Fingers (1978)

Director:

James Toback

Writer:

James Toback (writer)

Release Date:

23 August 1978 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Music

Tagline:

A powerful film about sex, music and violent crime.

Plot:

A dysfunctional young man is pulled between loyalties to his Italian mob-connected loan shark father and his mentally disturbed Jewish concert pianist mother.

Plot Keywords:

Debt Collector | Piano | Pianist | Swimming Pool | Manhattan New York City

Cast

Harvey Keitel	...	Jimmy Fingers
Tisa Farrow	...	Carol
Jim Brown	...	Dreems
Michael V. Gazzo	...	Ben
Marian Seldes	...	Ruth
Danny Aiello	...	Butch
Ed Marinaro	...	Gino
Georgette Mosbacher	...	Anita (as Georgette Muir)
Tanya Roberts	...	Julie
Carole Francis	...	Christa
Lenny Montana	...	Luchino
Vasco Valladeres	...	Luchino's Son
Tony Sirico	...	Riccamonza (as Anthony Sirico)
Tom Signorelli	...	Italian Prisoner
Dominic Chianese	...	Arthur Fox
Woodrow Garrian	...	Conventioneer
James Fields	...	Pianist
A. Andrew Pastorio	...	Elderly Driver
Frank Pesce	...	Carmine
Zack Norman	...	Patrolman Levy
Jane Elder	...	Esther
I.W. Klein	...	Bail Bondsman
Murray Moston	...	Doctor Fry
Emmy Falahi	...	Young Gangster
Tina Fox	...	Young Girl
Harlan Cary Poe	...	Trucker's Helper
Henry Judd Baker	...	Leonard (as Henry Baker)
Charles Polk	...	J.R
Linda Blia	...	Pizza Customer #1
Francine Gabel	...	Pizza Customer #2
Josh Clark	...	Pizza Customer #3
Bud Nease	...	Bartender #1
Paul Ricci	...	Bartender #2
Sam Coppola	...	Sam
Andre Waters	...	Dreem's Bartender
Josie Johnson	...	Dreems Girl #1
Susan McWilliams	...	Dreems Girl #2
Tia Rance	...	Dreems Girl #3
Aida Random	...	Dreems Girl #4
Leza Van Buren	...	Dreems Girl #5
Largo Woodruff	...	Dreems Girl #6
Pembrose Deans	...	Black Prisoner #1
Arthur French	...	Black Prisoner #2
John F. Dempsey	...	Police Clerk
David Ellsworth	...	Waiter
Paul Stocker	...	Bartender
Patricia J. Earnest	...	Receptionist
Joe De Kama	...	Doctor Schwartz

Directed by
James Toback

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
James Toback		writer

Produced by
George Barrie	....	producer
Richard Stenta	....	line producer

Cinematography by
Michael Chapman

Film Editing by
Robert Lawrence

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton

Production Design by
Gene Rudolf

Set Decoration by
Frederic C. Weiler

Costume Design by
Albert Wolsky

Makeup Department
Irving Buchman	....	makeup artist
Bob Grimaldi	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Richard Stenta	....	production manager (as Dick Stenta)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Irmo	....	dga trainee
Stewart Lyons	....	second assistant director
Daniel McCauley	....	first assistant director
Peter A. Runfolo	....	second assistant director (as Peter Runfolo)

Art Department
Edward Garzero	....	scenic artist
John Oates Jr.	....	property master (as John Oates)

Sound Department
John Fundus	....	sound recordist
Richard Guinness	....	boom operator (as Dick Guiness)
Les Lazarowitz	....	sound mixer
Bill Varney	....	sound re-recording mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Hamill	....	still photographer
Richard Quinlan	....	gaffer
Tibor Sands	....	first assistant camera
Fred Schuler	....	camera operator
Robert Ward	....	key grip

Casting Department
Sylvia Fay	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Beverly Cycon	....	costumer: women
Max Soloman	....	costumer: men (as Max Solomon)

Editorial Department
Andrew Pressman	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
James Fields	....	classical music coordinator

Transportation Department
Harry J. Leavey	....	transportation captain (as Harry Leavey)

Other crew
Robert F. Colesberry	....	location coordinator
Jeffrey Fischgrund	....	production assistant (as Jeff Fischgrund)
Fred Golini	....	production assistant
Nancy Hopton	....	script supervisor (as Nancy Tonery)
Stephen Klein	....	production assistant
Adeline Leonard Seakwood	....	production office coordinator
Bert Schneiderman	....	business affairs
Marion Taub	....	location bookkeeper

Production Companies

• Brut Productions
• Fingers Productions Inc.

Distributors

• Brut Productions (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1986) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• International Film Distributors (1978) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Parafrance Films (1978) (France) (theatrical)
• Solaris Distribution (2012) (France) (theatrical) (restored version)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2011) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• Worldvision Enterprises

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | France:-16 | New Zealand:R18 | Canada:R | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1979) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Australia:R

Filming Locations:

468 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Brut Productions

Trivia:

Principle photography on "Fingers" took only 19 days.

Quotes:

Restaurant patron:[annoyed] Hey, waiter! Tell this character to turn his radio off!
Jimmy Fingers:What are you tellin' him for? Tell me!
Restaurant patron:All right, I'm tellin' ya - turn it off!
Jimmy Fingers:[with incredulity] Do you believe this? This is the Jamies, man! "Summertime, Summertime!" - the most musically inventive song of 1958! What are you eating? Shrimp? Are you gonna tell me this song doesn't go with your shrimp?

Movie Connections:

Remade as The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005)

Soundtrack:

Angel of the Morning

Worth seeing for Keitel's performance.

"Fingers" is the offbeat, intriguing study of one dysfunctional character, Jimmy (Harvey Keitel), a man who straddles two distinct worlds. In one, he's the reluctant debt collector for his mobster father Ben (Michael V. Gazzo), and a man who won't hesitate to use violence to get the job done. However, he's also an obsessive music lover, and talented pianist with the lofty ambition of performing at Carnegie Hall. He puts off what will prove to be a brutal confrontation at the end to pursue the spaced-out Carol (Tisa Farrow). Writer / director James Toback's unique little movie is more than just the typical NYC gangster picture. It does feature excellent use of NYC locations, and it does have some very brutal moments, but is a decidedly laid back rather than intense experience, with deliberate pacing. The movie is marked by a very erotic quality, whether Jimmy is making the acquaintance of the sexually charged club owner Dreems (Jim Brown, in a captivating low key portrayal), or having an encounter with Julie (Tanya Roberts). We even get a glimpse of Keitel nudity, 14 years before he bared all in Abel Ferrara's "Bad Lieutenant". The movie has a serious, somber mood, yet at the same time is not without some humour. It's a very good vehicle for Keitel, who really throws himself into the twisted main role; other familiar faces such as Danny Aiello, Ed Marinaro, Marian Seldes, Lenny Montana, Tom Signorelli, Frank Pesce, and Zack Norman comprise the supporting cast, and the movie is now notable for co-starring two future 'Sopranos' regulars, Tony Sirico as young mobster Riccamonza and Dominic Chianese as Arthur Fox. But Keitel is truly the one to watch playing an obviously flawed, yet compelling individual with more than his fair share of psycho sexual problems, a certain arrogance, and a tendency towards explosive behaviour who also wants something more out of life. Film fans looking for something a little off the beaten path and deserving of more attention are advised to check out "Fingers", as it refrains from ever being too predictable and tells its story in a very straightforward manner. It's gritty and provocative and rather memorable as well; it's not for all tastes but is rewarding for those who seek it out. Seven out of 10.