Barfly (1987)

Director:

Barbet Schroeder

Writer:

Charles Bukowski (writer)

Release Date:

16 October 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead.

Plot:

Henry Chinaski never cared for the American dream, the thought of needing to become 'something' and fit into the system disgusts him...

Plot Keywords:

Bar | Whiskey | Fight | Bartender | Radio

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Mickey Rourke	...	Henry Chinaski
Faye Dunaway	...	Wanda Wilcox
Alice Krige	...	Tully Sorenson
Jack Nance	...	Detective
J.C. Quinn	...	Jim
Frank Stallone	...	Eddie
Sandy Martin	...	Janice
Roberta Bassin	...	Lilly
Gloria LeRoy	...	Grandma Moses
Joe Unger	...	Ben
Harry Cohn	...	Rick
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Joe
Joe Rice	...	Old Man in Bar
Julie 'Sunny' Pearson	...	Hooker in Bar
Donald L. Norden	...	Man in Alley

Also Known As:

Baarikärpänen (Finland) [fi]
Bar kelebegi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Barfly (Finland) [fi]
Barfly (Portugal) [pt]
Barfly (France) [fr]
Barfly (Greece) [el]
Barfly - Condenados Pelo Vício (Brazil) [pt]
Barfly - Moscone da bar (Italy) [it]
Cma barowa (Poland) [pl]
El borracho (Spain) [es]
Szenen eines wüsten Lebens (West Germany) [de]

Runtime:

USA:97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:MA (TV rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 (f) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Bryson Hotel - 2701 Wilshire Boulevard, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Golan-Globus Productions

Trivia:

Composer Trevor Jones was considered to write original music for this film, but director Barbet Schroeder felt that source music was more suited for the film's authenticity.

Quotes:

Wanda: I can't stand people, I hate them.
Henry: Oh yeah?
Wanda: Do you hate them?
Henry: No, but I seem to feel better when they're not around.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Snakes on a Train (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Exsultate, Jubilate, K166

Henry, portrait of a serial drinker...

I've seen this movie several times... I really enjoy it, even though it centers around the lives of two wretched drunks (played by Rourke and Dunaway) who, if you met them in real life, would probably frighten you to death.

Though both of them are wretched souls indeed, there is nevertheless enough compassion, wisdom, and charm emanating from both of them to make them actually likeable screen characters. And you can't help but do a mental "double take" on many of the lines of dialogue: Rourke's character, with a sort of "beat" hipness, really makes you think about your own life and your own values.

The only flaw I could find was that, considering the incredible amount of drinking that is depicted, I felt it would have been more realistic to show Henry and Wanda having more horrible hangovers, maybe even with frequent vomiting attacks. But then again, maybe these are two people who really know how to hold their liquor. See it, and decide for yourself!

P.S.: NOT recommended that you watch this film if you are on the wagon and trying to stay on it!!