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After touring the world in 1987, Madonna decided to surprise her audience once again with a total departure from her previous work. Her part in ´Bloodhounds of Broadway´ is an absolute delight. She is funny and touching (something she hadn´t showed in her movies since ´Desperate seeking Susan´) as Hortance Hattaway, a twenties show girl who´s been around the block a few times and has footprints all over her back. Two of the most entertaining highlights are her performances in the nightclub where most of the action takes place (it´s New Years Eve). Especially the duet with Jeniffer Grey (who´s not dubbed, but took singing lessons to do the job herself!) is a real treat. Shame there´s no soundtrack available.

Love, laugh and a tragic comedy from the Broadway of the 1920s. Based on novells by Damon Runyon director Howard Brookner (who died of AIDS) in his first and last movie "Bloodhounds" shows the world of gangsters, go-go girls and other bastards. Madonna, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Grey, Esai Morales , Steve Buscemi are all very good, but Randy Quaid takes the palm. Gotta see it!

Mr. Rupp is a very a skilled and professional actor. I look forward to seeing Mr. Rupp's productions, and go out of my way to search for productions featuring Veryle Rupp. I hope to be able to see more of V. Rupp in the future. Mr. Rupp is the best new and upcoming actor that I have witnessed in quite some time. I am curious why the acting guild has not used his obvious talents more? Please see what you can do to show more of Mr. Rupp's talents in the very near future. Mr. Rupp is an obvious "Overlooked Diamond in the Rough". Mr. Rupp appears to have all of the Charm, and Good looks that any Actor possesses. Please keep me informed of any new productions which Mr. Rupp is part of and again I thank you for your assistance.

"Bloodhounds of Broadway", which is set in 1928 New York, is actually a film ahead of its own time (1989) in some aspects; with its interlocking stories of tough guys, beautiful dames, underworld figures, bars, gambling, all taking place in a dark megacity, it reminded me of an early "Sin City"! But the filmmakers have put a lot more care in getting the "look" of the film right than in engaging us in the stories and the characters, some of whom are even difficult to keep straight in the first half. The all-star cast is not used to its full potential, although Madonna looks great with a dark bob haircut and has a brief and PG-rated but still hot "strip" number. ** out of 4.

If you like the jargon and swagger of "Guys & Dolls," you should enjoy "Bloodhounds of Broadway," another collection of Damon Runyon stories pieces together to make an ensemble film, without quite as much music. This one unfolds much like a three-act play. The first act takes place during the day on December 31, 1928. The second rings in the New Year and the third shows our characters meeting their (mostly) happy endings the next morning. The fact that 1929 will not be universally kind to all of them adds a bittersweet note to the final frames. Madonna has a small role, and it's not her finest performance, but saddled with the clichéd "showgirl with a heart of gold" character, she does well, and her final moments with co-star Randy Quaid are charming. Quaid himself gives a marvelous performance, as does Julie Hagerty as a "society dame" who'd rather be a gun moll, and Rutger Hauer as a dying gangster in an effective and underplayed morality story.