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The Pawnbroker
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The Pawnbroker (1964) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   2,747 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Morton S. Fine (screenplay) &
David Friedkin (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Pawnbroker on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 April 1965 (USA) more
Genre:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 7 wins & 5 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
The Pawnbroker Movie Review
 (From MoviesOnline. 22 April 2009, 8:00 PM, PDT)

The Pawnbroker Movie Review
 (From MoviesOnline. 19 April 2009, 8:00 PM, PDT)

User Reviews:
Classic, one of my all-time favorites more (54 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Rod Steiger ... Sol Nazerman

Geraldine Fitzgerald ... Marilyn Birchfield

Brock Peters ... Rodriguez
Jaime Sánchez ... Jesus Ortiz (as Jaime Sanchez)
Thelma Oliver ... Ortiz' Girl
Marketa Kimbrell ... Tessie
Baruch Lumet ... Mendel
Juano Hernandez ... Mr. Smith
Linda Geiser ... Ruth
Nancy R. Pollock ... Bertha
Raymond St. Jacques ... Tangee
John McCurry ... Buck
Ed Morehouse ... Robinson
Eusebia Cosme ... Mrs. Ortiz
Warren Finnerty ... Savarese
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack Ader ... Morton (uncredited)
Marc Alexander ... Rubin (uncredited)
Charles Dierkop ... Robinson (uncredited)

Morgan Freeman ... Man on Street (uncredited)
Hilda Haynes ... Woman (uncredited)
Marianne Kanter ... Joan (uncredited)
E.M. Margolese ... Papa (uncredited)
Donnie Melvin ... Nazerman's Son (uncredited)
Reni Santoni ... Junkie selling radio (uncredited)
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Directed by
Sidney Lumet 
 
Writing credits
Morton S. Fine (screenplay) (as Morton Fine) &
David Friedkin (screenplay)

Edward Lewis Wallant (novel)

Produced by
Philip Langner .... producer
Roger Lewis .... producer
Joseph Manduke .... associate producer
Worthington Miner .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Quincy Jones 
 
Cinematography by
Boris Kaufman 
 
Film Editing by
Ralph Rosenblum 
 
Casting by
Jessica Levy 
 
Production Design by
Richard Sylbert 
 
Costume Design by
Anna Hill Johnstone 
 
Makeup Department
Ed Callaghan .... hair stylist
Bill Herman .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
Ulu Grosbard .... unit manager
Mel Howard .... assistant production manager
Al Markim .... executive in charge of production (as Alfred Markim)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dan Eriksen .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Albert Brenner .... assistant art director (as Al Brenner)
Jack Flaherty .... set dresser
Ken Thompson .... construction chief
Thomas Wright .... chief props (as Tom Wright)
 
Sound Department
Jack Fitzstephens .... sound editor
James A. Gleason .... sound mixer (as James Gleason)
Alan Heim .... sound editor
Dennis Maitland .... sound
James Perdue .... sound (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Howard Fortune .... chief electrician (as Buddy Fortune)
Edward Knott .... chief grip (as Eddie Knott)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
George Newman .... wardrobe
Marilyn Putnam .... wardrobe
 
Editorial Department
Sheila Bakerman .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Billy Byers .... orchestrator (as William Byers)
Quincy Jones .... orchestrator
Jack Sheldon .... musician: trumpet (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Belle Iacobellis .... production secretary
Maggie James .... script supervisor
Ely A. Landau .... presenter (as Ely Landau)
Dana Steadley .... production secretary
Herbert R. Steinmann .... presenter
Harold Reidman .... location manager (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Runtime:
116 min
Country:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Since the film was black and white, the blood seen is actually chocolate syrup. more
Goofs:
Continuity: As Jesus runs down the street, his shirt changes from a V-neck to a turtle neck, and then back again. more
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.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Indie Sex: Censored (2007) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
I Don't Wanna Be a Loser more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
14 out of 14 people found the following review useful.
Classic, one of my all-time favorites, 9 July 2002
10/10
Author: pbasofin from Dixon, CA

It's strange to say that this very grim movie is one of my all-time favorites. "The Pawnbroker" might make you suicidal in it's deep cynicism of the human condition, but I think there is a positive side to the film. The main character, a deeply-wounded Holocaust survivor, initial has no feelings for anyone or anything--he's just going through the motions of life. But by the end of the film he learns that people are not all bad--and maybe that's the most shocking revelation of them all!

Certainly Rod Steiger's greatest role. Do see it.

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more (54 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Pawnbroker (1964)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Score mikesh
Hand / Spike Ending richsass
First movie... TEXCougar
Do Film Students Still Watch this? jnmoviefan
The ending was pretty bad... starmarker
Where were the shots of the el train filmed? bruce-k-morrison
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