The Panic in Needle Park (1971)

Director:

Jerry Schatzberg

Writers:

James Mills (book)
Joan Didion (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 June 1971 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

In the dark corner of the city, they found light

Plot:

This movie is a stark portrayal of life among a group of heroin addicts who hang out in "Needle Park" in New York City...

Plot Keywords:

New York City | Addiction | City | Heroin Addict | Heroin

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Bobby
Kitty Winn	...	Helen
Alan Vint	...	Hotch
Richard Bright	...	Hank
Kiel Martin	...	Chico
Michael McClanathan	...	Sonny
Warren Finnerty	...	Sammy
Marcia Jean Kurtz	...	Marcie
Raul Julia	...	Marco
Angie Ortega	...	Irene
Larry Marshall	...	Mickey
Paul Mace	...	Whitey
Nancy MacKay	...	Penny
Gil Rogers	...	Robins
Joe Santos	...	DiBono
Paul Sorvino	...	Samuels
Arnold Williams	...	Freddy
Vic Ramano	...	Santo (as Vic Romano)
Bryant Fraser	...	Prep School Boy
Dora Weissman	...	Pawnshop Lady
Sully Boyar	...	Doctor
Florence Tarlow	...	Ward Nurse
Rutanya Alda	...	Admitting Nurse (as Ruth Alda)
Anthony Palmer	...	Hotel Clerk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anthony Caso	...	Drug Addict (uncredited)
Jeffrey Walker	...	Prisoner #1 (uncredited)

Directed by
Jerry Schatzberg

Writing credits
James Mills		(book)
Joan Didion		(screenplay) and
John Gregory Dunne		(screenplay)

Produced by
Dominick Dunne	....	producer
Roger M. Rothstein	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
Adam Holender		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Evan A. Lottman		(as Evan Lottman)

Art Direction by
Murray P. Stern

Set Decoration by
Philip Smith

Costume Design by
Jo Ynocencio

Makeup Department
Herman Buchman	....	makeup artist
Phil Naso	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Roger M. Rothstein	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Greenhut	....	first assistant director
Jim Inch	....	second assistant director (as James F. Inch)
Paul J. Crossey	....	dga trainee (uncredited)

Art Department
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	property master (as Joe Caracciolo)
Edward Garzero	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Dennis Maitland	....	sound mixer
Al Nahmias	....	sound editor
Dick Vorisek	....	sound re-recordist (as Richard Vorisek)
Katherine Wenning	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Edward R. Brown	....	camera operator (as Edward Brown)
Adger W. Cowans	....	still photographer
Robert Dolan	....	gaffer
James Finnerty	....	key grip
Emmanuel Metaxas	....	assistant camera
Ron Zarilla	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
George Newman	....	wardrobe: men
Marilyn Putnam	....	wardrobe: women

Editorial Department
Martin Plachter	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Raymond Hartwick	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Nancy Hopton	....	script supervisor (as Nancy Tonery)
Shari Leibowitz	....	production secretary
Ruth A. Oberdorfer	....	secretary to producer
Sue Dwiggins	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Eileen Peterson	....	publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Gadd Productions Corp.
• Didion-Dunne

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Film (1972) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Atlantic Film (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• EuroVideo (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• Media Cooperation One (MC-One) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Beat (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Beat (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Marion Dougherty Associates  casting

Also Known As:

"Pánico en Needle Park" - Mexico (imdb display title), Spain
"Panique à Needle Park" - Canada (French title), France
"Esrar bitti" - Turkey (Turkish title)
"Narkomani" - Poland
"Os Viciados" - Brazil
"Pánik a Tű parkban" - Hungary
"Pânico em Needle Park" - Portugal
"Panico a Needle Park" - Italy
"Paniikki piikkipuistossa" - Finland
"Panik i Needle Park" - Sweden
"Panik im Needle Park" - Austria
"Panika u parku droga" - Serbia (imdb display title)
"Panikos sto Needle Park" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:MA (cable rating) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Italy:VM18 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1971) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:PG | USA:R (original rating)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Gadd Productions Corp.

Trivia:

There is no music in this movie whatsoever.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bobby kicks the young john out of the hotel after robbing him Helen is loosely using the towel to cover her breasts. In the next shot the towel is wrapped neatly around her.

Quotes:

Bobby:I was gonna marry you! You think I'd marry a whore?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Dominick Dunne - Les crimes de la jet set (2007) (TV)

Specter of Bergman

Director Jerry Schatzberg's style looks remarkably like Ingmar Bergman's in works like "Scenes From a Marriage." Using no music background only real life sounds, abrupt scene cutting and cross-cutting, highly realistic style, and copious closeups, the Bergman influence is apparent.

Schatzberg fashioned a piece that has a timeless look and feel. While Verdi Square (Needle Park) may not be quite as rich with denizens today and that W. 72nd subway exit not as peopled with thick crowds, it's still bustling mid-Manhattan--like no other place on earth.

And no better actor to play the street savvy slicker than Al Pacino in only his second film appearance. He, Kitty Winn and a host of sharp protogees from the Strasberg seminars breathe life into the scenario.

It remains one of Mr. Pacino's best efforts, and a film that paved the way for a new realism in gritty subject material.