Rent The Pawnbroker (1965)
3.9 of 5 from 89 ratings
1h 56min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Sol Nazerman (Rod Steiger) is a survivor of the concentration camps, which took the lives of his wife and children. Managing a New York pawn shop, he is bereft of hope and takes refuge in condemnation of humanity while seemingly numb to the circumstances of the prostitutes, pimps and thieves that frequent his store. Yet there are those who strive to connect with him, even as their intrusion into his world threatens the protective cynicism within which he has wrapped himself for so long.
- Actors:
- Rod Steiger, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Brock Peters, Jaime Sánchez, Thelma Oliver, Marketa Kimbrell, Baruch Lumet, Juano Hernandez, Linda Geiser, Nancy R. Pollock, Raymond St. Jacques, John McCurry, Charles Dierkop, Eusebia Cosme, Warren Finnerty, Jack Ader, Marianne Kanter, Ed Morehouse, Marc Alexander, Robert Dahdah
- Directors:
- Sidney Lumet
- Producers:
- Philip Langner, Roger H. Lewis
- Writers:
- Morton S. Fine, David Friedkin, Edward Lewis Wallant
- Studio:
- BFI Video
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- A Brief History of Old Age on Screen: Part 1, Holidays Film Collection, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Sidney Lumet, Top 10 Dangerous Dog Films, Top 10 Screen Kisses (1896-1979), Top Films
- Awards:
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 16/08/2021
- Run Time:
- 116 minutes
- Languages:
- English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English, English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Newly recorded audio commentary by Maura Spiegel, author of Sidney Lumet: 'A Life' and Annette Insdorf, author of 'Indelible Shadows: Film and Holocaust'
- Now and Then: Quincy Jones (1968, 21 mins): the legendary producer, musician, songwriter and composer is interviewed by Bernard Braden for his never broadcast series
- The Guardian Interview: Rod Steiger (1992, 113 mins, audio only)
- Ten Bob in Winter (1963, 12 mins): Lloyd Reckford's short fim about the intriguing social dynamics that arise as a ten shilling note is passed around the Black community. Featuring a sparky jazz soundtrack provided by 'The Joe harriott Quintet'
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Stills Gallery
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Reviews (1) of The Pawnbroker
Harlem Inferno. - The Pawnbroker review by Steve
Intense drama about the suppressed memories of a holocaust survivor (Rod Steiger) living among the violence and squalor of Harlem, NY. This was groundbreaking in its presentation of the Jewish survivors of the concentration camps in contemporary America.
Steiger's performance feels authentic as the pawnbroker haunted by terrifying subliminal flashbacks. We also glimpse in these suppressed images, his present day traumas. The brutality of the streets. But his shop is a hub for laundering crooked money. In seeking to be passive, and desensitised to cruelty, he helps to sustain it.
He has become detached from society. A simple remark about his religion can only be answered in terms of 7000 years of struggle. But he is unable to relate to the historic suffering of black Americans. He is so numb he can no longer see the humanity in himself, or others.
Most of the film is shot in the pawnshop, with Steiger captive in the wire security cages. So it's a classic Sidney Lumet format set in a limited interior space. It is a powerful, very depressing film which gives an identity to a hidden, voiceless demographic through Steiger's potent, unreachable anguish.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.