Dog Day Afternoon       

By Jim Emerson

A gripping true crime yarn, a juicy slice of overheated New York atmosphere, and a splendid showcase for its young actors, Dog Day Afternoon is a minor classic of the 1970s. The opening montage of New York street life (set to Elton John's lazy "Amoreena") establishes the oppressive mood of a scorching afternoon in the city with such immediacy that you can almost smell the garbage baking in the sun and the water from the hydrants evaporating from the sizzling pavement. Al Pacino plays Sonny, who, along with his rather slow-witted accomplice Sal (John Cazale, familiar as Pacino's Godfather brother Fredo), holds hostages after a botched a bank robbery. Sonny finds himself transformed into a rebel celebrity when his standoff with police (including lead negotiator Charles Durning) is covered live on local television. The movie doesn't appear to be about anything in particular, but it really conveys the feel of wild and unpredictable events unfolding before your eyes, and the whole picture is so convincing and involving that you're glued to the screen. An Oscar winner for original screenplay, Dog Day Afternoon was also nominated for best picture, actor, supporting actor (Chris Sarandon, as a surprise figure from Sonny's past), editing, and director (Sidney Lumet of Serpico, Prince of the City, The Verdict, and Running on Empty).

Academy Awards

Dog Day Afternoon received an Academy Award for Writing (Best Original Screenplay; Frank Pierson). Dog Day Afternoon also received Academy Awards nominations for Best Picture (Martin Bregman - Producer, Martin Elfand - Producer), Actor (Al Pacino), Supporting Actor (Chris Sarandon), Directing (Sidney Lumet), and Film Editing (Dede Allen).

Share Your Memories!

Is Dog Day Afternoon one of your favorite movies? What do you remember about it? Share your stories (or your reviews) with the world! (We print the best stories right here!)

		Your Memories Shared!

"I lived 3 blocks from where the movie was made and I remember the sound of helicopters all day long, movie trucks all over the place. This movie brings back memories of when I was a kid in Brooklyn" --JoeB727