Sally (Susan Sarandon) works at an Atlantic City casino oyster bar. She's learning french and card dealer. Her estranged husband Dave Matthews (Robert Joy) ran off with her younger sister Chrissie back in Saskatchewan. He steals a large package of cocaine in Philadelphia and arrives with a pregnant Chrissie looking to sell the drugs. He recruits Sally's next door neighbor and bookmaking old-timer Lou Pascal (Burt Lancaster). Lou has been caring for bed-ridden neighbor Grace Pinza and pining for the much younger Sally.
Legendary French filmmaker Louis Malle creates an air of crumbling decay. The film got nominated for the five big Academy awards but won none of them. There is no denying the greatness of Lancaster but he got beat by another legend Henry Fonda. This is a movie of characters. These people exists at the edges. It doesn't have the needed intensity but the great actors keep the characters interesting.
Legendary French filmmaker Louis Malle creates an air of crumbling decay. The film got nominated for the five big Academy awards but won none of them. There is no denying the greatness of Lancaster but he got beat by another legend Henry Fonda. This is a movie of characters. These people exists at the edges. It doesn't have the needed intensity but the great actors keep the characters interesting.