Dog Day Afternoon Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
The robbery should have taken 10 minutes. 4 hours later, the bank was like a circus sideshow. 8 hours later, it was the hottest thing on live T.V. 12 hours later, it was all history. And it's all true
In August, 1972, Sonny Wortzik robbed a bank. 250 cops, the F.B.I., 8 hostages and 2,000 onlookers will never forget what took place.
The Most Bizarre Bank Siege Ever
Anything can happen during the dog days of summer. On August 22nd, 1972, everything did
Based upon a real-life story that happened in the early seventies in which the Chase Manhattan Bank in Flatbush, Brooklyn, was held siege by a gay bank robber determined to steal enough money for his male lover to undergo a sex change operation. On a hot summer afternoon, the First Savings Bank of Brooklyn is held up by Sonny and Sal, two down-and-out characters. Although the bank manager and female tellers agree not to interfere with the robbery, Sonny finds that there's actually nothing much to steal, as most of the cash has been picked up for the day. Sonny then gets an unexpected phone call from Police Captain Moretti, who tells him the place is surrounded by the city's entire police force. Having few options under the circumstances, Sonny nervously bargains with Moretti, demanding safe escort to the airport and a plane out of the country in return for the bank employees' safety.
| Al Pacino | Sonny Wortzik |
| John Cazale | Sal |
| Charles Durning | Det. Sgt. Eugene Moretti |
| Chris Sarandon | Leon Shermer |
| Sully Boyar | Mulvaney |
| James Broderick | Sheldon |
| John Marriott | Howard |
| Gary Springer | Stevie |
| Lance Henriksen | Murphy |
| Dominic Chianese | Vi's Husband - Father |
| Floyd Levine | Phone Cop |
| Carmine Foresta | Carmine |
| William Bogert | TV Anchorman |
| Ron Cummins | TV Reporter |
| Jay Gerber | Sam |
8.10 out of 10 (37611 votes)
Visitor Reviews
classic Al
posted on 25 Jul 2009Attica! Attica!This was probably the first 'R'-rated movie I was allowed to see (or maybe it was DEATH WISH?). And I really haven't seen too many better ones in the succeeding thirty years. Pacino was still relatively fresh in the eyes of the American public, as we (and when I say "we", I'm speaking for the U.S. audiences of 1975---I caught up with his earlier work later on through the wonder of VHS) had only witnessed his cooler & less manic acting performances of SERPICO & the two GODFATHERS. But he was allowed to cut loose here, and cut loose he did. It's pretty much a non-stop roller-coaster ride of emotions as the DOG DAY unfolds.John Cazale (who will always remind me of Mike Krzyzewski {"Coach K.} from Duke U.) does a fine job in his own understated, 'psychoish' way. But this is really Al's show, and he doesn't disappoint. So pull up a chair and watch "The Midget" (as he's referred to in Robert Evans' autobio.) at the top of his game.
I've got one thing to say about this film...
posted on 19 Jul 2009Stunning. Al Pacino is totally awesome as Sonny, it's not quite a one-man-show, but he certainly takes center stage. "Stage" being the perfect word - we get a real stage-play feel created mainly by the strong acting and virtually singular location.
Stupid, boring, overrated
posted on 16 Jun 2009This movie sucks, plain and simple. Every review written thus far says the same thing, "Pacino is brilliant," "great directing." If good acting and good directing was all it took to make a movie good, then I would agree with everyone. Unfortunately, I also like an interesting plot, something this movie sorely lacks. Dog Day is over 2 hours long. In less than 30 minutes, Sonny and Sal have already held up the bank and the cops are waiting outside. That's when I realized that I had over 90 minutes to watch Al Pacino yell at the cops outside while the cops yell back at him. BORING. It took great discipline to sit still for the whole thing. This movie is proof that not everything that happens in real life is interesting. Too bad the makers of Dog Day Afternoon didn't realize this.
As Good As Pacino Gets
posted on 08 Jun 2009Thirty years after "Dog Day Afternoon" was made, both Al Pacino's performance and the rest of the movie hold up extremely well. I had forgotten just how good everyone and everything connected with this movie are, from the direction of Sidney Lumet to the performances of the most minor of the actors.
This film is based on a true story of a most inexperienced criminal wanna-be who attempted to rob a bank on a sultry August day in 1972 in Brooklyn, New York where nothing goes right from the very beginning. One of the three robbers bails out immediately, and Sonny (Al Pacino) tips off a man across the street from the bank as to what is going on by setting on fire some bank documents. He's really such a good boy at heart though, in spite of his posturing, making sure that all the bank hostages get to go to the bathroom, by tipping the pizza delivery person and warning everybody in the bank that "I'm a Catholic and I don't want to hurt anybody." His motives for robbery are noble as well. He needed the money to pay for the surgery to make his boy friend into a woman. Never mind that his real-life wife and children wound up in welfare.
