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 harry houdini | 

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Taglines:

He's Johnny Twennies, and boy does he have moxie!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anne Jackson's cameo is billed under the assumed name, "Madame Du Froid". This seems to be a reference to the fact that her husband, Eli Wallach, once played "Mr. Freeze" in Batman (1966).

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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: When you get slapped, you'll take it and like it!

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Connections

References The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

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Soundtracks

Mine
Written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Performed by Lester Lanin And His Orchestra
Courtesy of Epic Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

This is the 'darndest' film - B/W, musical segments, quick wits, playfully enjoyable.

What a delightful film - I finally got to see "Man of the Century" on Cable IFC and simply tickled by Gibson Frazier's portrayal of Johnny. Oh yes, he's 'dead on'. He co-wrote the screenplay with director Adam Abraham and it's only natural he played the lead role Johnny Twennies. "Man of the Century" 1999 is Abraham and Frazier's debut feature film. It is in black and white - what a stroke of genius of a decision. The prologue is a brief segment shot like a silent film - I just watched with bemusement. I like it already. Worry not, once Johnny opens his mouth, he couldn't stop! He'd even break into songs as the occasion arises.

Johnny is a newspaper man in New York City in the 90's with a mindset of the 20's era - he walks, talks, interacts, reacts as if he's in the (roaring) '20s, immersed in songs of Irvin Berlin, Gershwin and Gershwin. There is action alright - threatening gangsters, romantic assumptions, comedy of errors… Of course all's well that ends well like everything 20's, but how? Check out the film! It's a breezy enjoyable 77 mins.

Abraham and Frazier are also the film's producers and music producers, with many a-family members and friends included as part of the crew. Soundtrack contains: Look for the Silver Lining (Kern and DeSylva), Diga Diga Do (McHugh and Fields), Dancing in the Dark (Schwartz and Dietz), You were meant for me (Brown and Freed). The supporting cast is just as wonderfully talented: Cara Buono as Virginia, Susan Egan as Samantha, Anthony Rapp as Timmy. Noticed Bobby Short is in there along with jazzy swinging tunes. Ann Jackson is Madam Du Froid, Johnny's Mom.

If you like director and choreographer Rob Marshall's musical "Chicago" (with Zellweger, Gere, Zeta Jones, Reilly, Latifah), also give "Man of the Century" a chance. Smaller budget (shot in 23-days in NYC), but an endearing and thoroughly entertaining film! "Believe you me, it's quite the berries!"

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

Gross USA:

$34,857

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$34,857

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