The Pawnbroker (1964)

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

Edward Lewis Wallant (novel)
Morton S. Fine (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 April 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The Most Talked About Picture!

Plot:

A Jewish pawnbroker, victim of Nazi persecution, loses all faith in his fellow man until he realizes too late the tragedy of his actions.

Plot Keywords:

Silent Scream | Holocaust Survivor | Nazi | Pawnbroker | WWII

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Rod Steiger	...	Sol Nazerman
Geraldine Fitzgerald	...	Marilyn Birchfield
Brock Peters	...	Rodriguez
Jaime Sánchez	...	Jesus Ortiz
Thelma Oliver	...	Ortiz's Girl
Marketa Kimbrell	...	Tessie
Baruch Lumet	...	Mendel
Juano Hernandez	...	Mr. Smith
Linda Geiser	...	Ruth Nazerman
Nancy R. Pollock	...	Bertha
Raymond St. Jacques	...	Tangee
John McCurry	...	Buck
Ed Morehouse	...	Oratory Award owner
Eusebia Cosme	...	Mrs. Ortiz
Warren Finnerty	...	Savarese

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

Spanish | English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:R (Ontario) | Norway:16 | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 (bw) | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

116th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Landau Company

Trivia:

The woman who appears topless for a few moments, thus creating a mainstream movie milestone for that time, is Thelma Oliver.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the very last scene of the film, Sol pierces his left hand on a receipt spindle. When he wants out of the pawn shop, he is looking in pain at his right hand.

Quotes:

Sol Nazerman: I do not believe in God, or art, or science, or newspapers, or politics, or philosophy.
Jesus Ortiz: Then, Mr. Teacher, ain't there nothing you do believe in?
Sol Nazerman: Money.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Frozen Assets (1992)

Soundtrack:

Soul Bossa Nova

Is Diane Arbus somewhere around here?

"The Pawnbroker" (1964): Directed by Sidney Lumet, scored by Quincy Jones, and starring Rod Steiger. This is one of the most powerful character studies in all of film history. It's up there with "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Taxi Driver". Shot in some of the most beautiful, gritty, black and white photography, set in Harlem, often using the real environment and passersby, this work has the feel of anti-Hollywood, which is completely appropriate for the story of a Jew tortured by the memories of the Holocaust, and the environment of pawn brokering. There's not a single moment of comedy, and many moments that feel like Diane Arbus could be seen lingering nearby. Steiger's ability to express withheld expression – anger and pain trying to burst from his impenetrable shell - is awe inspiring. When I first saw this film in the 60's, I knew I wanted to see everything this man did.