Dog Day Afternoon

Dog Day Afternoon is a 1975 American crime drama movie directed by Sidney Lumet, written by Frank Pierson and based on an article from Life magazine. The movie stars Al Pacino, John Cazale, Chris Sarandon and Charles Durning. The story is about bank a robbery in New York City.

Cast
The Life article described Wojtowicz as "a dark, thin fellow with the broken-faced good looks of an Al Pacino or Dustin Hoffman". Hoffman was offered the role when Pacino briefly quit. An 18-year-old actor was originally to be cast in the role of Sal to match the age of the actual Salvatore.Lumet, Sidney. Dog Day Afternoon, feature commentary The table below shows the main cast of Dog Day Afternoon."The Boys in the Bank" by P.F. Kluge and Thomas Moore for Life, September 22, 1972, Vol. 73(12).
 Character Actor Role Similar person from Life article Sonny Wortzik Al Pacino Bank robber John Wojtowicz Salvatore "Sal" Naturale John Cazale Sonny's partner in the robbery Salvatore "Sal" Naturile  Sergeant Eugene Moretti Charles Durning Police Sergeant  who originally negotiates with Sonny NYPD Police Chief of Detectives Louis C. Cottell Agent Sheldon James Broderick FBI agent who replaces Moretti in negotiations Agent Richard Baker Agent Murphy Lance Henriksen FBI agent/driver Agent Murphy Leon Shermer Chris Sarandon Sonny's pre-operative transsexual wife Ernest Aron Sylvia "Mouth" Penelope Allen Head teller Shirley "Mouth" Ball  Mulvaney Sully Boyar Bank manager Robert Barrett Angela "Angie" Wortzik Susan Peretz Sonny's wife  Carmen "Mouth" Bifulco Jenny "The Squirrel" Carol Kane Bank teller  Margaret Beulah Garrick Bank teller Deborah Sandra Kazan Bank teller Edna  Estelle Omens Bank teller Josephine Tuttino Miriam Marcia Jean Kurtz Bank teller Maria Amy Levitt Kathleen Amore Stevie Gary Springer Bank robber Robert Westenberg Howard Calvin John Marriott Unarmed bank guard Calvin Jones Doctor Philip Charles MacKenzie Doctor who treats Mulvaney Doctor  Carmine  Carmine Foresta  Phone cop Floyd Levine Limo driver Dick Anthony Williams Sonny's father Dominic Chianese  Neighbor Marcia Haufrecht Sonny's mother Judith Malina Theresa Basso-Wojtowicz TV anchorman William Bogert  TV reporter Ron Cummins Sam Jay Gerber Insurance salesman from across the street Joe Anterio Maria's boyfriend Edwin "Chu Chu" Malave Pizza boy Lionel Pina

Historical accuracy
The movie was based on the story of John Wojtowicz.  It keeps the basic facts of what happened, according to the Life article "The Boys in the Bank". According to the article, Wojtowicz, along with Sal Naturile, held up a Chase Manhattan Bank branch in Brooklyn, New York on August 22, 1972.

After being arrested, Wojtowicz was convicted in court and sentenced to twenty years in prison.  He served six years.Bank robber wins parole

Wojtowicz wrote a letter to The New York Times in 1975.  He said the movie was not completely true. He said the way his ex-wife was shown was not accurate.  He also said there was not a talk with his mother. He did say Al Pacino and Chris Sarandon's portrayals of him and his boyfriend Ernest Aron were good.Real Dog Day hero tells his story by John Wojtowicz from Jump Cut, no. 15, 1977, pp. 31–32. Retrieved March 13, 2007 Also, Sal was 18 years old, but is played by a 39-year-old.

Wojtowicz died of cancer in January 2006.

Awards
Dog Day Afternoon won the Academy Award for Writing – Original Screenplay (Frank Pierson) and was nominated for other Oscars:Awards for Dog Day Afternoon for IMDb. Retrieved April 24, 2006.
 Best Picture (Martin Bregman and Martin Elfand)
 Best Director (Sidney Lumet)
 Best Actor in a Leading Role (Al Pacino)
 Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Chris Sarandon)
 Best Film Editing (Dede Allen)
The movie was also nominated for the following seven Golden Globes, winning none:
 Best Motion Picture – Drama
 Best Director – Motion Picture (Sidney Lumet)
 Best Motion Picture Actor – Drama (Al Pacino)
 Best Screenplay – Motion Picture (Frank Pierson)
 Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (Charles Durning)
 Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (John Cazale)
 Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture – Male (Chris Sarandon)

The movie won other awards, including an NBR Award for Best Supporting Actor (Charles Durning) and a Writers Guild Award for Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen (Frank Pierson) as well as the British Academy Award for Best Actor (Al Pacino). It was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay.

In 2009, it was named to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

References

 Other websites 

Category:1975 comedy-drama movies
Category:1975 crime drama movies
Category:1970s black comedy movies
Category:1970s criminal comedy movies
Category:1975 LGBT movies
Category:American comedy-drama movies
Category:American crime drama movies
Category:American heist movies
Category:American LGBT movies
Category:American black comedy movies
Category:1970s English-language movies
Category:LGBT comedy-drama movies
Category:LGBT crime movies
Category:Movies based on real life events
Category:Movies directed by Sidney Lumet
Category:Movies set in Brooklyn
Category:Transgender in movies
Category:United States National Film Registry movies
Category:Warner Bros. movies
Category:Movies about bank robbery
Category:Movies set in the 1970s
Category:American criminal comedy movies