When a young boy's family is killed by the mob, their tough neighbor Gloria becomes his reluctant guardian. In possession of a book that the gangsters want, the pair go on the run in New York.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Julie Carmen | ... |
Jeri Dawn
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Tony Knesich | ... |
1st Man / Gangster
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Gregory Cleghorne | ... |
Kid in Elevator
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| Buck Henry | ... |
Jack Dawn
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| John Adames | ... |
Phil Dawn
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Lupe Garnica | ... |
Margarita Vargas
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Jessica Castillo | ... |
Joan Dawn
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| Tom Noonan | ... |
2nd Man / Gangster
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Ronald Maccone | ... |
3rd Man / Gangster
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George Yudzevich | ... |
Heavy Set Man
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| Gena Rowlands | ... |
Gloria Swenson
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| Gary Howard Klar | ... |
Irish Cop
(as Gary Klar)
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William E. Rice | ... |
TV Newscaster
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Frank Belgiorno | ... |
Riverside Drive Man #5
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| J.C. Quinn | ... |
Riverside Drive Man #4
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| Alex Stevens | ... |
Riverside Drive Man #7
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| Sonny Landham | ... |
Riverside Drive Man #8
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| Harry Madsen | ... |
Riverside Drive Man #6
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Shanton Granger | ... |
Car Flip Cabbie
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John Pavelko | ... |
Bank Teller
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| Ray Baker | ... |
Assistant Bank Manager
(as Raymond Baker)
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Ross Charap | ... |
Ron / Vault
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Irvin Graham | ... |
Clerk / Adams Hotel
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Michael Proscia | ... |
Uncle Joe
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T.S. Rosenbaum | ... |
Desk Clerk / Star Hotel
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Santos Morales | ... |
N.Y. Cemetery Cabbie
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Meta Shaw Stevens | ... |
Hostess
(as Meta Shaw)
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Marilyn Putnam | ... |
Waitress
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| John Finnegan | ... |
Frank
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Gaetano Lisi | ... |
Mister
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Richard M. Kaye | ... |
Penn Station Hood #3
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Steve Lefkowitz | ... |
Penn Station Hood #5
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George Poidomani | ... |
Penn Station Hood #4
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| Lawrence Tierney | ... |
Broadway Bartender
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Asa Adil Qawee | ... |
E. 104th Street Cab Driver
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Vincent Pecorella | ... |
Boy in Bitch Mother's Apt
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Iris Fernandez | ... |
Bitch Mother #1
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Jade Bari | ... |
Bitch Mother #2
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David Resnick | ... |
Subway Person #2
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Thomas J. Buckman | ... |
Man in Newark Station
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Joe Dabenigno | ... |
Man in Newark Station
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| Bill Wiley | ... |
Bellman
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John M. Sefakis | ... |
Greek Cashier
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| Val Avery | ... |
Sill
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Walter Dukes | ... |
Newark Cabbie
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Janet Ruben | ... |
Lincoln Tunnel Cabbie
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Ferruccio Hrvatin | ... |
Aldo
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| Edward Wilson | ... |
Guillermo D'Antoni
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Basilio Franchina | ... |
Tony Tanzini
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Carl Levy | ... |
Milt Cohen
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Warren Selvaggi | ... |
Pat Donovan
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Nathan Seril | ... |
The Baron
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Vladimir Drazenovic | ... |
Tonti
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Edward Jacobs | ... |
