Gloria (1980)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

John Cassavetes

Writer:

John Cassavetes (writer)

Release Date:

19 September 1980 (West Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

She attempted to beat the mob at their own game.

Plot:

Jack Dawn and his family are eliminated by the mob, because he was their accountant and was keeping a personal copy of their records...

Plot Keywords:

Puerto Rican | New York City | Neighbor | Statue Of Liberty | Restaurant

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Julie Carmen	...	Jeri Dawn
Gena Rowlands	...	Gloria Swenson
John Adames	...	Phil Dawn
Tony Knesich	...	1st Man / Gangster
Gregory Cleghorne	...	Kid in Elevator
Buck Henry	...	Jack Dawn
Lupe Garnica	...	Margarita Vargas
Jessica Castillo	...	Joan Dawn
Tom Noonan	...	2nd Man / Gangster
Ronald Maccone	...	3rd Man / Gangster
George Yudzevich	...	Heavy Set Man
Gary Howard Klar	...	Irish cop (as Gary Klar)
William E. Rice	...	TV Newscaster
Frank Belgiorno	...	Riverside Drive Man #5
J.C. Quinn	...	Riverside Drive Man #4

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:AA (original rating) | Iceland:12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:PG | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Peru:18 | UK:15 (video rating) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The title character's name Gloria Swenson, is almost identical to that of actress Gloria Swanson.

Quotes:

Gloria Swenson: In exactly twenty seconds I'm going to start shooting through that door, so get down on your stomachs!
Phil Dawn: Gloria, what are you doing?
Gloria Swenson: I'm saving your life, stupid.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Léon (1994)

Super Movie!

This is one of my favorite movies of all times. Gena Rowlands is a powerhouse actor in this gutsy film about survival, courage and compassion set in the fast-paced, gritty New York City of the 70s. The acting all-around is exceptional. The film is riveting from beginning to end. You get swept up in Gloria's dilemma right away. The scene where she has to decide whether to save herself and turn the kid over to his assassins is very believable as you can see and feel how desperate one would be in such a dire situation. Another great scene is at a Penn Station coffee shop where she confronts the stalking mobsters at a nearby table. You can hear a pin drop in that restaurant as she stands there saying, "I'm Gloria. My hand is on my gun in my purse!" Yet another great scene is the crowded subway where she literally throws punches with one of the mobsters who has caught up with her. Everyone in that graffiti-laden subway car presses against the walls trying to get away when Gloria pulls her gun. She says as she gets off: "Ya punk! Ya Punk. Ya let a sissy beat you, huh? You punk! Go ahead, punk!." Then the subway car closes and she and the kid get away yet again. So, get lots of popcorn, turn off the phones and curl up in bed with the lights off for this one!