..Sonny should have gone to Mom..

Rating: 10/10 (7 July 2006)

This movie is difficult to review, because the list of actors-actresses don't tell you who played whom. The atmosphere inside the bank was definitely controlled by the group of ladies who were being held hostage. At the beginning of the robbery, Pacino (Sonny) was all macho to convince the hostages he was serious; they were terrified. Farther along into the robbery, the ladies could see by "Sonny's" concern for their safety, and became almost relaxed. His early release of the bank-guard and his immediate calling for a doctor to treat the manager - plus the pizzas! - let them see beneath his blustery.
"Sal," on the other hand, was sinister but could not have been a Vietnam-veteran, because his role originally was written for an 18-year-old. So, we are left to decide for ourselves how he became so sinister so young in life. I prefer to accept he was older and would kill without remorse. Cazale portrayed that characteristic superbly, although we are left to wonder at his intelligence, just the "enforcer" to back-up "Sonny"? Another fact from "trivia" tells us that the real robbers got $213,000, quite a nice haul for that period. Frank Pierson's award-winning Oscar heightened the entire disaster of the robbery, telling us there was only $1100.00 in the vault - it did not mention it was a Chase bank. Again we are left to decide for ourselves "and it is all true" really is, OR not. I prefer to stick to the script.....
....except to disbelieve that the character "Leon" was a woman trapped in the body of a man. Nah! "Leon" was too handsome, although he did come-across as a trifle sissified. Other "users" say this was his first major role; great acting, but I don't remember any other role he played. Maybe I'm too old. "Trivia" also tells us that the telephone-conversation between "Sonny" and "Leon" was not scripted, as many other scenes were not......purely improvised. To me, THAT would have been the best scene in the entire film, not even considering how realistic and believable the synergy between the two characters was. Wonder what Pierson thought about that?
Younger reviewers often want to believe that not much was happening during the '70s. They weren't around. Surprise ! sex-change operations were old hat by then, the best being performed at universities many years before. Nothing really controversial in that theme. Not everyone could just walk-up and have the operation done. They had to live in female clothing for one year pre-surgery and pass many psychic therapies. How ironic "Sonny" decided to head for Algeria - that's where American men were mutilated in the first operations........"Leon" would have felt right at home. So, Young-uns, do a little research before making serious-sounding statements. I knew several "trans-gendered" people post-surgery long before the '70s.......
"Sonny's" character would lead us to think of him as being Italian, not Polish. Because of Pacino's role in "The Godfather" movies, I repeat from other reviews that The Mafia were homosexual, too - not too many movies about them bring that out. In the film, "Sonny" says "you gotta have a little fun in life", after the ladies in the bank hear the TV-reporter say "two homosexuals" - which would leave us to believe all this gay-life wasn't too unusual to him. When the NY detective sees "Leon", he registers a little surprise, then goes-on to handle the situation with brilliance - bravo! for Durning. NO New York detective is going to be surprised when a little homosexuality comes into play.
I'm not really a fan of "The Godfather" films, so I rate this role by Pacino as one of his best. "Scarface" was a melodrama, to me - way over the top. "Dog Day Afternoon" - in all of its unlikeliness - could have happened just as it was scripted. Every one of the actors-actresses was stellar. The crowds outside in the street were a big contribution to the excitement of the film. The FBI-guys were right-on - I am left to wonder why they were determined to "take care of Sal" - what had he done but robbed a bank? No investigation of the shooter ?
The will-writing scene was particularly moving. Perhaps that was "Sonny's" first inkling for the dance to get into the bus, all the parade to the airport, the jet - everything - was just another situation to go wrong. Not one of the reviewers mentioned that he did not spend a time long in prison, and his name has not surfaced again, that I know of. It's difficult to not sympathize with the villains of this movie, because they actually did nothing wrong, but attempt to rob the bank. Some bank-robbers would have been so taken-aback to discover the vault empty, they may have mowed everyone down out of anger.
This story gives us much insight into how individuals react to unpleasant incidents, but get to take part in a story for the grandkids.......let's face it, it takes an extra-ordinarily moral person not to be tempted to become wealthy by robbing banks, otherwise there wouldn't be so many dangerous Fridays in the banking-business. I'll stay poor from fear and weakness......."Dog Day Afternoon" gave me another reason to live less dangerously. This is a 10-out-of-ten all around......even without a musical score