In the middle of a heatwave, sometimes it proves impossible to go outside, so the main thing to do is grab a fan, curl up on the sofa and watch films. Now while some might opt for an Arctic adventure to bring back memories of the cold, we instead recommend focusing on the heat.
Released in 1975, Dog Day Afternoon is based on the 1972 bank robbery and subsequent hostage situation at a Chase Manhattan bank led by John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile. Tempers frayed during the situation due to the ongoing 1972 heatwave, which claimed the lives of nearly 900 people.
The classic 70s film was a major success, with the movie being nominated for numerous Golden Globe and Academy Awards. It also continued Al Pacino’s incredible decade, with the actor earning an Oscar nomination for the movie.
The synopsis reads: ” When inexperienced criminal Sonny Wortzik leads a bank robbery in Brooklyn, things quickly go wrong, and a hostage situation develops. As Sonny and his accomplice, Sal Naturile, try desperately to remain in control, a media circus develops, and the FBI arrives, creating even more tension.
“Gradually, Sonny’s surprising motivations behind the robbery are revealed, and his standoff with law enforcement moves toward its inevitable end.”
And if you want to watch the film, you can find it on Sky Go or NOW TV.
Who stars in Dog Day Afternoon?
The heist movie is led by Al Pacino and John Cazale as bank robbers Sonny and Sal, with the two actors being good friends due to their appearances in The Godfather franchise. They were joined by Charles Durning (Dick Tracy) and Chris Sarandon (The Princess Bride).
Other cast members include Penelope Allen (Scarecrow), Sully Boyar (The Manhattan Project), Susan Peretz (Barney Miller), James Broderick (Family), Lance Henriksen (Alien), Carol Kane (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), Beulah Garrick (Johnny Belinda) and Marcia Jean Kurtz (Inside Man).
Rounding out the film’s characters are John Marriott (The Little Foxes), Philip Charles MacKenzie (Open House), Dick Anthony Williams (The Mack), Judith Malina (The Addams Family), Dominic Chianese (Boardwalk Empire) and Edwin Malave (The Main Event).
What have fans made of Dog Day Afternoon?
The film was a major hit, and with over 100,000 reviews, it holds a 90% fan approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One viewer enthused: “Groundbreaking movie. Definitely one of Pacino’s best performances! In fact all the cast were fantastic! The Broadway play is really good also.“
A second commented: “Tension, paranoia, and a career-defining Pacino. Dog Day Afternoon is a masterclass in character-driven suspense, anchored by Al Pacino at the height of his powers,” while a third added: “Dog Day Afternoon is one of those movies that grabs you from the start and never lets go. Everyone who worked on this film did an amazing job, from the cast to the direction to the writing.”
© Alamy Stock PhotoA fourth simply mused: “The film which all other heist films are built upon.”
In a five-star review for Empire, Adam Smith said: “It’s a gripping picture of a city close to meltdown. From Lumet’s dazzling opening montage in which we see scenes of a city about to boil over in more ways than one, sweltering 70s New York becomes a raucous character in the movie. 1972’s cultural melee is perfectly invoked as the heist transforms into a counter-cultural jamboree with a botched bank robbery as its central piece of performance art.”
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