Desk Clerk / Newark Hotel
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Brad Johnston | ... |
1st Traveler
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Jerry Jaffe | ... |
Pittsburgh Cabbie
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Chris McCabe Adams | ... |
Kid Playing on Street (uncredited)
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Maja Niles | ... |
Tourist (uncredited)
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Jerry Schram | ... |
Bank Customer (uncredited)
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Filomena Spagnuolo | ... |
Old Lady (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John Cassavetes | ||
Written by
| John Cassavetes | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Stephen F. Kesten | ... | associate producer (as Steve Kesten) |
| Sam Shaw | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| Bill Conti | ||
Cinematography by
| Fred Schuler | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| George C. Villaseñor | ||
Editorial Department
| Lori Blounstein | ... | assistant editor (as Lori Bloustein) |
Casting By
| Vic Ramos | ||
Art Direction by
| Rene D'Auriac | ||
Set Decoration by
| John Godfrey | ||
Costume Design by
| Peggy Farrell | ||
Makeup Department
| Vincent Callaghan | ... | makeup artist (as Vince Callahan) |
| Verne Caruso | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| Stephen F. Kesten | ... | production manager (as Steve Kesten) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Penney Finkelman Cox | ... | dga trainee (as Penny Finkleman) |
| Tom Fritz | ... | second assistant director |
| Michael Haley | ... | first assistant director (as Mike Haley) |
| Gaetano Lisi | ... | second unit director |
Art Department
| Romare Bearden | ... | paintings |
| William Lucek | ... | chargeman scenic (as Bill Lucek) |
| Walter Stocklin | ... | property master (as Wally Stocklin) |
| Dave Weinman | ... | leadman (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Wayne Artman | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Tom Beckert | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Jeff Bushelman | ... | sound effects |
| Stan Gordon | ... | sound |
| Jack C. Jacobsen | ... | sound mixer |
| Michael Jiron | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Dennis Maitland | ... | sound mixer (as Dennis Maitland Sr.) |
| Tod A. Maitland | ... | boom operator (as Tod Maitland) |
| James Perdue | ... | sound recordist |
| Daniel Rosenblum | ... | sound recordist (as Danny Rosenblum) |
| Pat Somerset | ... | sound effects |
Special Effects by
| Connie Brink | ... | special effects |
| Al Griswold | ... | special effects (as Al Griswald) |
| Ron Ottesen | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Victoria Vanderkloot | ... | stunt double |
| Sonny Landham | ... | stunt driver (uncredited) |
| Harry Madsen | ... | stunt driver (uncredited) |
| Alex Stevens | ... | stunt driver (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Lou Barlia | ... | camera operator |
| Anthony Brooke Jr. | ... | first assistant camera |
| Ricki-Ellen Brooke | ... | second assistant camera |
| Sandy Brooke | ... | first assistant camera |
| Jessica Burstein | ... | still photographer |
| Ken Connors | ... | best boy |
| Adger W. Cowans | ... | still photographer (as Adger Cowan) |
| Craig DiBona | ... | camera operator b |
| Russell Engels | ... | gaffer (as Rusty Engels) |
| Dennis Gamiello | ... | key grip |
| Peter Garbarini | ... | aerial photographer (as Peter Gabarini) |
| John Mazzoni | ... | dolly grip |
| Tom Volpe | ... | best boy |
| Tom Kerwick | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Gábor Kövér | ... | first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited) |
| Robert Paone | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Marilyn Putnam | ... | wardrobe |
| Emanuel Ungaro | ... | clothes: Miss Rowlands |
Location Management
| James E. Foote | ... | location manager (as Jim Foote) |
Music Department
| Cliff Kohlweck | ... | music editor (as Clifford C. Kohlweck) |
| Tony Ortega | ... | musician: saxophone |
| Tommy Tedesco | ... | musician: guitar |
| Dan Wallin | ... | music scoring mixer |
| Bill Conti | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Nancy Hopton | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| James Giblin | ... | transportation captain (as Jim Giblin) |
| Robert Buckman | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Thomas Buckman | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Richard Holston | ... | driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Kate Barker | ... | assistant: John Cassavetes |
| Chip Cronkite | ... | production assistant |
| Eileen Eichenstein | ... | production office coordinator |
| Robert Fieldsteel | ... | assistant to producer |
| Elizabeth Gazzara | ... | production assistant (as Liz Gazzara) |
| Ann Guerin | ... | publicist |
| Susan Hoffman | ... | auditor |
| Richard M. Kaye | ... | dialogue coach (as Richard Kaye) |
| John Kullers | ... | field man (as John 'Red' Kullers) |
| Harvey Portee | ... | production assistant |
