Atlantic City (1980)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Louis Malle

Writer:

John Guare (written by)

Release Date:

3 April 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

She made him become what he always wanted to be - a lover, a hero, a rich man...and a killer!

Plot:

Lou is a small time gangster, who thinks he used to be something big. He meets up with a younger girl...

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Cocaine | Drug Dealer | Motel | Atlantic City New Jersey

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 23 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Lou Pascal
Susan Sarandon	...	Sally Matthews
Kate Reid	...	Grace Pinza
Michel Piccoli	...	Joseph
Hollis McLaren	...	Chrissie
Robert Joy	...	Dave Matthews
Al Waxman	...	Alfie
Robert Goulet	...	Singer in hospital
Moses Znaimer	...	Felix
Angus MacInnes	...	Vinnie
Sean Sullivan	...	Buddy
Wallace Shawn	...	Waiter (as Wally Shawn)
Harvey Atkin	...	Bus driver
Norma Dell'Agnese	...	Jeanne
Louis Del Grande	...	Mr. Shapiro

Also Known As:

Atlantic City (USA)
Atlantic City, USA (Canada: English title)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Canada | France

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | West Germany:16 (f) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Iceland:L | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Albany Avenue, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

International Cinema

Trivia:

Robert Mitchum was considered to play the lead. However once the producer had seen he'd had a face-lift recently they lost interest.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The elephant-shaped building Chrissie sees in the opening sequence is Lucy the Elephant, a landmark in Margate, NJ. Margate is south of Atlantic City. The vehicle she is in is clearly traveling south, AWAY from Atlantic City.

Quotes:

Lou: I'm a lover!
Grace Pinza: Numbnuts!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Screaming Skull (#10.12)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Song of India

Lancaster's Last Great Role

Burt Lancaster gives an astonishing performance aching with melancholy in this lovely, quiet little film by Louis Malle. He plays a one-time gangster (in his own mind at least quite a big shot) who, like the city that gives the film its title, isn't what he used to be. Susan Sarandon, in an early-career performance, plays a woman who works in one of the casinos and whose life intersects with Lancaster's because of a drug deal her no-good husband was involved in. The two don't ever become friends exactly, but they each get something from the other until the sad ending, when Lancaster realizes that there isn't a place in his life for Sarandon, and that there may not be a place in the world for him.

The film is a low-key character study that completely satisfies, and gives Lancaster perhaps his last great role.

Grade: A