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Former Official site for the film - site no longer active.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

The name of the newspaper where Johnny works is the "New York Sun Telegram," a fictional New York City newspaper. On the page with Johnny's column are two interesting references, the first, "Wisconsin News," is directly over his column, and the second, an article entitled "Grocers View Hearst Film" is a reference to newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who owned New York City newspapers, first called the New York Journal, and the New York American, and later merged to become the New York Journal American. Johnny promises his editor that he will scoop the Journal American.

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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 The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

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Soundtracks

Dancing in the Dark
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Performed by Lester Lanin And His Orchestra
Courtesy of Epic Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

fun throwback

I read Ebert's review of Man of the Century back in 1999, and wanted to see it ever since. Just noticed it on the Blockbuster new releases shelf and immediately forget what it was I went there for. What a treat this little gem is! The wisecracking dialogue, the homage to old movies, the snappy old songs and even some neat dance scenes contribute to the offbeat comedy. Unless you are a teenager with a 5 minute attention span and a chip on your shoulder, you will love this film.