The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974)

In a bid to gain respect, the neglected younger son of a working class Jewish family in Montréal embarks on a series of get-rich-quick schemes to buy land surrounding a lake.

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:

adult child | man in a wheelchair | man and woman share a bed | man in a bathtub | man in a bed | 

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Taglines:

Duddy does unto others before they do unto him.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Richard Dreyfuss, he believed his performance in this film was so bad that his career would be over when it was released. This fear caused him to aggressively pursue the role of Matt Hooper in Jaws (1975).

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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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Quotes

Dingleman: Alright kid, just remember you'll never do it alone.
Duddy: Hey Dingleman, I'm gonna give you five minutes to get the hell off my land. I'm king of the castle around here Dingleman.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Richard Dreyfuss/Jimmy Buffett, Gary Tigerman (1978)

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Soundtracks

When the Saints Go Marching In
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Stanley Myers

User Reviews

Finally Got Around To It

I always wanted to see this film ever since it was released when I was in college, but just never got around to it. Just watched it now in 2018 and not disappointed. Dreyfuss really was the perfect Duddy Kravitz. Many of his subsequent roles had a "little bit of Duddy" in them. The viewer can both cheer for Duddy and also be repulsed by him, the mark of a good screenplay, script and actors. Warden, Wiseman and Lanctot lend realism to the tale and provide the other prisms through which to view Kravitz. Both a story and a character study it can be tough to watch, even if occasionally softened by touches of humor. By the end we're left to wonder if it was all worth it and we sense that Duddy is wondering the same thing.

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 1974 (Canada)

Also Known As:

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

CAD910,000 (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

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1