The Lords of Flatbush (1974)

Two members of a social club in 1950s Brooklyn have more interest in romance than in rumbles.

Directors:

Martin Davidson, Stephen Verona (as Stephen F. Verona)

Writers:

Stephen Verona (screenplay) (as Stephen F. Verona), Gayle Gleckler (screenplay)

Stars:

Sylvester Stallone, Henry Winkler, Perry King

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Perry King	...	David 'Chico' Tyrell
Sylvester Stallone	...	Stanley Rosiello
Henry Winkler	...	Butchey Weinstein
Paul Mace	...	Wimpy Murgalo
Susan Blakely	...	Jane Bradshaw
Maria Smith	...	Frannie Malincanico
Renee Paris	...	Annie Yuckamanelli (as Reneé Paris)
Paul Jabara	...	Crazy Cohen
Bruce Reed	...	Mike Mambo
Frank Stiefel	...	Arnie Levine
Martin Davidson	...	Mr. Birnbaum
Joe Stern	...	Eddie
Ruth Klinger	...	Mrs. Tyrell
Joan Neuman	...	Miss Molina
Dolph Sweet	...	Mr. Rosiello

Storyline

A group of kids in Brooklyn form a gang. From this moment on they do everything together. This makes things easier but at the same time they have to face new problems.

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Plot Keywords:

brooklyn new york city | new york city | high school | greaser | wedding | 

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Taglines:

Stanley Had a Leather Jacket and Franny Had Acne. In 1958 They Found Each Other.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard Gere was originally cast as Chico. According to Sylvester Stallone, he and Gere fought constantly including physically and he demanded Gere to be fired.

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Goofs

After Stanley buys the ring for Frannie, Stanley starts walking with his right arm over Frannie, and his left arm over Annie. In the very next shot, his right arm is over Annie, and his left arm is over Frannie.

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Quotes

Mr. Birnbaum: It's a beautiful ring.
Stanley Rosiello: Listen to me. Listen to me, Daddy-O. See that girl that just walked out of there. If you ever show her a $1600 ring again, you know what's going to be written on your tombstone? Do you know what's going to be written on your tombstone? "I was dumb enough to show Frannie Malincanico a $1600 ring." You know what I mean? Do you?

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Connections

Featured in The Lady with the Torch (1999)

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Soundtracks

A Very Fine Day
Sax Solo by George Marge

User Reviews

A mixed bag

If you grew up in this time and place, or a reasonable facsimile, you will understand and appreciate this little gem of a movie. If you didn't, you won't.

Those of us that did will instantly recognize the time, place and character types portrayed here.

Its strong points are its accurate capture of the milieu and the characters. In that case, the lack of character development is a positive part of the characters themselves, not a shortcoming. We know at the outset that most of them are not going to be able to break out from who or what they are, and the ones that survive Viet Nam will end up back in the neighborhood or a transplanted version of it. Even when one character recognizes his limited prospects, we're not really sure that he is going to be able to do anything about it. That's what gives the story line, such as it is, its bite.

On the other hand, the meandering plot and the technical shortcomings keep this film from achieving all that it could have. If the plot had come up to the standards of the characters and the period accuracy, and if just a little more attention had been paid to technique, this would have been a classic.

As it is, it's not quite there. But despite its shortcomings, it deserves a place among others of its type.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 May 1975 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Lords of Flatbush

Filming Locations:

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$160,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ebbets Field

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1