The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974)

The younger son of a working-class Jewish family in Montreal, Duddy Kravitz yearns to make a name for himself in society. This film chronicles his short and dubious rise to power, as well ... See full summary »

Director:

Ted Kotcheff

Writers:

Mordecai Richler (screenplay), Mordecai Richler (novel)

Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, Micheline Lanctôt, Jack Warden

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Duddy
Micheline Lanctôt	...	Yvette
Jack Warden	...	Max
Randy Quaid	...	Virgil
Joseph Wiseman	...	Uncle Benjy
Denholm Elliott	...	Friar
Henry Ramer	...	Dingleman
Joe Silver	...	Farber
Zvee Scooler	...	Grandfather
Robert Goodier	...	Calder
Alan Rosenthal	...	Lennie (as Allan Rosenthal)
Barry Baldaro	...	Paddy
Allan Kolman	...	Irwin (as Allan Migicovsky)
Barry Pascal	...	Bernie Farber
Susan Friedman	...	Linda

Storyline

The younger son of a working-class Jewish family in Montreal, Duddy Kravitz yearns to make a name for himself in society. This film chronicles his short and dubious rise to power, as well as his changing relationships with family and friends. Along the way the film explores the themes of anti-semitism and the responsibilities which come with adulthood.

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Plot Keywords:

taxi | french canadian | lake | breaking up | bet | 

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Taglines:

There's a little bit of Duddy Kravitz in everyone.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 1974 (Canada)

Also Known As:

L'apprentissage de Duddy Kravitz

Filming Locations:

Wilensky's - Fairmount Avenue, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 910,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Astral Bellevue Pathé, Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC), Duddy Kravitz Syndicate

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 94 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character of the blacklisted left-wing film-maker played by Denholm Elliott is named "Peter John Fryer", although he is referred to mostly by surname only. The full name suggests a joking reference to the British film critic Peter John Dyer - Mordecai Richler, the writer of the film had worked as a film critic in England in the early 1960s, when Dyer was well-known there.

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Goofs

Although film is set in early Fifties, in scene immediately following roulette game, logo on Pepsi-Cola sign outside café dates from much later - late Fifties or early Sixties.

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Connections

References A Slight Case of Murder (1938)

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Soundtracks

Camptown Races
(uncredited)
Music by Stephen Foster
Arranged by Stanley Myers

User Reviews

Something We Can Be Proud Of

A Canadian film that isn't a joke. Wow. 'The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz' is a wonderful thing. Let's start with the novel. I read it as part of an English Lit class in High School and read it every autumn for seven years. It just goes so well with those first few blustery nights that arrive mid-October. Always tough for a screenplay to match up with a novel but novelist Mordecai Richler and Lionel Chetwynd were nominated for Academy Awards and lost to 'The Godfather Part 2's Coppola and Puzo - not bad. Wonderful to watch - just look at all the great street scenes, the country scenes, the autumn leaves, Duddy's well-lit apartment, Moe's Cigar Store...I mean, this is Canada keeping warm and cozy on a cool, October evening. The film, and the novel, are great to curl up with.