Film Snail

7.8

Dog Day Afternoon

R·1975·125m

Crime

Drama

Thriller

Crime

Drama

Thriller

Summary

Based on the true story of would-be Brooklyn bank robbers John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile. Sonny and Sal attempt a bank heist which quickly turns sour and escalates into a hostage situation and stand-off with the police. As Sonny's motives for the robbery are slowly revealed and things become more complicated, the heist turns into a media circus.

Cast

Al Pacino

Sonny

John Cazale

Sal

Charles Durning

Moretti

Chris Sarandon

Leon

James Broderick

Sheldon

Penelope Allen

Sylvia

Sully Boyar

Mulvaney

Beulah Garrick

Margaret

Carol Kane

Jenny

Sandra Kazan

Deborah

Marcia Jean Kurtz

Miriam

Amy Levitt

Maria

John Marriott

Howard

Estelle Omens

Edna

Gary Springer

Stevie

Carmine Foresta

Carmine

Lance Henriksen

Murphy

Floyd Levine

Phone Cop

Dick Anthony Williams

Limo Driver

Dominic Chianese

Father

Marcia Haufrecht

Neighbor

Judith Malina

Mother

Susan Peretz

Angie

William Bogert

TV Anchorman

Ron Cummins

TV Reporter

Jay Gerber

Sam

Philip Charles MacKenzie

Doctor

Chu Chu Malave

Maria's Boyfriend

Lionel Pina

Pizza Boy

Robert Costanzo

New York Policeman (uncredited)

Ron Gilbert

Detective (uncredited)

Kenneth McMillan

Commissioner (uncredited)

Ed Metzger

Sgt. Murray (uncredited)

Lynette Sheldon

Sadie (uncredited)

Alan Berger

Lout (uncredited)

James Bulleit

Sgt. Gillis (uncredited)

Todd Everett

Cop (uncredited)

Raymond Serra

New York Plainclothes Cop (uncredited)

Tom Towles

Cop (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Sidney Lumet

Book

Leslie Waller

Book

P.F. Kluge

Book

Thomas Moore

Screenplay

Frank Pierson

Reviews

talisencrw

August 23, 2016

Recently I have gotten on kicks for both watching and appreciating the works of director Sidney Lumet and the classic (i.e., 70's) performances of Al Pacino. Thus I came across this film, which I had on DVD forever. It'll interesting to watch the recent documentary on the character Pacino portrays, 'The Dog'--just found out about it earlier today. I loved Lumet's films he made before this that I've seen--'12 Angry Men', 'The Fugitive Kind', 'The Hill', 'The Anderson Tapes' and 'Murder on the Orient Express'--and he's superb at getting the gradual self-destruction of his characters that just seethes through the screen.

At this point, Pacino could do no wrong in his work--he had that firm grasp on his immense talent and just what he needed from it to do remarkable work, some of the finest characterizations in contemporary cinema. Do both he and yourself a favour and don't bother with anything he's made since 'Heat'.