Murphy (Bobby Faust) is the lonely title character, who lives in the heart of Brooklyn, New York gang territory and is so down-trodden he eventually loses the fight to retain his sanity in a cruel environment. Producer, writer, and director Richard Monteverde has created a bravely non-exploitative film, dishing out bits of social commentary about Murphy's smallness in a big world, and how the big people really don't accept his physical differences.
Murphy holds a steady job, as a delivery man for a local grocery store, and is also initially not afraid to stand up to three punks who constantly threaten him. Early in the film, he befriends a dress designer, Kate (Ann Magnuson), and is casually flirtatious with a female record store clerk. His relationship with Kate develops into a genuine friendship, although she is aloof and her boyfriend (Kurt H. D'Artanian) cannot quite hide his prejudice against little people. On the other hand, Murphy is perhaps all too isolated, takes to conversing with his collection of mannequins, and doesn't leave his claustrophobic apartment enough.
When the punks kill the grocery store owner and trash his apartment, Murphy goes around the bend and starts seeing visions of nuns and religious characters. Even Kate's motherly interest in his safety cannot hold him in the real world. Let's say it ends badly for him.
Monteverde is to be commended for going beyond cliches and caring enough about Murphy to paint him as at least a sympathetic kook. THE DWARF is really a movie about New York City, though, and Murphy's size and socialization ends up being a novelty rather than its central theme.
As Murphy, Bobby Faust is in practically every scene but is not a strong enough actor to convey the character's gradual decline. Now a known sculptor in New York City and proponent for legalizing marijuana, Faust did not pursue an acting career. Ann Magnuson, who fares better as Kate, went on to a major film and singing career. The other actors barely register.
THE DWARF was never released in the English-speaking world, and I'm sorry to hear that Monteverde did not make a second film.
