross:

$32,645 (USA) (13 March 1998)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Scorsese's inspiration for Robert De Niro's Johnny Boy came from his paternal uncle Joe (the Bug) Scorsese who was often in trouble with the law himself. See more »

Goofs

When Charlie is in the back seat of Michael's car (after the bar shooting scene), his audio is slightly off. See more »

Quotes

Johnny Boy: Hey, why don't you lower the jukebox, I can't hear nothin'.
Joey 'Clams' Scala: Hey, the girls like the music loud.
Johnny Boy: Girls. You call those skanks girls?
Joey 'Clams' Scala: [to Charlie] Hey, what's a matter with this kid, huh?
Johnny Boy: Hey, there ain't nothin' wrong with me my friend, I'm feelin' fine.
Charlie: Keep your mouth shut.
Johnny Boy: You tell me that in front of this asshole?
Joey 'Clams' Scala: Alright, alright, we're not gonna pay. We're not paying.
Jimmy: But why? Joey, we just said we were gonna have a drink.
Joey 'Clams' Scala: [Joey interupts] We're not payin', because this guy, this guy's a ...
[...]
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Grand Theft Auto III (2001) See more »

Soundtracks

TELL ME
Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (uncredited)
By The Rolling Stones
Courtesy of ABKCO Records
See more »

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User Reviews

 
early Scorsese masterpiece
7 August 2000 | by (somerset, nj) – See all my reviews

Mean Streets was a brilliant early film by Martin Scorsese. It was his first ever collaboration with Robert DeNiro. Their very successful partnership has produced some of the best movies ever made: Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and Casino. It also helped launch Harvey Keitel to stardom.

Keitel as Charlie and DeNiro as Johnny Boy deliver great performances. Scorsese's direction is strong. Even close to 30 years ago, these three men show the talent which would eventually place them among the very best in the business. Scorsese uses a great selection of popular music in Mean Streets and that has become a trademark of his.

Mean Streets easily ranks with Scorsese's best. 9/10


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