In spite of the seriousness of what is going on-- it really isn't a good idea to rob banks so we suspect that Sonny and his pal Sal will not escape to Algeria as is their plan-- there are many comic moments to this bungled affair. One of my favorites is when asked by Sonny what foreign country he wants to escape to, the taciturn Sal (John Cazale) selects Wyoming.
I do not remember what movie this one competed with but it was nominated for six Academy Awards including best actor. I suspect that Pacino should have won.
Loved it
posted on 20 May 2009I absolutely loved this movie, if only for Al Pacino's performance. He was beautiful to watch in this role as an amateur bank robber in a crime-gone-wrong. I adore Pacino's acting and this film definitely in on par with his other work. Viewers may also notice Chris Sarandon's great performance as Leon. The casting was excellent and the movie, though tragic, is just fascinating to watch. Rent it, if you haven't seen it.
..Sonny should have gone to Mom..
posted on 17 May 2009This movie is difficult to review, because the list of actors-actresses don't tell you who played whom. The atmosphere inside the bank was definitely controlled by the group of ladies who were being held hostage. At the beginning of the robbery, Pacino (Sonny) was all macho to convince the hostages he was serious; they were terrified. Farther along into the robbery, the ladies could see by "Sonny's" concern for their safety, and became almost relaxed. His early release of the bank-guard and his immediate calling for a doctor to treat the manager - plus the pizzas! - let them see beneath his blustery."Sal," on the other hand, was sinister but could not have been a Vietnam-veteran, because his role originally was written for an 18-year-old. So, we are left to decide for ourselves how he became so sinister so young in life. I prefer to accept he was older and would kill without remorse. Cazale portrayed that characteristic superbly, although we are left to wonder at his intelligence, just the "enforcer" to back-up "Sonny"? Another fact from "trivia" tells us that the real robbers got $213,000, quite a nice haul for that period. Frank Pierson's award-winning Oscar heightened the entire disaster of the robbery, telling us there was only $1100.00 in the vault - it did not mention it was a Chase bank. Again we are left to decide for ourselves "and it is all true" really is, OR not. I prefer to stick to the script.........except to disbelieve that the character "Leon" was a woman trapped in the body of a man. Nah! "Leon" was too handsome, although he did come-across as a trifle sissified. Other "users" say this was his first major role; great acting, but I don't remember any other role he played. Maybe I'm too old. "Trivia" also tells us that the telephone-conversation between "Sonny" and "Leon" was not scripted, as many other scenes were not......purely improvised. To me, THAT would have been the best scene in the entire film, not even considering how realistic and believable the synergy between the two characters was. Wonder what Pierson thought about that?Younger reviewers often want to believe that not much was happening during the '70s. They weren't around. Surprise ! sex-change operations were old hat by then, the best being performed at universities many years before. Nothing really controversial in that theme. Not everyone could just walk-up and have the operation done. They had to live in female clothing for one year pre-surgery and pass many psychic therapies. How ironic "Sonny" decided to head for Algeria - that's where American men were mutilated in the first operations........"Leon" would have felt right at home. So, Young-uns, do a little research before making serious-sounding statements. I knew several "trans-gendered" people post-surgery long before the '70s......."Sonny's" character would lead us to think of him as being Italian, not Polish. Because of Pacino's role in "The Godfather" movies, I repeat from other reviews that The Mafia were homosexual, too - not too many movies about them bring that out. In the film, "Sonny" says "you gotta have a little fun in life", after the ladies in the bank hear the TV-reporter say "two homosexuals" - which would leave us to believe all this gay-life wasn't too unusual to him. When the NY detective sees "Leon", he registers a little surprise, then goes-on to handle the situation with brilliance - bravo! for Durning. NO New York detective is going to be surprised when a little homosexuality comes into play.I'm not really a fan of "The Godfather" films, so I rate this role by Pacino as one of his best. "Scarface" was a melodrama, to me - way over the top. "Dog Day Afternoon" - in all of its unlikeliness - could have happened just as it was scripted. Every one of the actors-actresses was stellar. The crowds outside in the street were a big contribution to the excitement of the film. The FBI-guys were right-on - I am left to wonder why they were determined to "take care of Sal" - what had he done but robbed a bank? No investigation of the shooter ?The will-writing scene was particularly moving. Perhaps that was "Sonny's" first inkling for the dance to get into the bus, all the parade to the airport, the jet - everything - was just another situation to go wrong. Not one of the reviewers mentioned that he did not spend a time long in prison, and his name has not surfaced again, that I know of. It's difficult to not sympathize with the villains of this movie, because they actually did nothing wrong, but attempt to rob the bank. Some bank-robbers would have been so taken-aback to discover the vault empty, they may have mowed everyone down out of anger.This story gives us much insight into how individuals react to unpleasant incidents, but get to take part in a story for the grandkids.......let's face it, it takes an extra-ordinarily moral person not to be tempted to become wealthy by robbing banks, otherwise there wouldn't be so many dangerous Fridays in the banking-business. I'll stay poor from fear and weakness......."Dog Day Afternoon" gave me another reason to live less dangerously. This is a 10-out-of-ten all around......even without a musical score
Absolutely brilliant filmmaking!
