Joe (1970)

86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(1,006 ratings)

Peter Boyle delivers a strong and raw performance as Joe Curran, a racist factory worker who hates "hippies and niggers." The film deals with New York City advertising executive Bill Compton (Dennis Patrick), who kills Frank (Patrick McDermott), the junkie lover of his daughter Melissa (Susan… More Peter Boyle delivers a strong and raw performance as Joe Curran, a racist factory worker who hates "hippies and niggers." The film deals with New York City advertising executive Bill Compton (Dennis Patrick), who kills Frank (Patrick McDermott), the junkie lover of his daughter Melissa (Susan Sarandon, in her film debut), when she ends up in a mental hospital after suffering an overdose of speed. Stunned by his rage, Bill goes into a bar and comes upon Joe, who discovers the murder and holds Bill in great esteem for his killing of the long-haired drug pusher, congratulating Bill on a job well done. The two begin a class-spanning friendship. When Melissa escapes from the hospital, after finding out that her father killed her boyfriend, Bill and Joe comb Greenwich Village to find her. When they come upon a hippie pot party, the two reactionaries snap, pull out their guns, and go on a killing spree. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: John G. Avildsen
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jul 15, 1970 Wide
On DVD: Apr 16, 2002

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
well acted melodrama, directed by Joe Avildsen before he made the Rocky movies, starring Peter Boyle as a racist and Susan Sarandon in her very first film.
Anton Bitel, Film4
Starting with a murder and ending with a massacre, this bleak portrait of America shows a dream turned sour and a country at odds with itself.
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International
Cliched melodrama was a cultural landmark; Boyle is superb
Ryan Cracknell, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
I admire the film's gusto to look at the hippie era, but its shock factor is more of a bail out rather than letting the story reach a meaningful conclusion.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Two guys who hate everyone who's different from them finally take some action, violent action, and in the end begin to question their beliefs. This is a brilliant movie, and I highly recommend it. Plus, watch for Susan Sarandon in her first movie!
Stephen E

Granted, the character that Peter Boyle is given in "Joe" is an interesting one, but the film simply doesn't do enough with him. We just watch as he exists and spouts racist and homophobic lines with none of it ever leading anywhere. Norman Wexler's script is… More
Granted, the character that Peter Boyle is given in "Joe" is an interesting one, but the film simply doesn't do enough with him. We just watch as he exists and spouts racist and homophobic lines with none of it ever leading anywhere. Norman Wexler's script is decidedly good, but would've made for a better movie under someone else's direction.

Cast

            Dennis Patrick as Bill Compton

            Peter Boyle as Joe Curran

            Susan Sarandon as Melissa Compton

            Patrick McDermott as Frank Russo

            Audrey Caire as Joan Compton

            K Callan as Mary Lou Curran

            Marlene Warfield as Bellevue Nurse

            Gloria Hoye as Janine

            Patti Caton as Nancy

            Gary Weber as George

            Claude Robert Simon as Bob

            Francine Middleton as Gail

            Mary Case as Teeny Bopper

            Rudy Chumey as Man in Bar

            Reid Cruickshanks as American Bartender

            Robert Emerick as TV Newscaster

            Jeanne Lange as Phyllis

            Frank Moon as Gil Richards

            Bob O'Connell as Man in Bargain Store

            Patrick O'Neal as Bartender at Ginger Man

            Estelle Omens as Woman in Bargain Store

            Jenny Paine as Teeny Bopper

            Tim Lewis as Kid in Soda Shop

            Frank Vitale as Hippie in Group

            Perry Gerwitz as Hippie on Street
See full cast

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Joe (1970)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Stephen E

Cast

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