The Prisoner of Second Avenue
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| The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975 Film) | |
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| Directed by | Melvin Frank |
| Produced by | Melvin Frank |
| Written by | Neil Simon |
| Starring | Jack Lemmon Anne Bancroft Gene Saks Elizabeth Wilson Florence Stanley |
| Distributed by | Warner Brothers Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 14 March 1975 USA |
| Running time | 98 Min |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Prisoner of Second Avenue is an American comedic (somewhat of a black comedy) play written by famed playwright Neil Simon. The play was later made into a movie that was released in 1975.
The play ran on Broadway from November 1971 until September 1973. Peter Falk and Lee Grant starred in the play as Mel and Edna Edison during its Broadway run. Vincent Gardenia played Mel's brother Harry. The Prisoner of Second Avenue was nominated for the 1972 Tony Award for Best Play. It was produced for the stage by Saint Subber.
The film version of The Prisoner of Second Avenue stars Jack Lemmon, Anne Bancroft and Gene Saks. The film was produced and directed by Melvin Frank.
The story revolves around the escalating problems of a middle-aged couple living on Second Avenue on the Upper East Side of New York City. Mel Edison, the main character, has just lost his job after many years and now has to cope with being unemployed at middle age. The action occurs during an intense summer heat wave and a prolonged garbage strike, which just exacerbates Edison's plight to no end as he and his wife Edna deal with noisy neighbors, loud sounds eminating from Manhattan streets up to their apartment and even a robbery of their apartment during broad daylight. Mel eventually suffers a nervous breakdown from the whole affair, and it is up to the loving care of his brother Harry, his sisters and Edna to bring Mel back to a firm reality. Neil Simon walks a tightrope between comedy and drama in this bittersweet release.
[edit] Trivia
- F. Murray Abraham can be glimpsed at the very beginning of this film playing a cab driver.
- Marvin Hamlisch composed the music score.
- Sylvester Stallone made one of his earliest film appearances in The Prisoner of Second Avenue as an alleged pickpocket.
- Anne Bancroft was nominated for a BAFTA award for her role as Edna Edison.
- Character actor M. Emmet Walsh has a small role in the film as a doorman.
- Voice-over veteran Gary Owens reads the humorous news blurbs that are interspersed throughout the film.
- Joel Schumacher did the Costume Design for the film.
