So I’m at home, cleaning the apartment, missing my wife, thinking about working, and idly watching Dog Day Afternoon on the teevee.
And about five minutes ago there’s that scene where the cops set up shop outside the bank and the police helicopter waves off a news chopper, and I’m getting this sense of déjà vu. Like, didn’t the actual robbery happen in Midwood or Gravesend or one of those two-family home places? Y’know, like, that street is not in that part of Brooklyn. Actually, it looks familiar. Don’t recognize the stores, but isn’t that Bishop Ford? And that's the Prospect Expressway, no? Dude! That sign says 17th Street! That’s Ninth Avenue! They filmed Dog Day Afternoon in Windsor Terrace!!
Pretty cool.
And that scene where his wife hears what’s happening over a transistor radio in a McDonald’s? That was Queens. Black-on-white street signs, instead of white-on-black, or black-on-yellow, the way God intended. (Don’t talk to me about this white-on-green thing.) The things you can get nostalgic about.
“He’s one of them Spanish kids.” I love that line.
UPDATE: This movie could have been made yesterday. I don’t mean in a zeitgeisty sort of way, not at all. And I don’t mean the clothes or cars, of course. But these little things, a discussion of cigarettes and cancer, a newscaster mentioning “the gay community,” Al Pacino’s body language. It seems more recent than 1972.
The only problem with making that movie today is that it would require a reserve and understatedness that Pacino hasn't shown since...I dont know, what was the movie he made before Sea of Love?
Posted by: Patrick | April 20, 2009 at 03:13 PM
Revolution. Which I actually saw, and can't remember, other than a scene of him hiding in a cornfield. And before that Scarface. No one can criticize Tony Montana, obviously, but I wouldn't call Pacino's performance "reserved."
But point taken. Although to be fair, I thought Pacino was pretty understated in Johnnie Brasco. No? It's been a while since I saw it.
Posted by: Noel Maurer | April 20, 2009 at 03:25 PM
Thats right, he went back to the well in Donnie (right?) Brasco. I'd totally forgotten about that movie. It was a solid mob movie with some really good performances --I remember Johnny Depp being really good too-- but it was forgotten really quickly. At least by me.
And yeah, of course it was Scarface that was the turning point.
Posted by: Patrick | April 20, 2009 at 04:01 PM
Truth be told i haven't watch Dog Day Afternoon. is it any good? would you recommend it?
Posted by: Craig Peden | February 06, 2013 at 08:21 AM
Yes. Highly.
Posted by: Noel Maurer | February 06, 2013 at 08:50 AM