Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Jack Lemmon | ... | Mel Edison | |
Anne Bancroft | ... | Edna Edison | |
Gene Saks | ... | Harry Edison | |
Elizabeth Wilson | ... | Pauline | |
Florence Stanley | ... | Pearl | |
Maxine Stuart | ... | Belle | |
Ed Peck | ... | Man Upstairs | |
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Gene Blakely | ... | Charlie |
Ivor Francis | ... | Psychiatrist | |
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Stack Pierce | ... | Detective |
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Patricia Marshall | ... | Woman Upstairs |
Dee Carroll | ... | Helen | |
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Ketty Lester | ... | Unemployment Clerk |
M. Emmet Walsh | ... | Joe - Doorman | |
F. Murray Abraham | ... | Taxi Driver |
The story of Mel and Edna (Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft), a middle-class, middle-aged, middle-happy couple living in a Manhattan high rise apartment building. Mel loses his job, the apartment is robbed, Edna gets a job, Mel loses his mind, Edna loses her job . . . to say nothing of the more minor tribulations of nosy neighbors, helpful relatives, and exact bus fares. The couple suffers indignity after indignity (some self-inflicted), and when they seem on the verge of surrender, they thumb their noses defiantly and dig the trenches for battle. Written by alfiehitchie
Being a Jack Lemmon fan, I can't help but be biased when it comes to watching his films. But I have to say, even by Lemmon's standards, "Prisoner" is one of his finest performances. He displays a broad range of emotion as Mel Edison, a corporate exec who falls victim to the unemployment crisis of the seventies. Anne Bancroft is nicely cast as his wife, Edna--it's almost hard to believe watching this film that this is the same woman who played in "G.I. Jane" as a crooked senator. And, although another viewer here frowned upon the casting of Gene Saks' as Mel's brother Harry, I always enjoy seeing the director in front of the camera (Saks directed another of my faves, "The Odd Couple"). The direction is pretty tight, and the interludes between acts include humorous voice-overs from a fictional radio announcer (you'll have to listen closely to catch some of the jokes). Look for Sylvester Stallone in a cameo appearance. I heartily recommend this film to all Jack Lemmon fans, as well as to those who enjoy a good comedy that's not all slapstick and guffaws.