The Plot Against Harry | |
---|---|
Directed by | Michael Roemer |
Written by | Michael Roemer |
Produced by | Michael Roemer |
Starring | Martin Priest |
Cinematography | Robert M. Young |
Edited by | Georges Klotz |
Production company | |
Distributed by | New Yorker Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 81 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Plot Against Harry is an American comedy film directed by Michael Roemer. [1] The plot involves Harry Plotnick, a small-time Jewish gangster [2] living in a now largely Hispanic and African American New York neighborhood, playing the numbers game after being released from prison. [3] [4]
Filming took place in 1969, and the film played for one week at the Blue Mouse Theatre in Seattle in January 1971, [5] but it was not given a general theatrical release until 1989. [6] [7] [8]
Harry Plotnick, a small-time Jewish mobster is released from a nine-month prison stint, his cold heart as mean and callous as ever. His chauffeur tells him that his numbers racket has been largely absorbed by other parties. He tries to regain control, but his time controlling his neighborhood streets appears to be over. He is at loose ends until his ex-brother-in-law, Leo, mentions that the catering service/Jewish event center that Leo manages is about to be bought by a large corporation. Harry convinces Leo to partner with him – instead of allowing the corporation into the neighborhood, he'll provide the purchase price and Leo will run the operation. The purchase is completed, and as Harry attends the various Jewish ceremonies held at his new business – weddings, bar mitzvahs, even a circumcision – he begins to feel connected with the New York Jewish community that he had largely abandoned in his youth.
He is also literally thrown into contact with his now-grown daughter, whom he had last seen when she was three, and with his ex-wife. The 'literal' part occurs when he, in a brief flareup of road rage, crashes into the car carrying his ex-family members. Later he is also introduced to a previously-unknown daughter; we learn that his wife was (unknowingly) pregnant when she left him some two decades before.
Harry's family members continue to drift through his orbit as they participate in various Jewish gatherings. Unexpectedly his younger daughter asks for permission to temporarily lodge with him. During this time, a trip to a hospital emergency room leads to a (possibly erroneous) diagnosis of a dangerously-enlarged heart, which may soon fell him. This apparently accelerates his desire for redemption.
An unexpected subpoena compels Harry to testify before a state panel that is probing the New York gambling underworld. He is maneuvered into admitting his ownership of the catering business, which had been publicly touted as belonging to the brother-in-law for reasons of community propriety. The panel immediately subpoenas the financial records of this business, to determine if it is indeed legitimate in all respects. When Harry's chauffeur Max (who was also the financial-records maintenance man during the gambling days) produces the records for Harry's inspection, there is an immediate problem: Max has carefully noted the names and amounts of all bribes and under-the-table payoffs. At this revelation, Harry blows up and tells Max to get out of his life.
Max decides to burn the books rather than let them be seized by the state. The attempt is botched; it merely leads to a temporary fire-alarm evacuation of the hotel where Harry has been staying. The husband of Harry's elder daughter is initially accused of directing the book-burning, turning Harry's ex-wife fully against him; Harry soon learns that his ex-wife has informed his parole officer of violations (meeting with his criminal associates).
Harry is soon approached by his younger daughter with a request for a 'really large' favor, and he begins to realize the humanity that has been gradually surfacing inside since his prison release. When he collapses for a second time during a live telethon raising money for heart disease, he believes he is dying. As a final gesture, he makes two increasingly large donations to the cause. In an ambulance to the hospital, with many family members as witness, he also takes the blame for the book-burning.
At the hospital, a doctor tells Harry his heart is just fine. His only problem is constipation. With much more life left to live, he has lost a good deal of his money. He will also return to prison for a year for the arson he didn't commit, but he seems reconciled with the price of re-entering his community with his head held high.
The film was screened out of competition at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival. [9] It was also nominated for six Film Independent Spirit Awards. [10]
Something's Gotta Give is a 2003 American romantic comedy drama film written, produced, and directed by Nancy Meyers. It stars Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton as professionals who find love for each other in later life, despite being complete opposites. Keanu Reeves and Amanda Peet co-star, with Frances McDormand, Paul Michael Glaser, Jon Favreau, and KaDee Strickland playing key supporting roles.
Once Upon a Time in America is a 1984 epic crime film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone, and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. The film is an Italian–American venture produced by The Ladd Company, Embassy International Pictures, PSO Enterprises and Rafran Cinematografica, and distributed by Warner Bros. Based on Harry Grey's novel The Hoods, it chronicles the lives of best friends David "Noodles" Aaronson and Maximilian "Max" Bercovicz as they lead a group of Jewish ghetto youths who rise to prominence as Jewish gangsters in New York City's world of organized crime. The film explores themes of childhood friendships, love, lust, greed, betrayal, loss, and broken relationships, together with the rise of mobsters in American society.
Freak the Mighty is a young adult novel by Rodman Philbrick. Published in 1993, it was followed by the novel Max the Mighty in 1998. The primary characters are friends Maxwell Kane, a large, developmentally disabled, but kind-hearted boy, and Kevin Avery, nicknamed "Freak", who is physically disabled but very intelligent. Kevin is diagnosed with Morquio syndrome.
Mr. Destiny is a 1990 American fantasy comedy film directed by James Orr, and starring James Belushi, Linda Hamilton, Michael Caine, Jon Lovitz, Courteney Cox, Jay O. Sanders and Rene Russo. It is heavily inspired by the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life.
