Film Forum’s Retrospective Series Honors John Cazale
Flyer for Film Forum’s Cazale retrospective
Attention New York Metropolitan area cinephiles (or anyone visiting our fair city the week of June 13th)! Film Forum is curating a retrospective of the beloved character actor John Cazale. For those unfamiliar with him, the New York stage and film actor appeared in only five films before his untimely passing from lung cancer in 1978 at the age of 42. Yet, his brief film career left us with a small collection of unqualified classics, all of which were Oscar® Best Picture winners or nominees. Try to match that!
The retrospective will include his complete filmography. Spoiler alert: Cazale is absolutely wonderful in all five of them, giving incredibly relatable performances, in tone if not in context, which is one of the reasons many find him so compelling.
The Godfather (1972) – In this epic crime drama that needs no introduction, Cazale plays Fredo Corleone, second son to don Vito Corleone and brother to Michael and Sonny. Fredo, the well-meaning, loving, and most out-of-his-depth member of the Corleone family is played so naturally by Cazale that you forget he’s acting at times. His vulnerability is heart-wrenching and he’s perhaps the most sympathetic character in the franchise. I would say he was born to play this part, but that goes for any of the roles he took on.
The Conversation (1974) – Director Francis Ford Coppola described this as his most personal film. It stars the incomparable Gene Hackman as the insular Harry Caul, an expert in private audio surveillance who gets wrapped up in a murder/conspiracy that may be linked to a client. Cazale plays Harry’s junior wire tapper Stan, who yearns for connection and some mentoring from his boss. If you have not already, go check out our feature on The Conversation.
The Godfather Part II (1974) – Cazale reprises his role as Fredo Corleone in this sprawling and ambitious follow up to the Coppola classic. Cazale’s Fredo is brilliantly heartbreaking as he aches for Michael’s love and confidence, but also seeks respect, a desire that puts him on a tragic course in a family where betrayal will not stand.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975) – Real life friends Pacino and Cazale team up once again to play Sonny and Sal respectively, an unusual pair of bank robbers with a a unique motive. The film was based on a real Brooklyn bank robbery in 1972. Cazale is a standout in what is arguably his most complex role (though Pacino ain’t too shabby either). This is a perennial summer watch for us here at Concentric Cinema, and one that we will be covering later this year as part of our Cinematic Semicentennial Series.
The Deer Hunter (1978) – This emotionally gutting film represents Cazale’s fifth and final role, which he completed while being ravaged by terminal cancer. In it he plays Stan, friend and coworker to a group of Vietnam vets suffering from the devastating effects of having been POWs. Cazale sadly passed away before the film’s premiere.
The retrospective, which kicks off tomorrow, Friday June 13th and runs through Thursday, June 19th, will feature multiple screenings of each film on staggered days. Film Forum will also screen the documentary I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale. I have yet to see this one but I am excited watch it. Visit Film Forum to learn more about JOHN CAZALE A 90th Anniversary Tribute, including show dates and times.
Exterior shot of Film Forum’s current location since 1990.
Established in 1970, Film Forum is a nonprofit theater that specializes in independent film premieres, international film screenings, and repertory programming. They are a cinematic institution here in NYC and one worth preserving. They also have great popcorn!
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