The Panic in Needle Park (1971)

Director:

Jerry Schatzberg

Writers:

James Mills (book)
Joan Didion (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 October 1971 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

In the dark corner of the city, they found light

Plot:

This movie is a stark portrayal of life among a group of heroin addicts who hang out in "Needle Park" in New York City...

Plot Keywords:

New York City | Drug Use | Needle | Drug Dealing | Arrest

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Bobby
Kitty Winn	...	Helen
Alan Vint	...	Narcotics Detective Hotch
Richard Bright	...	Hank
Kiel Martin	...	Chico
Michael McClanathan	...	Sonny
Warren Finnerty	...	Sammy
Marcia Jean Kurtz	...	Marcie
Raul Julia	...	Marco
Angie Ortega	...	Irene
Larry Marshall	...	Mickey
Paul Mace	...	Whitey
Nancy MacKay	...	Penny
Gil Rogers	...	Robins
Joe Santos	...	Detective DiBono
Paul Sorvino	...	Samuels
Arnold Williams	...	Freddy
Vic Ramano	...	Santo
Bryant Fraser	...	Prep School Boy
Dora Weissman	...	Esther the Pawnshop Lady
Sully Boyar	...	Doctor
Florence Tarlow	...	Ward Nurse
Rutanya Alda	...	Admitting Nurse
Anthony Palmer	...	Hotel Clerk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anthony Caso	...	Drug Addict (uncredited)
Jeffrey Walker	...	Prisoner #1 (uncredited)

Directed by
Jerry Schatzberg

Writing credits
James Mills		(book)
Joan Didion		(writer) &
John Gregory Dunne		(writer)

Produced by
Dominick Dunne	....	producer
Roger M. Rothstein	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
Adam Holender

Film Editing by
Evan A. Lottman		(as Evan Lottman)

Art Direction by
Murray P. Stern

Set Decoration by
Philip Smith

Costume Design by
Jo Ynocencio

Makeup Department
Herman Buchman	....	makeup artist
Phil Naso	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Roger M. Rothstein	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Greenhut	....	first assistant director
James F. Inch	....	second assistant director
Paul J. Crossey	....	dga trainee (uncredited)

Art Department
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	property master
Edward Garzero	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Dennis Maitland	....	sound mixer
Al Nahmias	....	sound editor
Dick Vorisek	....	sound re-recordist
Katherine Wenning	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Edward R. Brown	....	camera operator (as Edward Brown)
Adger W. Cowans	....	still photographer
Robert Dolan	....	gaffer
James W. Finnerty	....	key grip (as James M. Finnerty)
Emmanuel Metaxas	....	assistant camera
Ron Zarilla	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
George Newman	....	wardrobe
Marilyn Putnam	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Martin Plachter	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Raymond Hartwick	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Nancy Hopton	....	script supervisor (as Nancy Tonery)
Shari Leibowitz	....	production secretary
Ruth A. Oberdorfer	....	secretary to producer
Sue Dwiggins	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Eileen Peterson	....	publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Didion-Dunne Inc.
• Gadd Productions Corp.
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Abril Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Media Cooperation One (MC-One) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Shocking Videos (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• Video Beat (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Beat (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Marion Dougherty Associates  casting

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:MA (cable rating) | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1971) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:PG | USA:R (original rating)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Didion-Dunne Inc.

Trivia:

There is no music in this movie whatsoever.

Quotes:

Hank: What are you gonna do?
Helen: Well, I'm not gonna do it with you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Planting the Seeds of Evil (2006) (V)

A minor seventies masterpiece.

The film is a winner. In this day an age of lukewarm, banal 70's retro chic it's nice to see the real thing. Al Pacino turns in a naturalistic speedball performance, and as a slice of New York grunge it's pretty damn fine. If you want plots though buy an allotment. But, you do get to follow various drugged out cats through the scuzzball minutia of their lives, and among the grimy spoons, and zesty needlework there is even time for a few low key gags. I think it is a minor 70's classic. Not for everyone's tastes, but if you like The King Of Marvin Gardens, and the strange dabblings of Paul Morrisey & co you will dig it. It is obvious that both Kids/Another Day In Paradise and Drugstore Cowboy are very much in its debt.