Cosmo Vittelli, the proprietor of a sleazy, low-rent Hollywood cabaret, has a real affection for the women who strip in his peepshows and the staff who keep up his dingy establishment. He also has a major gambling problem that has gotten him in trouble before. When Cosmo loses big-time at an underground casino run by mobster Mort, he isn't able to pay up. Mort then offers Cosmo the chance to pay back his debt by knocking off a pesky, Mafia-protected bookie.
Directed by John Cassavetes
gambling debt
striptease
strip club
coercion
mobster
gunshot wound
debt collector
los angeles, california
strip tease
mob hit
neo-noir
strip show
forced to kill
club owner
anxious
burlesque show
forced to commit a crime
female nudity
Rank
#18 in 1976·#2949 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.9 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Ben Gazzara
Cosmo Vittelli
Timothy Carey
Flo
Seymour Cassel
Mort Weil
Robert Phillips
Phil
Morgan Woodward
The Boss
Al Ruban
Marty Reitz
Azizi Johari
Rachel
Haji
Haji
Alice Friedland
Sherry
Virginia Carrington
Mama
David Rowlands
Lamarr
Vincent Barbi
Vince
Crew
John Cassavetes
Director
John Cassavetes
Writer
Al Ruban
Director of Photography
Al Ruban
Producer
Jack Sheldon
Musician
Sandy King
Script Supervisor
Frederick Elmes
Camera Operator
Paul Baxley
Stunt Coordinator
Rob Hahn
Assistant Camera
Craig R. Baxley
Stunts
Catherine E. Coulson
Second Assistant Camera
Sam Shaw
Production Design
Popular Reviews
189 reviews
Gin
7.0★ · 05/21/26
I watched it with my friend Aisha, and she said that she didn’t expect him to kill the Chinese bookie
I watched it with my friend Aisha, and she said that she didn’t expect him to kill the Chinese bookie
castings
8.0★ · 05/05/26
this honestly isn’t my cup of tea but there’s alot of undeniable elements going on here but I can also say fuck the movie, Gazzara performance is so gravitational and he got the hoes on his shoulders. He really gives this film its meaning.
this honestly isn’t my cup of tea but there’s alot of undeniable elements going on here but I can also say fuck the movie, Gazzara performance is so gravitational and he got the hoes on his shoulders. He really gives this film its meaning.
Adam Benmhend
7.0★ · 04/19/26
First Cassavetes. Did not get this at all, was frankly a bit hard to follow but his visual style is so distinct. Need to watch more of his stuff.
Also lmao Cosmo literally says "my life a is movie" at one point in the movie
First Cassavetes. Did not get this at all, was frankly a bit hard to follow but his visual style is so distinct. Need to watch more of his stuff.
Also lmao Cosmo literally says "my life a is movie" at one point in the movie
Eddie
7.0★ · 04/08/26
Watched the original 1976 cut
Watched the original 1976 cut
Luca Trumfio
10.0★ · 04/01/26
The directors cut was surprisingly shorter than the original. It was cool seeing the difference between what we got and what the director wanted. This is still my favorite movie.
The directors cut was surprisingly shorter than the original. It was cool seeing the difference between what we got and what the director wanted. This is still my favorite movie.
