"Atlantic City"-Louis Malle-1980
The film opens with a shot of a massive building being blown up; This was the Traymore Hotel, but it was actually blown up in 1972. There is a scene in a bathroom where the attendant, an old friend of Lou's (Burt Lancaster), retells a story about being sent to purchase a hundred boxes of rubbers. This is a tale associated with Nucky Johnson fictionalized in "Boardwalk Empire" as Nucky Thompson. Susan Sarandon was involved with Malle during the filming. She suggested John Gare to write the script. Malle was under time pressure to finish the film by the end of 1979 or his funding would be lost.
Burt Lancaster was not the first choice to play Lou, but it is hard to believe that anyone could have done better.
If you have seen "The Leopard", you know what I mean. Lou has dignity despite the fact that he is hanging by a thread. He is a kept man and a low level numbers runner. He inflates his past accomplishments. He watches his neighbor Sally (Susan Sarandon) as she removes her blouse and applies lemon juice to her skin to cover up the smell of sea food from her job in an oyster bar. Lou still tries to maintain appearances, we see him ironing his tie before he goes downstairs to see his employer Grace (Kate Reid). Grace came to Atlantic City as a Betty Grable look alike; she ended up marrying a major player in Atlantic City. 35 years later she is living in a once proud hotel scheduled for demolition.
The meat of the story begins when Sally's husband, Dave (Robert Jay) arrives with Sally's very pregnant sister Chrissie (Hollister Lauren). He is carrying a sizable quantity of uncut heroin. He enlists Lou's help in marketing.
Dave has ruined Sally's life before, and he ruins her hopes of becoming a dealer in a casino again.
The film ends on a note of triste; this French word implies sadness, but with with a sense of memory of better times. There is perhaps a soupcon of hope. Sally drives away with a good bit of money, and Grace and Lou walk the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. They are survivors.
The film was nominated for the big five Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor,and Best Actress. There were no victories. This is a personal favorite; not a shot is wasted, and we come to know these characters, but even when we think we know them; they can surprise us. Few films marry plot and character development as well. I think it is a great film; I hadn't seen it in at least five years, but this viewing gave me a sense of quiet satisfaction. It was better than I remembered.
