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Saint Jack

  • 19791979
  • RR
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Saint Jack (1979)
  • Drama
Jack Flowers, an American hustler in early 1970s Singapore, dreams of building a fortune by running a brothel and returning to the States to lead a life of luxury.Jack Flowers, an American hustler in early 1970s Singapore, dreams of building a fortune by running a brothel and returning to the States to lead a life of luxury.Jack Flowers, an American hustler in early 1970s Singapore, dreams of building a fortune by running a brothel and returning to the States to lead a life of luxury.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Peter Bogdanovich
  • Writers
    • Howard Sackler(screenplay by)
    • Paul Theroux(screenplay by)
    • Peter Bogdanovich(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Ben Gazzara
    • Denholm Elliott
    • James Villiers
Top credits
  • Director
    • Peter Bogdanovich
  • Writers
    • Howard Sackler(screenplay by)
    • Paul Theroux(screenplay by)
    • Peter Bogdanovich(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Ben Gazzara
    • Denholm Elliott
    • James Villiers
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 38User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:39
    Trailer

    Photos22

    Saint Jack (1979)
    Saint Jack (1979)
    Saint Jack (1979)
    Saint Jack (1979)
    Denholm Elliott and Ben Gazzara in Saint Jack (1979)
    Peter Bogdanovich, Ben Gazzara, and Monika Subramaniam in Saint Jack (1979)
    Ben Gazzara in Saint Jack (1979)
    Saint Jack (1979)
    Denholm Elliott and Bridgit Ang in Saint Jack (1979)
    Peter Bogdanovich and Ben Gazzara in Saint Jack (1979)
    Denholm Elliott and Ben Gazzara in Saint Jack (1979)
    Peter Bogdanovich, Ben Gazzara, and Monika Subramaniam in Saint Jack (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ben Gazzara
    Ben Gazzara
    • Jack Flowersas Jack Flowers
    Denholm Elliott
    Denholm Elliott
    • William Leighas William Leigh
    James Villiers
    James Villiers
    • Froggetas Frogget
    Joss Ackland
    Joss Ackland
    • Yardleyas Yardley
    Rodney Bewes
    Rodney Bewes
    • Smaleas Smale
    Mark Kingston
    Mark Kingston
    • Yatesas Yates
    Lisa Lu
    Lisa Lu
    • Mrs. Yatesas Mrs. Yates
    Monika Subramaniam
    • Monikaas Monika
    Judy Lim
    • Judyas Judy
    George Lazenby
    George Lazenby
    • Senatoras Senator
    Peter Bogdanovich
    Peter Bogdanovich
    • Eddie Schumanas Eddie Schuman
    Joseph Noël
    • Gopias Gopi
    • (as Joseph Noel)
    Kian Bee Ong
    • Hingas Hing
    Yan Meng Tan
    • Little Hingas Little Hing
    Andrew Chua
    • Andrew (Taxi Driver)as Andrew (Taxi Driver)
    Peter Pang
    • Triad Gang Memberas Triad Gang Member
    Ronald Ng
    • Triad Gang Memberas Triad Gang Member
    Teow Keng Seow
    • Triad Gang Memberas Triad Gang Member
    • Director
      • Peter Bogdanovich
    • Writers
      • Howard Sackler(screenplay by)
      • Paul Theroux(screenplay by) (based on the novel by)
      • Peter Bogdanovich(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Compelling character study, revolving around Jack Flowers (Ben Gazzara), an American hustler trying to make his fortune in 1970s Singapore in small time pimping. He dreams of building a fortune by running a brothel himself and returning to the States to lead a life of luxury. Savvy but not unsavory he strikes up a friendship with William Leigh (Denholm Elliot), a genial and decent auditor who travels to Singapore every year. Ultimately, the background of the Vietnam War comes into the picture as Jack is offered the opportunity by the CIA to run a brothel for the R&R activities of U.S. soldiers on leave in Singapore. —alfiehitchie
    • american abroad
    • 1970s
    • reference to fidel castro
    • reference to john f. kennedy
    • senator
    • 89 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • "People make love for so many crazy reasons-- why shouldn't money be one of them?" - The Gospel According To Saint Jack
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Knowing the Singaporean government would never sanction a film that depicted the city as a hotbed of corruption and sleaze, the script that Peter Bogdanovich submitted had been rewritten with all the contentious elements removed. When the film was completed, the Singaporean government was horrified, and banned it.
    • Goofs
      Around 01:20:08, a woman on the left of the screen step out from a building, look at the camera, then goes quickly backward.
    • Quotes

      Jack Flowers: Now, the Chinese, they go for Australian girls, y'know, big-boned. The Germans usually go for Tamils. The English they don't give a damn as long as they're young and boyish, isn't that right, Colonel?

      Col. Gunstone: Indubitably.

      Jack Flowers: But the Americans, they do a lot of hugging-up in taxis, y'know. When they go home they write letters. Girls are always after me to help them answer 'em.

    • Crazy credits
      We thank the people of the Republic of Singapore, on whose island this picture was filmed.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: The Promise, The Prisoner of Zenda, Saint Jack, Alien, Battlestar Galactica, The Brood, The Passage (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll
      Written by Clarence Williams (uncredited) and Spencer Williams (uncredited)

      Sung by Louis Armstrong

    User reviews38

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Saint Jack - A Surprise Treat
    It has been more than a week since i last watch Saint Jack, the after effects of it still lingers. That shows it is not an ordinary film.

    I went into the theatre without much expectation, when the film starts with the opening credit rolling, i sat up very straight, devouring the fascinating font selected. The long tail of each font stretching beyond its normal alignment gives me a hint that this is going to be a different experience. This is not the usual crappy 70s sleazy film made. There is a humour exuding even from the font. Its gonna be interesting.

    As Jack walks into the Chinese shophouse and greeted by a young Indian chap who talks and spray mosquito around him, i found myself unable to hide my humored smile behind the dim theatre. Such fascinating and improvisational like mis en sense repeats throughout the entire film.

    The 70s is an era which i was born into. I was too young to have a vivid memory of it. When the landscape and the people scape were unfolded in front of me, instinctively i feel this film is depicting a rather accurate portray of my country. Although the film revolves around the character of pimp, Jack Flowers, Jack is not the only main role. Singapore is in fact the other protagonist. All the caricatures of small roles that appears throughout the film etches a multicultural developing nation with an array of characters that Jack immensely enjoy interacting with. It is the same feeling whenever i visit other developing country.... fascinating.

    Honestly, i think the plot is thin. but the rich characters made up for everything. It is an underrated film that has finally seen its daylight (in Singapore). the delightful feeling is an accidental discovery of a film treasure that records an era with so much nuances and humour.

    The Marking of Saint Jack:Kinda Hot. A book written by Ben Slater adds even more fun to the entire experience.
    helpful•8
    2
    • lisan_gek
    • Dec 5, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 5, 1979 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Cantonese
      • Dutch
      • French
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Şahane Jack
    • Filming locations
      • Bugis Street, Singapore, Singapore
    • Production companies
      • Copa del Oro
      • New World Pictures
      • Shoals Creek
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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