Next Stop, Greenwich Village (Paul Mazursky, 1976)

[filmfan]

Just got through viewing this recently released films.

Usually these "movies-about-the-movies" films are too inside to be appreciated but this one is a little and forgotten gem.

Acting is exceptional all around...Shelley Winters and Christopher Walken stand out here, and a 2 scene unspoken hidden in the background appearance by then a very unknown Bill Murray, and with words Jeff Goldblum as a very tempermental, desparate actor in search of a part.

Contained herein is that kind of thing that just jumps out at a viewer as a true, genuine film moment...Shelley Winters as a doting Jewish mother of the protagonist actor to be son finds out from the actor to be's girlfriend that she had sex ("hanky panky") with her son...Winters prods the girlfriend into a confession telling her that she will understand if she had sex with her son, but when told so, just can't take the Truth of it and hastily wants out of the apartment quickly, fumbling/juggling her hat in her had as she tries to retreat in the horror of the Truth.

The Magic Moment.....Shelley Winters perfectly juggles the hat on and off of her head while trying to put on her coat, perfectly communicating her pain...all I can say if you see it, you will see a magic moment only a consumant acting professional can provide a film story viewer.

Just totally magical...it takes one's breath away !

[David Ehrenstein]

Something about poor Lenny Baker:

http://www.laweekly.com/ink/04/03/25th-ehrenstein.php

[chizbooga]

i saw this a few days ago on tv...i think it's one of my favorite movies now. i've never seen such amazing direction of actors filmed with such lackluster photography, it was practically 'the rules of the game' only with the photography of a tv show. mazursky should have at least gotten a nomination for directing this movie. shelley winters was amazing and hilarious. really a warm, funny, great movie. i know what larry meant when he said to his mother at the end 'no i'm not angry at you. i'm crazy, but i'm not angry.' he accepted and embraced his mother's ridiculousness, he acknowledged to himself that really she was a sweet, lovable person. it was like an american 'amarcord' only 'amarcord' seemed to me to be composed entirely of goofy memories, and absolutely every character was an endearing cartoon, but this movie had a real sane emotional center because of larry. oh and the actor who played larry was hot.

[Dylan]

This is a wonderful film, likely Mazursky's best; I saw it last summer and its really stuck with me (not in the least because some of my life lately mirrors a few of the experiences the characters go through here). Beautiful, affectionate and very funny, Mazursky nostalgically illustrates Greenwich as (circa 1953) the perfect place in America to start a new life and lose yourself. Lenny Baker, Chris Walken and Ellen Greene are all amazing, and they have a terrific screenplay to work with.

Meanwhile, Pauline Kael (who also loved it) also complained about the photography. Well, I didn't really see it...it looked good enough, and the final Felliniesque shot is rather beautiful.

A shame this is pretty much forgotten, but at least it's available on DVD (with commentary by Paul Mazursky and Ellen Greene, no less). Check it out!

[Barmy]

Is this the film where Shelley Winters plays a fat domineering loudmouth?

[David Ehrenstein]

You've described more than half of her career!

Here's a link that works to the article I tried to link above.