posted on 30 Apr 2009This script is flawless. The mood in this movie is set from the start. The true story of the ludicrous bank robbery is one people really won't forget once seeing this movie. Al Pacino is mezmerizing as Sonny. His performance is so heartwrenching...you don't know how things are going to turn out, but you just want him to be able to finally breathe. And his good natured trusting mentality really skews our perspective of what crime really is. His sidewalk cries of "Attaca, Attaca" were inspired. The direction is stellar. Lumet at his finest sets the tone for the film using the everyday 70's atmosphere. If you haven't seen it, you're really missing out on an experience.
Amazing
posted on 20 Apr 2009This film is simply superb. It is so refreshing to watch a movie that is so entertaining and captivating without being filled with the usual high-speed action, flashing lights and violence that you would normally expect in a movie of this genre.The brilliance of this movie lies in the performances of the characters- it undoubtedly has one of the best casts in any movie ever made. Every word spoken, every action, every look by every character is immaculate in its intention. The film also gives us what I believe is one of Pacino's best performances, from start to finish he is utterly enthralling, particularly in the famous 'ATTICA!' scene, the scene where he is speaking on the phone to Leon and then his wife and of course the scene where he is creating his will.To conclude, I loved this film.
An EXCELLENT thriller
posted on 11 Apr 2009What else can I say?
"Dog Day Afternoon" has great acting, a flawless direction, and intense thrilling scenes. Pacino's performance is one of his bests, and Chris Sarandon gave another good performance -as always-. I really believe Pacino is a bank robber!. Another interesting fact, is that there's no soundtrack so you can say that you are watching a real robbery.-sPoiler-Don't watch this movie if you are depressed, the shocking ending may disturb you.
Kiss me. When I'm being f*cked, I like to get kissed a lot.
posted on 28 Feb 2009Does the media make the news or do they report the news. The media presence has an effect on what is happening. When the media observes an action, it changes. Soon the characters are playing to the media.This is all occurring as Al Pacino is trying to get money for his lover to get an operation. This go wrong from the start and, before they can escape, the police arrive with Charles Durning in the lead.Pacino and During turn it all into a circus that makes it impossible to get anywhere. One girl even has a chance to escape and she goes back in so as not to miss being the center of media attention.Sonny's (Pacino) partner Sal is played by John Cazale, who only made a handful of films, all of them pretty memorable. Most would remember him as Fredo in The Godfather. He died shortly after his last film, The Deer Hunter.We also see the Stockholm Syndrome at work as the girls start getting comfortable with Sonny.His conversations with his wife (Susan Peretz), his lover (Chris Sarandon), and his mom (Judith Malina) all added to the excitement.One of the best movies of the 70s, a tour de force for Pacino, and definitely a movie that stands the test of time.
Possibly Pacino's best performance and simply a great film
posted on 22 Feb 2009Dog Day Afternoon is the story of Sonny an incompetent bank robber and his partner Sal as they bungle their way through their first heist to an ultimately tragic conclusion.Pacino is at his best in this film in a career filled with legendary performances (The Godfather, Serpico etc) this ranks for me as his best. Some how from the outset he makes us feel sympathy for Sonny who more than likely isn't actually a very nice guy (he is after all robbing a bank!). Backed up by by a similarly excellent performance by John Cazale (a tragedy he died at 43 leaving only five performances on film) as Sal his un-stable partner. Veteran Charles Durning is perfect for the role of the in over his head Policeman who has to deal with the media storm as well as the hostage situation.As the heist spirals out of control all involved lose the plot with the highlight being the arrival of Sonny's 'wife' to the scene. It's then we find out his true motivation and how his struggle to break free from the everyday mundane life he leads has lead him to such a drastic course of action.Direction and script are superb with everything just right always serious in tone but there are moments of laugh out loud madness. That it's based on a true story makes it's emotional punch even stronger.Entertaining, involving and thought provoking everything a serious movie should be 9/10
A rarity in it being both simple and complex.
posted on 13 Feb 2009DDA has got to be a must see for every movie fan. The balancing act between its humor and pathos is a rare accomplishment. Pacino molds his role masterfully. Consider when you watch the movie that it essentially takes place in 3 locations -- the bank, the police HQ, and the street. Yet so much is accomplished! As much if not more so than in any of today's overblown and CGI-created films. It's the film's simplicity that makes it so powerful and universal. John Cazale is a tragic riot as Pacino's accomplice. This film is so multi-layered. its entertaining and funny and sad all at the same time. A rarity in it being both simple and complex. This is one of my all-time favorite movies. Can you tell?
