Night and the City (1992)

The story about a cheating and incompetent lawyer (Harry Fabian) who suddenly gets obsessed on becoming a boxing promoter.

Director:

Irwin Winkler

Writers:

Gerald Kersh (novel), Richard Price (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Jessica Lange, Cliff Gorman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Harry Fabian
Jessica Lange	...	Helen Nasseros
Cliff Gorman	...	Phil Nasseros
Alan King	...	Ira 'Boom Boom' Grossman
Jack Warden	...	Al Grossman
Eli Wallach	...	Peck
Barry Primus	...	Tommy Tessler
Gene Kirkwood	...	Resnick
Gerard Murphy	...	Steel Jaw #1 (as Gerry Murphy)
Clem Caserta	...	Steel Jaw #2
Anthony Canarozzi	...	Emmett Gorgon
David W. Butler	...	John Bonney
Byron Utley	...	Frisker at Disco Club
Margo Winkler	...	Judge Parker
Maurice Shrog	...	Gym Manager

Storyline

Robert DeNiro and Jessica Lange are the most impossible couple. He's a failed lawyer. She's a common waitress. Together they get in a downward spiral, as they can't seem to deal with their problems. The lawyer just failed winning a case in court against a famous boxing organizer and he wants revenge by catching the organizer on his own territory: boxing. Although he knows nothing about boxing, with his fine talk he finds the help of a couple of people like the brother of his new enemy. But the relationship with his waitress doesn't make things double as hard.

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Plot Keywords:

neo noir | new york city | remake | based on novel | independent film | 

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Taglines:

When you're down to your last dream, you either live it or lose it.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert De Niro and Alan King appeared in Casino (1995).

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Quotes

Harry Fabian: Phil Nasseros, the meanest bartender in New York! Fucking guy just eighty-sixed a nun!

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Public Eye/Candyman/Under Siege/A River Runs Through It/Night and the City (1992)

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Soundtracks

I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
Written by Ronnie Shannon
Performed by Aretha Franklin
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Group by arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Ever get that sense of incompleteness?

If so, and you enjoy it, then perhaps this is the movie for you. The casting people loaded this film with a lot of good, solid character actors, but apparently forgot a cohesive plot and a story to go with all these screen gems.

This movie goes to further serve that De Niro can make a vehicle, not matter how rusted and barely running, watchable. The way he develops his characters is always attention-grabbing and this picture is no different.

This film starts off in a bunch of different directions, then does the old bait and switch, but doesn't really go anywhere. The ending is possibly one of the worst of all time, it seems like whoever was directing this just went on whatever whim struck him at the time and at the end of two hours, the producers just got bored and stopped the show. Ultimately unfulfilling and unless you are a huge De Niro fan, a complete waste of 2 hours. If you do sit through it, please accept my best wishes that you are able to enjoy it without screaming, "Where is the payoff?" for most of the time it takes for viewing.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 October 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Night and the City

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$43,036, 18 October 1992

Gross USA:

$6,202,756

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,202,756

Company Credits

Production Co:

Penta Films, Tribeca Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1