Gloria (1980)

95% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(4,336 ratings)

Gloria (Gena Rowlands), a self-involved woman in her forties who was once a mobster's mistress, is asked to look after Philip (Juan Adames), the son of her Mafia-connected Puerto Rican neighbors. This temporary set-up becomes permanent when the neighbors are killed in a mob hit. Philip has in his… More Gloria (Gena Rowlands), a self-involved woman in her forties who was once a mobster's mistress, is asked to look after Philip (Juan Adames), the son of her Mafia-connected Puerto Rican neighbors. This temporary set-up becomes permanent when the neighbors are killed in a mob hit. Philip has in his possession a diary containing a record of illegal Mafia activities; thus the boy is as good as dead unless Gloria takes decisive action. With Philip in tow, Gloria leads the hit men on a frantic chase around Manhattan, and during the various gunfire exchanges, more than holds her own. Offering to exchange the diary for the boy's life, Gloria is rebuffed by the vendetta-driven assassins. Where once she was content squirreling herself away in her lonely apartment, Gloria now must face a lifetime on the run. Directed on a more commercial level than was customary for John Cassavetes (with a subversive streak of self-parody in the bargain), Gloria served as an excellent showcase for Cassavetes' wife Gena Rowlands. The film won the Golden Lion Award at the 1980 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 3 min.
Directed By: John Cassavetes
Written By: John Cassavetes
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 1, 1980 Limited
On DVD: Feb 25, 2003
Studio: Columbia Pictures Corporation

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Gena Rowlands is excellent as the tired woman who decides to take her chances for the boy. The kid is a right blend of understanding and childish tantrums.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
John Cassavetes clearly set out to make a commercial film, but, intransigent personality that he was, he turned in a slice of pure avant-garde.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
More than any other recent film I can think of, Gloria is a movie that depends on the mood you're in when you see it.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Tough, sweet, and goofy.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Under the masterful direction of husband John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands delivers a gutsy, spellbinding performance in this excellent crime film.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
It's clear from the opening montage that we're in the hands of a master.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Any Cassavetes is worthwhile viewing
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
One of Cassavetes' most accessible and involving movies.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
John Cassavetes made some iffy movies during his career, but none is worse than the original Gloria.
, Film4
Rowlands's gutsy portrayal of the woman who takes a redemptive and life-threatening plunge, and Adames as the brat who grows up fast in the pressurized situation.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
It's an obvious setup and most directors would have made sentimental hash out of it, but Cassavetes keeps it strong and smooth.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Star performances don't come by more brashly inviting than Gena Rowland's immortal .44 diva.
Chris Robe, PopMatters
More intriguing than a standard Hollywood gangster movie.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Indie godfather John Cassavetes transforms Gena Rowlands into his own little Pam Grier in this oddly sweet-and-sour, PG-rated mob melodrama.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Gloria boasts a tough and tender performance by Gina Rowlands as an ex-gun moll and showgirl whose nurturing instincts come to the fore when she is called upon to protect a little boy in jeopardy.
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks
A reasonably entertaining and refreshingly off-beat action/drama.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

El Hombre I

Indie godfather John Cassavetes transforms Gena Rowlands into his own little Pam Grier in this odd mob melodrama with, naturally, an orphan kid. Rowlands is an extremely classy ex-mob dame with a hair-trigger temper and a tongue of fire. If there is any dead weight in the film,… More
Indie godfather John Cassavetes transforms Gena Rowlands into his own little Pam Grier in this odd mob melodrama with, naturally, an orphan kid. Rowlands is an extremely classy ex-mob dame with a hair-trigger temper and a tongue of fire. If there is any dead weight in the film, it's child actor John Adams, screeching and squeaking that he's "the man" and knows what to do. But what child actor isn't irritating? In the end, Gloria isn't a major effort or breakthrough film, it's just Cassavetes creating a fun action/chase movie that features a female heroine with a set of brass balls. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view&current=Gloria.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/Gloria.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Pierluigi P

An ass-kicking Gena Rowlands is the major force behind this riveting, one of a kind gangster film from the unique vision of American new wave's craftsman John Cassavetes. direct precursor of Leon: The professional.
jay n

a real sense of the grittiness of new york and gena rowlands is outstanding as usual
Leo L

Although the re-make is not that bad, I prefer this version of "Gloria" with Gena Rowlands.

Cast

            Gena Rowlands as Gloria Swenson

            John Adames as Phil Dawn

            Buck Henry as Jack Dawn

            Julie Carmen as Jeri Dawn

            Lupe Garnica as Margarita Vargas

            Val Avery as Sill

            Jessica Castillo as Joan Dawn

            Israel Castro as Second Kid

            Ralph Dolman as First Kid

            John Finnegan as Frank

            Gregory Cleghorne as Kid in Elevator

            Kyle-Scott Jackson as First Policeman

            Gary Howard Klar as Irish cop

            Tony Kneisch as First Man/Gangster

            Ronald Maccone as 3rd man/Gangster

            Tom Noonan as 2nd Man/Gangster

            Roman Rodriguez as Escape Cab Driver

            Vic Ramos
            
            Basilio Franchina as Tony Tanzini

            Filomena Spagnuolo as Old Lady

            Carlos Castro as Third Kid

            Tony Knesich
            
            Frank Belgiorno
            
            George Yudzevich
            
            William E. Rice
            
See full cast