Movies - The Public Eye

Home > Listing Index > Movies > The Public Eye (film)

	Movies - The Public Eye

The Public Eye is a neo-noir film directed by Howard Franklin. The Director of Photography was Peter Suschitzky.

This neo-noir character study is based on the famed New York Daily News photographer Arthur "Weegee" Fellig.

Bernstein (Joe Pesci), a freelance photographer for the New York City tabloids of the 1940's, is dedicated to his realistic photography work. With a police radio under the dashboard of his car and a darkroom in his trunk, he quickly races to the scene of some of the most horrific crimes and accidents in order to snap the best photographs. He's so good at his job that he becomes known affectionately as the "Great Bernzini."

Noir fate touches the "Great Bernzini" when he agrees to help sultry Kay Levitz (Barbara Hershey), the owner of a nightclub, find a mobster. Her request leads Bernstein to an elaborate conspiracy concerning gas rationing, the mob, the government, and much trouble.

The film was generally well received. Time Out Film Guide said, "The main virtue of screenwriter Franklin's debut as director is Pesci's portrayal of Weegee, the famous low-life tabloid photographer of urban disaster, lightly concealed as Bernstein, The Great Bernzini... Good dialogue, nice period recreation, great performances."

Quotes

Leon (Bernzy) Bernstein: Everybody loves to have their picture took. Everybody.
Kay Levitz: It doesn't matter what people say unless you believe them.
Leon (Bernzy) Bernstein: Nobody does what I do. Nobody.

Taglines

Murder. Scandal. Crime. No matter what he was shooting, "The Great Bernzini" never took sides he only took pictures... Except once.
No matter what he was shooting, he never got involved -- except once.

Trivia

Filming Locations: Chicago, Illinois; and Cincinnati, Ohio.
The character of Bernzy was inspired by real-life photographer Arthur "Weegee" Fellig. In fact, some of Bernzy's photos were in fact taken by Fellig.
Howard Franklin worked for 10 years before he could get his screenplay turned into a film.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for The Public Eye (film) ]

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article The Public Eye (film); it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.

Searches on eBay