| Gary Shapiro | ... | special project coordinator Columbia Pictures |
| Larry Shaw | ... | assistant to producer |
| Sam Shaw | ... | title designer |
| Mark Sitley | ... | production assistant |
| John Thomas | ... | production assistant |
| Jed Weaver | ... | production assistant |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Columbia C.E.I.A.D. (1980) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures (1980) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia-Fox (1980) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Columbia-Warner Filmes de Portugal (1980) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Suevia Films (1980) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1980) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1980) (France) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1980) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures (1981) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures of Argentina (1981) (Argentina) (theatrical) (through Warner-Columbia Films)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1981) (Argentina) (theatrical) (through)
- Columbia Pictures do Brasil (1981) (Brazil) (theatrical)
- Videosonic (1986) (Greece) (VHS)
- LK-TEL (1988) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Prooptiki Video (2005) (Greece) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
- Mill Creek Entertainment (2015) (United States) (DVD)
- Twilight Time (2018) (World-wide) (Blu-ray)
- Columbia Films of India (1981) (India) (theatrical)
- Fox Columbia Film Distributors (1981) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Sony Pictures Releasing (1981) (India) (theatrical) (as Columbia Films of India)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1980) (Finland) (theatrical)
- LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- R-Video (Finland) (video)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1983) (West Germany) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (Netherlands) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1984) (Australia) (video)
- Showtime Networks (Finland) (video)
- TV3 (1990) (Finland) (tv)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2021) (Australia) (Blu-ray)
- VTC-Video (Finland) (video)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2009) (Finland) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Burbank Editorial Service Inc. (sound effects)
- Emanuel Ungaro (Gina Rowlands' costumes)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- Motion Picture Association (MPA)
- Panavision (lenses and Panaflex camera)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Mild mannered Jack Dawn has been secretly working as an accountant for the mob. He, his Puerto Rican wife Jeri, his teen-aged daughter Joan and his mother-in-law, all who were planning on going on the run, are murdered by the mob because Jack was going to inform on them to the FBI. Before they're killed, Jack and Jeri are able to send their six-year old son Phil to Jeri's friend and their neighbor, Gloria Swenson, for safe keeping. Also with Phil is the book which contains all the information Jack was going to turn over. Gloria and Phil have an antagonistic relationship, not so much for who they are but what they are, Phil a kid, and Gloria a strange white woman who hates kids. As an ex-mistress of a mobster, Gloria learns that the people that killed the Dawns are old friends of hers. As Gloria and Phil go on the run both from the mob and from the authorities (who believe she kidnapped Phil) throughout New York City, Gloria has to come up with a plan on how best to save themselves, which is not easy because of their love/hate relationship and the fact that precocious Phil has a mind of his own. That plan includes what to do with the book, but more importantly how to save Phil as the mob would still be after him regardless of the book just in case he knows something about his father's dealings. All through their ordeal, Gloria is not averse to shooting to kill, especially if those who she is trying to kill are trying to kill her and Phil first. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | She attempted to beat the mob at their own game. See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Actress Gena Rowlands once said of her ex-gun moll character: "When I read the script, I knew I wanted a walk for her. I wanted something that, from the minute you saw me, you knew I could handle myself on the streets of New York. So I started thinking about when I lived in New York, how different I walked down the street when there was nobody but me. It was a walk that said, they'd better watch out". See more » |
| Goofs | When Phil boards the train, the shot has been reversed, as evidenced by backwards lettering on the signs on the train and the platform. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Why Would I Lie?, Terror Train, Gloria, Private Benjamin (1980). See more » |
| Quotes |
Phil Dawn:
You're my mother. You're my father. You're my mother. You're my whole family. You're even my friend, Gloria. You're my girlfriend too. See more » |