SUBWAYStories: Tales from the Underground (TV 1997)

The actual experiences of New York City subway riders are dramatized in a collection of 10 intriguing and very different vignettes. The tales showcase an ensemble of familiar faces, and ... See full summary »

Directors:

Bob Balaban, Patricia Benoit,

Writers:

Adam Brooks (segment), John Guare (segment),

Stars:

Bill Irwin, KRS-One, Tina North

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Irwin	...	Himself (segment "Subway Car From Hell")
KRS-One	...	Vendor (segment "Subway Car From Hell") (as Kris Parker 'KRS-ONE')
Tina North	...	Grandmother (segment "Subway Car From Hell")
Paul Lazar	...	Mr. Nervous (segment "Subway Car From Hell")
Andre B. Blake	...	Knish Buyer (segment "Subway Car From Hell")
Anthony S. Calypso	...	Knish Buyer (segment "Subway Car From Hell")
Robert W. Castle	...	Knish Buyer (segment "Subway Car From Hell")
Marlon Cherry	...	Musician (segment "Subway Car From Hell")
Carl J. Ferrazza	...	Hot Dog Buyer (segment "Subway Car From Hell")
Daniel Freedman	...	Strange Man (segment "Subway Car From Hell")
Marc Mueller	...	Musician (segment "Subway Car From Hell")
Roxanne Amandez	...	Woman on train (as Roxanne Wagner)
Simon Seven	...	Musician (segment "Subway Car From Hell")
Joe Toutebon	...	Knish Buyer (segment "Subway Car From Hell") (as Joseph Toutebon)
Daniel Wolff	...	Knish Buyer (segment "Subway Car From Hell")

Storyline

The actual experiences of New York City subway riders are dramatized in a collection of 10 intriguing and very different vignettes. The tales showcase an ensemble of familiar faces, and range from stories of compassion and love to reflections on violence and loss. Among them: a disabled beggar quarrels with a woman and ruins her shoes with his wheelchair, provoking onlookers to wrath and pity; a skittish tourist proves to be her own worst enemy; a newlywed trysts with a mysterious sexpot; a commuter helplessly witnesses a suicide attempt; and, in the most affecting segment, a young woman grieves over her mother's imminent death.

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Plot Keywords:

subway | new york | train | gang member | wheelchair | 

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Taglines:

Every ride is as unpredictable as the city itself.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 August 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Historias bajo tierra: El último viaje

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Clinica Estetico, HBO NYC Productions, Ten in a Car Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

HBO held a contest asking New Yorkers to submit interesting true stories that happened on the subways. The winning stories were then adapted for the film.

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Goofs

The Prospect Park station in Brooklyn is open cut (in a trench open to the sky), not cut and cover (underground tunnel) like Manhattan stations.

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Connections

Referenced in A Short Film About the Long Career of Abel Ferrara (2004)

User Reviews

Great stories, amazing singer

I liked all the stories. Fern's Heart of Darkness was a nice little turn on a rich white woman when she was faced with being...well, I won't ruin it. Each story was a wonderful look at life and its tragedies, celebrations, and hopes. The one that got to me the most was Taryl Hicks singing to her dying mother. That not only sent a tear to my eye, but sent chills down my spine with the power and emotion displayed in her voice. There are rarely any singers that I would call even special in their talents, but this absolutely is the one I remember. Every time I see her portion in the vignettes it still sends chills down my spine and a tear to my eye.