Gloria (1980)
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95% of critics liked it
(20 reviews) -
77% of users liked it
(4,467 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… 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
- Directed By
- John Cassavetes
- Written By
- John Cassavetes
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy
PG,
- In Theaters
- Oct 1, 1980 Limited
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures Corporation
Critic Reviews
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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.
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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.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
It's clear from the opening montage that we're in the hands of a master.
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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.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Tough, sweet, and goofy.
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Cast
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Gena Rowlands
as Gloria Swenson
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John Adames
as Phil Dawn
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Buck Henry
as Jack Dawn
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Julie Carmen
as Jeri Dawn
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Lupe Garnica
as Margarita Vargas
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Val Avery
as Sill
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Jessica Castillo
as Joan Dawn
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Israel Castro
as Second Kid
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Ralph Dolman
as First Kid
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John Finnegan
as Frank
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Gregory Cleghorne
as Kid in Elevator
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Kyle-Scott Jackson
as First Policeman
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Gary Howard Klar
as Irish cop
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Tony Kneisch
as First Man/Gangster
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Ronald Maccone
as 3rd man/Gangster
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Tom Noonan
as 2nd Man/Gangster
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Roman Rodriguez
as Escape Cab Driver
- Vic Ramos
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Basilio Franchina
as Tony Tanzini
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Filomena Spagnuolo
as Old Lady
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Carlos Castro
as Third Kid
- Tony Knesich
- Frank Belgiorno
- George Yudzevich
- William E. Rice
- J.C. Quinn
- Sonny Landham