Great movie!
posted on 05 Feb 2009This is a great movie! Al Pacino (very young at this time) plays a way too stressed out homosexual, Sonny Wortzik, that is robbing a bank. I'll leave you to see why he's robbing this bank, but this movie is based on a true story that ACTUALLY HAPPENED. It is funny, drama(ish) and bitingly real. However, the movie does tend to be a little on the slow-moving side, being over 2 hours in length. Very good, though. Al Pacino does a great job acting.
Pacino in his prime
posted on 05 Jan 2009Watch the world's most intense actor give one of his best performances in this Lumet Classic which is one of my top 5 movies rite after Serpico . See this move ! . One of the most amazing points of his performance is that it came rite after his cold ruthless performance in The Godfather Part 2 and he's completely changed . No makeup , no stupid deniro method gimmicks . His whole mannerisms , his style is different . Kudos
Smart Puppy
posted on 04 Oct 2008Spoilers herein.This was back when Pacino had control of himself. He's fun to watch. It's an energetic style of acting that has too much `watch me act' quality to qualify for greatness. But enjoyable.Lumet scalpeled himself to the world class with `12 Angry Men,' where his camera breathed with the same rhythm of the ensemble. Here, he generally lacks that magic, and the writing isn't very tight either.But one scene is immortal, on my list of the best 50 scenes in not-excellent films. The phone conversation between Sonny and `wife' Leon is great naturalism. This is Lumet and company at their very best. Watch how the framing moves, the conversation unfolds, how we are drawn into the most intimate pathos -- how they help us escape the voyerism of the crowds right outside, and the many others listening in.This was Sarandon's first film. His excellence here and his mundane career since (including Prince Humperdink in `Princess Bride') may say something about how a director can weave an emotional potential in others.
Another masterpiece from Al Pacino (DVD)
posted on 08 Aug 2008As in each of his great performances, there's a always great story , a great director behind and amazing co-stars (look at John Cazale in his ghostly role!!!) So if Pacino seems lately to repeat in bad guy roles in second zone movies, blame his choices of scripts & directors but not his talent of acting."DDA" is really the kind of movie I like, because it is: - anti-conformist - deeply humanthe bad guys are maybe not models but they show sensitivity. The police are depicted as blind, cold and Machiavellian. It is the only movie I recall in which the gangsters seem to appear as victims.As it's happening in New-York at summer, it's a Brooklynian precursor of "Do the right thing" 10 years before.In conclusion, a must-see !
A Definite Masterpiece
posted on 27 Aug 2009In Dog Day Afternoon, Pacino gives one of the most amazing performances in film history. This is not a generalization. He indwells Sonny. Every nuance of his performance is incredibly realistic. He practically possesses the audience, as we can begin to expect certain things from him and care about him because he's played by an actor who completely subsists as him. At points when characters speak of him off-screen, speaking of things that we are surprised to hear about him, that take us aback and color his image, Pacino has prepared the size for those turning points to fit in. His improvised scenes are exceptional as well, and are in fact some of the most riveting, nail-bitingly intense scenes in the entire film. In such scenes, he is matched by the rivetingly fierce, ram-like performance of Charles Durning and Chris Sarandon's becoming fulfillment of his role.The script unfolds at a steady rate. It's a deeply developed, character-driven story, true as most already know, and offbeat as a caper film, which adds to the charm and intrigue of it. It's not a heist film about sneakiness. It's a heist film about the panic and the quickest logistic thinking one is capable of. It's about the drama rather than the mechanics of the plan, and because of that, it touches base on every emotion, all of which are perfectly balanced by Lumet's seamless tone and ambiance. Poker-faced humor occurs early on and occasionally throughout, usually dark. There are poignantly disturbing points. There are points of incredible anger, namely at the faceless, nosy public masses whose rebellious cries of one extreme in emotion can be swiftly turned to the other extreme as if there's a handle or switch based on a single ignorant notion America generally had, and has. I'm only being vague to avoid spoiling the film.Lumet opens the film with a montage of city scenes in NYC with a good getting-up-in-the- morning song and with the same indifference ends up on Pacino, Cazale and their friend waiting outside a bank in a car, an image that just happens to continue. This is a great way to demonstrate the It-could-happen-anywhereness. Lumet's overall direction of the film is beautiful, indicative once again of the masterful mainstay of cinema in the 1970s. Dog Day Afternoon is a definite masterpiece.