Boardwalk

Well paced and well acted story of old couple living in Coney Island in a decaying neighborhood with hoodlums. A portrait of NYC in the 1970s. Also very heavy on Jewish content, this movie would be worth of inclusion in a Jewish film festival. A surprise! Worth a watch, especially if you like the gritty 70s feel.

Saw this on cable back in 81. And it was about an old couple who live in a bad neighborhood and are being picked on by a youth gang. It was rated PG, but had some pretty disrupting scenes. The ending was definitely a shock. As far as i know this has never been on video or at least i never seen it anywhere. IF you can find it check it out. Iam sure it looks pretty dated now.. Its a movie that will stick with . I haven't seen it since 1981 and still remember all the stuff that happened in it..Iam sure a lot of the people in it are gone now. It shows how bad neighborhoods in new york were back in the late 70's.. It reminded me of another movie that came out in 80 called defiance

The acting was great, one of the best films I've seen, and a true emotional roller coaster of a ride...a neat little twist at the end. The film can be very shocking in places, but what's so good is that it contains no special effects, just purely great acting and direction.

"Boardwalk" is what I would call a blessed movie. It is blessed with a cast that simply excels. Ruth Gordon and Lee Strasberg as David and Becky Rosen work together like they have been married fifty years, even though it's just in the movie. This is Lee Strasberg's opportunity to make an acting statement and he does so with a huge exclamation point. I also must mention that "Boardwalk" is one of the most effectively edited films I have ever seen. What may seem abrupt to some is in reality moving things along, otherwise you would have a story that might be too long. The Coney Island locations are another plus, remembering in this wonderful film a bygone era. All I can say is see this movie, and don't forget to bring plenty of tissues. - MERK

Stephen Verona co-wrote and directed this story about an elderly married couple living in a decaying New York neighborhood near Coney Island who refuse to relocate despite escalating crime and racial tensions. Low-budget film from I.T.C. doesn't have an exploitation gimmick (on the level of, say, "Death Wish") to lean on, therefore it didn't reach many audiences. Both Lee Strasberg and Ruth Gordon do first-rate work, but the glumness of the concept and Verona's need for his slim plot to come full circle to make a point results in a very depressing experience. Janet Leigh has a smaller role as the couple's daughter, and her eagerness with this dramatic material is heightened by Verona's unsubtle handling (it isn't one of her better performances). The picture stays in the mind through a few pointed scenes and images, but "Boardwalk" is too static to make a greater impact. *1/2 from ****