Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976) YTS

Reviewed by CinemaSerf 7 / 10

There were loads of these type of films

There were loads of these type of films made in the mid 1970s about aspiring types finally out from under their parental wing and now hitting the big city with dreams and hormones racing. Here, the quite charismatic Lenny Baker is “Larry”, a Jewish lad who thinks he could be the next Marlon Brando, or maybe Laurence Olivier - even though a local beat cop reckons he might want to change professions altogether. He has moved away from his doting but overpowering mother (Shelley Winters) and takes up with his girlfriend “Sarah” (Ellen Greene) for the usual slew of castings, romantic interludes, fights and squabbles as he tries to keep his life on an even keel whilst he seeks that elusive break. Will it ever come? This is an observational look at a chunk of his life. We learn a little of his earlier life but for the most part we just follow their day-to-day antics as he tries to reconcile his ambitions with her’s and the reality of his new and bumpy Brooklyn life. There are no conclusions here, though maybe progress is made as he begins to realise that he is not the first in his family to want more, nor is he the only one with the talent to perhaps support that. He begins to appreciate that sacrifices have been made for him just as he has to make them now, himself. Winters doesn’t really feature that often, but when she does she delivers quite strongly with a short burst of Maria Callas livening things up and lightening the mood for a few moments too. Thanks to characters like Christopher Walken’s “Fulmer” and “Bernstein” from the man forever remembered as “Huggy Bear” (Antonio Fargas) it also manages to take a light-hearted swipe at the pomposity of the creative community and it’s occasionally flamboyant population. It’s an enthusiastic and lively production that does play a little to stereotype now and again, but it keeps clear of sentiment, is quite funny and worth a watch.

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Reviewed by rlipsett 7 / 10

Great period piece

I stumbled on this film on USA last night, about 15 minutes in. It was alternately comedic and touching, with Lenny Baker playing a 20-something (Larry Lapinsky) in Greenwich Village in the '50s. Shelley Winter played his mother, who had a knack for showing up at the most inopportune moments and embarrassing her son. Both of them, along with Mike Kellin as Mr. Lapinsky, give excellent nuanced performances.

The central action of the movie is around Larry's attempts to become an actor, and around his friends in the village. The dialog is generally snappy and both dialog and visuals can be out-loud funny at times. 7/10.

Next Stop, Greenwich Village

1976

Action / Comedy / Drama

Next Stop, Greenwich Village

1976

Action / Comedy / Drama

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There were loads of these type of films

Great period piece

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