The Super (1991)

Karma comes into play when a wealthy wisecracking landlord is ordered by a court to live in the filthy building that he runs.

Director:

Rod Daniel

Writer:

Sam Simon

Stars:

Joe Pesci, Vincent Gardenia, Madolyn Smith Osborne

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joe Pesci	...	Louie Kritski
Vincent Gardenia	...	Big Lou Kritski
Madolyn Smith Osborne	...	Naomi Bensinger
Rubén Blades	...	Marlon (as Ruben Blades)
Stacey Travis	...	Heather
Carole Shelley	...	Irene Kritski
Kenn Michael	...	Tito (as Kenny Blank)
Paul Benjamin	...	Gilliam
Beatrice Winde	...	Leotha
Bhubeshi Bodibe	...	Goode
Abdoulaye NGom	...	Stubbs (as Abdoulaye N'Gom)
Carol Jean Lewis	...	Eleanor
Anthony Heald	...	Ron Nessim
Daniel Baltzman	...	Young Louie
Jack Hallett	...	Young Big Lou

Storyline

Louie is a New York City slum landlord who is given 120 days to repair one of his apartment blocks. The problem for Louie is that he must live in the rundown block until the repairs are complete. Louie's father is the real boss, and he has no intention of paying for the repairs. This leaves Louie to live in the squalor his tenants endure all year round.

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Plot Keywords:

landlord | court | new york city | landlord tenant relationship | stripped car | 

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Taglines:

The judge sentenced slumlord Louie Kritski to six months in his own building. He would have been better off in jail.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the scene when Joe Pesci is in the grocery store, he says the line " What am I a mirage?" He says the same line in Goodfellas.

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Goofs

When Louie Kritski first enters his apartment, he jiggles a sink faucet, shortly after which water explodes out from the drain. However, immediately after the second explosion, a close-up shows the water level is visibly higher than it was before.

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Quotes

Eleanor: How is my boy supposed to do his schoolwork at night? By candle light?
Louie Kritski: Lincoln did. Maybe he'll grow up to be president, what the fuck do I know?

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Connections

References MC Hammer: U Can't Touch This (1990)

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Soundtracks

Bombero
Written by Magic A. Moreno (as Magic Moreno) and Treason
Performed by Treason

User Reviews

Dark comedy that delivers the laughs .......

The joke is a bigoted slumlord forced to live in his own building. Joe Pecci is excellent as "The Super", who gets a real education from his tenants. His red Corvette is stripped the first night. He is constantly hustled by his neighbors. Scenes such as when he goes to the local grocery to buy wine, or when his elegant girlfriend visits his dumpy apartment, are classic comedy. Vincent Gardenia as Peci's overbearing father, is a role not unlike the one he played in "Fire Sale". "The Super" is sort of a cross between "Fire Sale" and Mel Brooks "Life Stinks". The movie definitely is re watchable, and most likely will seem even funnier on repeat viewings. Highly recommended, especially for those who appreciate dark comedy. - MERK

Details

Country:

USA Japan

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

4 October 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Super

Filming Locations:

1158 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,656,390, 6 October 1991

Gross USA:

$11,000,863

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,000,863

Company Credits

Production Co:

Largo Entertainment, JVC Entertainment Networks, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1