Bird is a 1988 American biographical musical drama film about jazz saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker, directed and produced by Clint Eastwood from a screenplay by Joel Oliansky. The film stars Forest Whitaker as Parker, and Diane Venora. It is constructed as a montage of scenes from Parker's life, from his childhood in Kansas City, through his early death at the age of 34.
The Scarlet and the Black is a 1983 Italian-American international co-production made-for-television historical war drama film directed by Jerry London, and starring Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer. Based on J. P. Gallagher's book The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican, the film tells the story of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, a real-life Irish Catholic priest who saved thousands of Jews and escaped Allied POWs in Rome. CBS distributed more than 500,000 scripts of The Scarlet and the Black to students in elementary and high schools throughout the country, to be read aloud in class to stimulate student interest in English and history. The title The Scarlet and the Black is a reference not only to the black cassock and scarlet sash worn by monsignors and bishops in the Catholic Church, but also to the dominant colors of Nazi Party regalia.
Palmetto is a 1998 neo-noir thriller film directed by Volker Schlöndorff with a screenplay by E. Max Frye. It is based on the 1961 novel Just Another Sucker by James Hadley Chase. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Elisabeth Shue and Gina Gershon.
Henry Nemo was an American musician, songwriter, and actor in Hollywood films who had a reputation as a hipster.
Absolute Power is a 1997 American political action thriller film produced by, directed by, and starring Clint Eastwood as a master jewel thief who witnesses the killing of a woman by Secret Service agents. The screenplay by William Goldman is based on the 1996 novel Absolute Power by David Baldacci. Screened at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, the film also stars Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Judy Davis, Scott Glenn, Dennis Haysbert, and Richard Jenkins. It was also the last screen appearance of E. G. Marshall. The scenes in the museum were filmed in the Walters Art Museum, where Whitney is copying a painting of El Greco, "Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata"
Max Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jake Wood. He made his first appearance on 27 June 2006. Wood took a four-month break from the show in 2011 and the character was absent between August and November 2011. Wood took a year long break from the show in 2015, with Max departing on 1 October. He returned on 24 December 2016. Wood took another short break from the show in 2018; Max departed on 16 February and returned on 23 April. It was announced in 2018 that Max would be taking a break from the soap in early 2019. He left on 14 February 2019 and returned on 7 May 2019. Max served as the show's main antagonist of 2017 following his release from prison and planning revenge on all his family, friends and neighbours. On 16 September 2020, it was announced that Wood would be departing from the role of Max after more than 14 years. Wood's final scenes aired on 19 February 2021.
House of Strangers is a 1949 American black-and-white drama film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and starring Edward G. Robinson, Susan Hayward, and Richard Conte. The screenplay by Philip Yordan and Mankiewicz is the first of three film versions of Jerome Weidman's novel I'll Never Go There Any More, the others being the Spencer Tracy western Broken Lance (1954) and The Big Show (1961).
Murray Humphreys, was a Chicago mobster of Welsh descent who was the chief political fixer and labor racketeer, beginning with the Chicago Outfit during Prohibition. Considered to be a ruthless but also well-dressed, socially refined, and clever man, Humphreys believed in killing only as a last resort. He was known to place far greater trust in the bribability of lawmen, seemingly respectable businessmen, labor union leaders, and public officials. A favorite maxim of Humphreys' was: "The difference between guilt and innocence in any court is who gets to the judge first with the most". But perhaps the statement that best summed up Humphreys' philosophy of life was: "Any time you become weak, you might as well die". Al Capone once said of Humphreys, "Anybody can use a gun, but 'The Hump' uses his head. He can shoot if he has to, but he likes to negotiate with cash when he can. I like that in a man."
The Heart of the Matter is a 1953 British drama film based on the 1948 book of the same name by Graham Greene. It was directed by George More O'Ferrall for London Films. It was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.
Boefje is a 1939 Dutch children's comedic melodrama directed by Detlef Sierck. The film is based on a classic 1903 Dutch children's book of the same name, written by journalist Marie Joseph Brusse.
Jodie Gold is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Kylie Babbington. She first appeared on screen on 7 June 2010. On 24 October 2011, it was announced that Babbington's contract would not be renewed and Jodie departed on 14 November 2011, along with Poppy Meadow.
Eva Luna is an American telenovela produced by Venevisión International in collaboration with Univision Studios, starring Blanca Soto, Guy Ecker, Julian Gil and Susana Dosamantes. It is a remake of the 1997 telenovela Aguamarina, created by Leonardo Padrón. The telenovela aired on Univision from November 1, 2010 to April 11, 2011. In Mexico, Canal de las Estrellas aired Eva Luna from September 19, 2011 to January 6, 2012.
Michael Roemer is a film director, producer and writer. He has won several awards for his films. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship. A professor at Yale University, he is the author of Telling Stories.
Housefull is an Indian comedy film series. The series stars Akshay Kumar and Ritesh Deshmukh in all the films. The first two films Housefull and Housefull 2 were directed by Sajid Khan. The third film, Housefull 3, was directed by Sajid-Farhad, the fourth film Housefull 4 was directed by Farhad Samji and the fifth film Housefull 5 is directed by Tarun Mansukhani. The series is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under his banner Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. Each film starts with a fresh story unrelated with the preceding film's story. However, the theme and the pace remains the same.