The Plot Against Harry
Harry Plotnick (Martin Priest), a New York City numbers runner, is back on the streets after a nine month prison stint, looking to reclaim his turf. Along with his sidekick Max (Henry Nemo), Harry accidentally crashes into the car of his ex-wife Kay (Maxine Woods), ex-brother-in-law Leo (Ben Lang), and his daughter (Sandra Kazan), who he hasn't seen in decades. Caught in a whirlwind of Jewish family life and all kinds of New York strivers, Harry encounters mobsters, lawyers, caterers, an overbearing sister, another daughter he has never met, cops, rabbis, and radio hosts.
Discouraged by laughless test screenings, director Michael Roemer pulled the film from release. The film finally surfaced in 1989, and was immediately heralded as one of the greatest of all American independent films. Re-released theatrically in 2023, and recognized by a new generation, The Plot Against Harry is a true masterpiece.
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Supplements
- Michael Roemer Q&A, moderated by filmmaker Azazel Jacobs at Film Forum, 2023
- Michael Roemer and Robert M. Young in conversation, 2005
- Michael Roemer audio interview with critic Nicolas Saada, Cannes Film Festival, 1990
- New trailer by Zach Clark
- 32-Page Booklet featuring Photographs by David Godlis from 1989 New York Film Festival; Writing by Richard Brody (New Yorker), Georgia Brown (Village Voice), J. Hoberman (Premiere) and Stuart Klawans (Village Voice); Michael Roemer's introduction to the published screenplay