Man of the Century (1999)

Fantasy-comedy about a young man who lives as if it is 1928 or so, and his encounters with modern-day women and modern-day criminals.

Director:

Adam Abraham

Writers:

Adam Abraham, Gibson Frazier

Stars:

Gibson Frazier, Cara Buono, Ian Edwards

5 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gibson Frazier	...	Johnny Twennies
Cara Buono	...	Virginia Clemens
Ian Edwards	...	Clarence
Brian Davies	...	Victor Young
Susan Egan	...	Samantha Winter
Yul Vazquez	...	Brooding Artist
Dwight Ewell	...	Richard Lancaster
Brian Kite	...	Messenger
David Margulies	...	Mr. Meyerscholtz
Anthony Rapp	...	Timothy Burns
Alfred Hyslop	...	Public Official
David Anzuelo	...	Degenerate
Sean Patrick Reilly	...	Reporter
Alan Davidson	...	Tyrus
Kevin Weisman	...	Squibb

Storyline

Johnny Twennies, a newspaper columnist in present-day New York, is a jauntily cheerful, very friendly, totally honest and upstanding young man who happens to be completely oblivious to any technological or social changes in the past 70 years. He routinely uses telegrams, a manual typewriter, and a manual toaster, and to the pleasure and despair of his girlfriend conducts his personal life in correspondingly anachronistic style. One day he's threatened by criminals who want to plant a false news story. But they've never met anyone like him before...

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Plot Keywords:

typewriter | telegram | newspaper | reference to eliot spitzer | reference to houdini | 

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Taglines:

He's Yesterday's Answer To Today's World.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Former Official site for the film - site no longer active. [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

Italian Chinese English

Release Date:

24 January 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Johnny Twennies

Filming Locations:

Soho Pharmacy - 3 Walker Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,724, 31 October 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$33,031, 14 November 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jubilee Pictures Corporation,Sun-Telegram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Feature film debut of Ian Edwards, who portrays Clarence.

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Goofs

Johnny promises his editor that he will scoop the Journal American. Johnny's character is set in the 1920s, but the New York Journal American, a Hearst newspaper, did not exist until 1937, after the merger of two Hearst newspapers, the New York Journal, and the New York American.

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Quotes

Johnny Twennies: Oh, I see. You think the world owes you a living. Well you fell for that one, hook, line and sinker.

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Connections

References Dick Tracy (1990)

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Soundtracks

The Library Opening
Written by John Rodby (as John L. Rodby)
Performed by The Jubilee Orchestra

User Reviews

Lots of fun

I've always been fascinated by the way the characters in old movies talk, with their lightning-fast wits and one-liners. So the idea of a man stuck in the 20's and speaking like those characters sounded intriguing to me. And I was impressed. Gibson Frazier perfectly inhabits his fish-out-of-water character, not missing a single beat. I can tell him and the co-writer/director did much research prior to making this movie. There are moments, like the climactic scene, which pay homage to the old slapstick farces.

"Man of the Century" is funny, original and bursting with imagination. It's an independent gem. And at only about 78 minutes, it's short and sweet. Those who are unfamiliar with old movies may not be as amused, but those who are familiar should have a ball.

My score: 7 (out of 10)