Streets Of Gold (1986)
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31% of critics liked it
(13 reviews) -
41% of users liked it
(113 ratings)
Klaus Maria Brandauer stars in this drama as Alek Neuman, a one-time boxing champion in the Soviet Union. While he was one of the top-ranked Russian fighters of his day, he was never allowed to box in the Olympics, because the Soviets would not permit Jews to compete on their national teams. Many… More Klaus Maria Brandauer stars in this drama as Alek Neuman, a one-time boxing champion in the Soviet Union. While he was one of the top-ranked Russian fighters of his day, he was never allowed to box in the Olympics, because the Soviets would not permit Jews to compete on their national teams. Many years later, an elderly Alek is able to emigrate to the United States; he settles in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, New York, where he makes ends meet as a dishwasher. Alek is depressed and starts sinking into alcoholism until he meets Timmy Boyle (Adrian Pasdar) and Roland Jenkins (Wesley Snipes), two up-and-coming amateur boxers. Alek thinks that the two young fighters have potential, and he offers to coach them. While Timmy and Roland aren't sure at first if they trust Alek (or each other), in time they grow to respect each other, and it looks as if they may make the United States Olympic team -- where they may fight against the Russian team that wouldn't accept Alek years before. Brandauer won critical acclaim for his performance in Streets of Gold, which also featured Wesley Snipes several years before his breakthrough role in Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
A likable, but hardly compelling story.
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, Time Out
Director Roth never uses a short jab when he can take a wild swing, usually at the cold inhumanity of Soviet society.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
A lot of the film was shot in Brighton Beach, and looks authentic, but everything else is either synthetic or derivative, like the musical score.
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Paul Attanasio, Washington Post
It's a wonder nobody had thought of casting Brandauer as a boxer before -- his work is so full of devilish feints and tricky, misleading expressions.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Streets of Gold starts out to make a statement about the kind of person this Russian emigre was, and it ends up using him as the backdrop for a tired Hollywood formula.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Klaus Maria Brandauer
as Alek Neuman
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Adrian Pasdar
as Timmy Boyle
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Wesley Snipes
as Roland Jenkins
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Ángela Molina
as Elena Gitman
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Elya Baskin
as Klebanov
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Rainbow Harvest
as Brenda
- Rick Aiello
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James Babchak
as Medic at Elena Attack
- Henry Judd Baker
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Michael Beach
as Sonny
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Al Bernstein
as ESPN Commentator
- Bill Cobbs
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Elzbieta Czyzewska
as Mrs. Peshkov
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Frances Foster
as Nurse
- John A. Garcia
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Paul Herman
as Patron at Gennaro's
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Gene Lebell
as Referee at Arena
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John Mahoney
as Line-han
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John McCurry
as Bobby Rainey
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Adam Nathan
as Grisha
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Jim Nickerson
as Suvorov
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Daniel O'Shea
as Vinnie
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Rene Rivera
as Attendant
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Jaroslav Stremien
as Malinovsky
- Hechter Ubarry
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Jeff Ward
as Preston
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Kevin Mahon
as Roland's Opponent at Trials
- Henry Covner
- Lillian Covner
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Paul Davidovsky
as Russian Friend
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Marty Denkin
as Ring Announcer
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Liya Glaz
as Polina
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Gregory Holtz Sr.
as Dishwasher at Klebenov's
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Nathan Isaacson
as Russian Band
- Shalom Kovnator
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Yacov Levitan
as Mr. Peshkov
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Thomas Mendola
as Neighbors at Tenement
- Boris Monastyrsky
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Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
as Timmy's Opponent at Trials
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Dan Nutu
as Semyon
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Frank Patton
as Policeman at Tenement
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Vern Paul De
as Referee at Trials
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Mike Radner
as Ring Doctor
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Ramon Rodriquez
as Cooks' Helper
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Luther Rucker
as Bouncers at Bootleg Arena
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Grafton Trew
as Cood at Klebenov's
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Jack Wilkes
as Policeman at Elena Attack
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Alexander Yampolsky
as Dimitri
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Pete Antico
as [uncredited] Balsamo
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David Chandler
as Intern
