THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE
US, 1984,121 minutes, Colour.
Eric Roberts, Geraldine Page, Mickey Rourke, Daryl Hannah, Kenneth Mc Millan, Burt Young, M. Emmet Walsh, Tony Musante.
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg.
The Pope of Greenwich Village is a slice of New York life, two young men with dreams and ambitions, caught up in crime and self-destructive moves. Mickey Rourke, earlier in his career, showed the smooth style and skill in acting which he showed in later films.
Roberts had made comparatively few films, and showed also an idiosyncratic style in acting. The cast is strong and includes Daryl Hannah as the girlfriend, Geraldine Page in an Oscar-nominated role as a detective's mother, Kenneth Mc Millan as a safebreaker and Burt Young as a Mafia type.
The film was made in the streets of Greenwich Village and has an authentic atmosphere. It is based on a novel by Vincent Patrick, who wrote the screenplay. There is a use of Frank Sinatra's 'Summer Wind' and a score by Dave Grusin). Direction is by Stuart Rosenberg, who has made a range of films from Cool Hand Luke, Pocket Money, Hall of Mirrors.
1. A piece of Americana, New York life, impact for American audiences, nonAmericans?
2. The use of the city atmosphere and locations, the feel and look of Greenwich Village? The style of life, range of characters and incidents? Musical score and themes? Frank Sinatra's 'Summer Wind'? The Italian and Irish background of the village?
3. The mean streets, the way of life, good and bad, ambitions and dreams, power and violence, corruption? The serious and the touches of the comic?
4. The portrait of Charlie: dressing to Frank Sinatra's song, work at the restaurant, relationship with the customers, his dreams, the money, bets, Paulie, being sacked? The background of his family, his ex-wife, the boy, the pigeons? His relationship with Diane and her Anglo- Saxon background? The aerobics class, at home, the discussions about pregnancy? His love for Diane, her expectations? The influence of Paulie, company, affection, the plan, visiting Barney? The money and visiting the restaurant with Diane, the possibility of achievement? Barney, the execution of the robbery, nervousness, the detective's death, his concern about the death, the escape, the aftermath? His decision to help Barney with the money? Going to the races? Diane and her straight talk to him, leaving, his drinking? Ex-wife and son? Paulie and the mutilation, helping him, the decision to go to Bed Bug, threatening him with the tape? The finale after Bed Bug's death, with Paulie - what possibilities?
5. Paulie as his cousin, his appearance and concern about it, waiting tables, money deals, talk and dreams, the racehorse, Charlie getting sacked? The plan and going to Barney? His talking too much, Bed Bug? The robbery, his attitude towards the death, towards the money? Talking, Pete and his interrogation at the racecourse? His lack of concern about Barney? Going to the races, the mutilation? Charlie's help, telling him that. he had revealed names? His killing Paulie without qualm? Walking off with Charlie? To what?
6. Diane as attractive, the WASP style, aerobics, living with Charlie, wanting a child, understanding of his hopes, the visit to the restaurant, basic honesty, telling him plainly about himself, going?
7. The Mafia types, sitting in the restaurants, exercising their power? Bed Bug and his contacts, with the detective? Pete and the members of the gang, interrogations, mutilations? The races? Wanting information about robberies? The police tapes?
8. Mrs Ritter and her relationship with Walter, love for him, manner of talking, drinking and smoking, tough? His death, being interviewed by the police, her offhand manner, her talk about her brother the priest, her son's piety, threatening to go to the media?
9. The police, styles, investigation, Walter, the tape for his security, his death?
10. Barney, his age, his eyes, experience, eating junk food, planning the job and his wife's looking in, the doing of the job, his rationale even though Walter was dead, having to leave the city, the farewell to his wife?
11. Portrait of New York? New Yorkers? A particular lifestyle?
