O Grande Vigarista

A Canadian film that isn't a joke. Wow. 'The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz' is a wonderful thing. Let's start with the novel. I read it as part of an English Lit class in High School and read it every autumn for seven years. It just goes so well with those first few blustery nights that arrive mid-October. Always tough for a screenplay to match up with a novel but novelist Mordecai Richler and Lionel Chetwynd were nominated for Academy Awards and lost to 'The Godfather Part 2's Coppola and Puzo - not bad. Wonderful to watch - just look at all the great street scenes, the country scenes, the autumn leaves, Duddy's well-lit apartment, Moe's Cigar Store...I mean, this is Canada keeping warm and cozy on a cool, October evening. The film, and the novel, are great to curl up with.

"A little bit of Duddy Kravitz in everyone," so the poster tells us. Yeah, I guess you could say that, although it is exaggerated in the film to get the message across (either that, or I haven't met anyone like that yet.) Dreyfuss' character is believable, and so is his father. I would have to say the only wooden character in the whole film is that of Lenny, Duddy's brother. There is a good message to get from the film--if you watch it, you won't be disappointed.

The most jaw dropping aspect of this film is realizing that Richard Dreyfuss was ever that young! He is perfect in the part of a pushy young man trying to get rich quick anyway he can, after all, it is what he has been raised to believe was the only goal in life. Although Duddy is pushy and brash, he is still likable and you want him to succeed, after all, he is coming from the streets without the benefit of higher education, his father is a cab driver who spends most of his days hanging out in a café with his buddies. To them money IS the goal.

I have owned this film on Video Tape for many years, and must watch it annually and always find something that I missed before. I liked the street scenes of Montreal in the late 40's, and the beautiful Adirondaks in summer. If you enjoyed Avalon, you would enjoy this film.

It's a post-World War II drama set in Montreal, Quebec, and the Laurentian Mountains in a predominately Jewish context. David "Duddy" Kravitz (Richard Dreyfuss) is a recent 19-year-old high school graduate. He is a fast-talking hustler, somewhat like his widowed father, Max (Jack Warden), who is a cab driver and occasional pimp. Duddy's older brother, Lenny (Alan Rosenthal), is in medical school with the help of Max's more successful brother, Benjy (Joseph Wiseman). Benjy has never had time for Duddy. However, Zaide (Zvee Scooler), Duddy's grandfather, has always been supportive. He tells Duddy that you are only someone if you own land.

The film follows Duddy's efforts to make money and become someone in a world that distrusts Jews. He has a French Canadian girlfriend, Yvette (Micheline Lanctôt), and hires an alcoholic filmmaker (Denholm Elliott). He tries to make money from a local gangster, Dingleman (Henry Ramer), who used to be friends with his father. Duddy also abuses the trust of a young, naive American, Virgil (Randy Quaid), whom he hires to transport pinball machines.

"The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" contains much humor, focused on Duddy's chutzpah as he struggles two steps forward and falls one step back. Richard Dreyfuss plays the role brilliantly, and Lanctôt provides a good counterbalance. One wished to see more of Scooler. The remaining characters are less developed.

The script, also by Richler, is uneven. It has gaps and transitions that could have been smoother. The cinematography is good, particularly on the land that Duddy is pursuing.

This Canadian movie has aged quite well.

I caught this film on cable the other night and decided to keep watching since it was set in locations where I grew up. I was not disappointed. The story (a poor Jewish kid who wants to make it big) is interesting and offers many comedic highlights. Richard Dreyfuss gives a passionate performance that simply makes the film. The third act however derails, not exactly knowing where its going with its main characters. But it's good.