Gloria (1980)

When a young boy's family is killed by the mob, their tough neighbor Gloria becomes his reluctant guardian. In possession of a book that the gangsters want, the pair go on the run in New York.

Director:

John Cassavetes

Writer:

John Cassavetes

Stars:

Gena Rowlands, Buck Henry, Julie Carmen

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

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julie Carmen	...	Jeri Dawn
Tony Knesich	...	1st Man - Gangster
Gregory Cleghorne	...	Kid in Elevator
Buck Henry	...	Jack Dawn
John Adames	...	Phil Dawn
Lupe Garnica	...	Margarita Vargas
Jessica Castillo	...	Joan Dawn
Tom Noonan	...	2nd Man - Gangster
Ronald Maccone	...	3rd Man - Gangster
George Yudzevich	...	Heavy Set Man
Gena Rowlands	...	Gloria Swenson
Gary Howard Klar	...	Irish Cop (as Gary Klar)
William E. Rice	...	TV Newscaster
Frank Belgiorno	...	Riverside Drive Man #5
J.C. Quinn	...	Riverside Drive Man #4

Storyline

A bookkeeper for the NYC mob, Jack Dawn and his family are about to be killed, because he'd been keeping a copy of their records. Right before the hit, Jack's wife asks neighbour, Gloria Svenson to look after their 6-year old son, Phil, and his teenage sister. Though the sister runs back and is killed with the rest of the family, Phil's safe with Gloria - a former mob girl. Now older, but just as tough, she doesn't want any problems, but she knows the mob won't stop till they get the book, and kill the boy. Reluctantly, she becomes his guardian. The pair go on the run, as the mob chases them throughout the city.

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Plot Keywords:

child in jeopardy | gangster | new york city | action heroine | mob hit | 

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Taglines:

And she's out to beat the mob at their own game.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in 1979.

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Goofs

When Phil boards the train, the shot has been reversed, as evidenced by backwards lettering on the signs on the train and the platform.

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Quotes

Phil Dawn: You're my mother. You're my father. You're my mother. You're my whole family. You're even my friend, Gloria. You're my girlfriend too.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movies Nominated for Both Oscars and Razzies (2016)

User Reviews

Hollywood ending or not?

No American movie so ambivalent as Gloria. Is it a good movie or a bad? Frankly, I just don't know. I saw this film as part of a series of classic movies in a Dutch cinema. New copy! the ad said and I never saw the movie from beginning to end. Reason enough to go. Speaking about the end... It did disappoint me a lot. After watching Gena walking on high heals through New York for two hours, Cassavetes surprises me with this terrible Hollywood ending! But after reading some of the comments on IMDb I rather give it a second thought. So Cassavetes shot the end of Gloria in black and white? I didn't know that. It makes a difference. Why the hell would Gloria come to the cemetery in a mob car in stead of just a regular cab? And why dressed up as the boy's grandmother? It must be the imagination of the boy. That's why the boy runs in slow motion (and in black and white) to Gloria. Running towards a certain death that is! Cassavetes said in a interview that he didn't want the boy shot in pieces at the end of the movie, but that doesn't mean the boy will survive! So, maybe Cassavetes didn't make a Hollywood ending after all. Let's give Gloria the benefit of the doubt. It's a good movie, worth remembering.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 October 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

One Summer Night

Filming Locations:

Grand Concourse, Concourse Plaza Hotel, 161st Street, The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$33,767, 5 October 1980

Gross USA:

$4,059,673

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,059,673

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1