Steven Keats makes a Dour, downbeat story of smalltime crooks and snitches, set and filmed in a dingy 70s Boston and its surrounding communities no gleaming State House dome or Beacon Hill townhouses here. I still bowl there, though that sign is long gone, sad to say. A stubborn Irish-American with three kids, Eddie is the kind of guy who takes his own trash out to the Eddie buys some guns from another gunrunner, Jackie Brown (Steven Keats), then gives him up to Foley, but the agent isn't satisfied. But for now, here are a few places that made me curious, or homesick or both. (Eddie left in a car outside this bowling alley - still in business in 2021), Boston Garden - 150 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA American chef and art-film epicure Anthony Bourdain is chef at large at New Yorks Brasserie les Halles; the author of ten books, including Kitchen Confidential and No Reservations; and the host of the Travel Channels Anthony Bourdain: No Reserv. The tough-guy dialogue and working-class Boston locations are so realistic it almost feels like you're watching a documentary. ("South Shore National Bank" - still a bank in 2021), 1 City Hall Square, Boston, Massachusetts, USA While critical reception was positive, with particular praise for Mitchum's performance, the movie was not popular with filmgoers and failed to rank in the top 30 either in 1973 (when it was released mid-year) or 1974, and failed to recoup its budget in combined box office. Foley meets Dillon), 236 Fayette Street, Quincy, Massachusetts, USA Eddie Fingers finally set free after being beaten around the bush (to save him from serving several years of prison life) by a cunning ATF agent. I cant remember the name maybe initials, S&K? It really hangs with one. Sources: The reflection in the window from the subway stop says, MTA All Points like Charlie on the MTA! See more The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Criterion Collecti - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new window or tab, The Friends of Eddie Coyle (The Criterion Collection), - for PayPal Credit, opens in a new window or tab, Report this item - opens in new window or tab, Already delivered a few days ago. The bar was the Kentucky Tavern and it was on the corner of Newbury and Mass Ave. cagey cop Foley has has no intention of keeping his word. 84 Metascore. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Friends of Eddie Coyle (The Criterion Collection) at the best online prices at eBay! Next to where the drive-in was!! Paramount Pictures, RT25: Celebrating 25 years of Rotten Tomatoes. I recall one in the movie was filmed in Cardells in Harvard Square, which is not near any T entrance, but movies can be edited to trick you into thinking that two locations are a lot closer that they actually are. Developed by nickpc. The most critically acclaimed of the bunch is The Friends of Eddie Coyle, a thoroughly downbeat and Monash wrote and produced the pilot episode for The Untouchables and had a hand in creating the prime time soap opera Peyton Place (1964-1969), also adapted from a successful novel. The rumpled perfection of Mitchum's interpretation of Eddie Coyle gave the film a documentary-like rawness magnified by Yates' use of existing locations. Conflicted, Eddie decides to also give up the gang of bank robbers he's been supplying, only to find that Foley already knows about them, and the mob believes Eddie snitched. Thanks for the dive bar info. "[8], On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 98% from 40 reviews. Mitchum refused to discuss characterization but responded positively to director input on the set. Its been a long time. producer Curtis Tsui makes due with a trailer, some behind-the-scenes stills and an okay commentary by Peter But when he finds himself facing a second . And Boston Film Historian Paul Sherman was kind enough to link to a writeup of his own on the movie, http://www.bigscreenboston.com/2008/05/book-excerpt-the-friends-of-eddie-coyle.html from his book Big Screen Boston you can buy it from his site, like I just did! Wildwood Diner Exhibit Meet and Greet This Saturday 7/31 Come On Down! But give him a character and the room to develop it, and what he does is wonderful. I can't say enough great things about this movie, but if you're a young person who grew up on the flashy, eye candy world of the latest Hollywood films, then you might find it drab and slow moving. Rolling Stone piece by Grover Lewis. Towards the end of the robbery, one of the tellers triggers a silent alarm and is shot dead by one of the robbers, requiring a hasty exit by the crew. Dillon and Foley meet outside Boston City Hall the next day, where Foley thanks Dillon for giving him Scalise and his crew. Ironically, Woodward (who passed away in November of this year) survived both of his replacements. glad its out as a legit disc now. Peter Yates biography, World Film Directors, Volume 2 1945-1985, edited by John Wakeham Born in Aldershot, Hampshire in July 1929, trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and a racing enthusiast before his industry apprenticeship as an editor of documentaries, Yates had by the early 1970s earned a reputation as a solid helmer of action films. Thank you so much for remembering PJ Pastry Shop in the movie and posting it in your blog. Yates' particular knack for teasing gritty reality out of high octane/big setpiece scenarios served him well when Paramount Pictures senior executive Peter Bart offered him the job of bringing George V. Higgins crime novel The Friends of Eddie Coyle to the big screen in the late autumn of 1972. Tracy Letts is an American playwright, screenwriter, and actor. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! To view this content, please use one of the following compatible browsers: Friends of Eddie Coyle, The -- (Movie Clip) Open, Ten Singles, Friends of Eddie Coyle, The -- (Movie Clip) Stand-Up Guy, Friends of Eddie Coyle, The -- (Movie Clip) Helping My Uncle, Friends of Eddie Coyle, The -- (Movie Clip) Give Them The Time, Friends of Eddie Coyle, The -- (Movie Clip) Extra Set of Knuckles, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; South Weymouth, Massachusetts, USA, "Ever hear bones breaking? 2023 Turner Classic Movies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. You're almost there! But that Friendlys was still there, I used to go get ice cream sometimes on my break from Pier 1. how cool was that Barbos sign! Like watching Spenser For Hire, it was almost more fun to see where things were filmed as it was to follow the story! Peter Yates chose The Friends of Eddie Coyle to mark Keats' film debut because of the actor's resemblance to rock star Mick Jagger. Oh, lets bring back the Old Kentucky Tavern, please? Cleve! Were interested in him. (Hockey game), Dorms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology - 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, Malden, Massachusetts, USA In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Someone remarks of Eddie, about halfway through The Friends of Eddie Coyle, that for a two-bit hood, he has fingers in a lot of pies. Many thanks for naming those places. Brian, thanks for the links, and the great screen captures! Love that Lechmere! He reports that Robert 1h 40m, Distributor: Cinemark The actor got himself in so tightly with members of Boston's notorious Bunker Hill gang that Higgins expressed concerns to Yates for his safety and the possible repercussions on the production. So much about The Friends Of Eddie Coyle feels locked into 1973from Dave Grusin's jazz-fusion score to the shaggy hair and wide collarsbut the dialogue is almost David Mamet-like in its . Great post, Mod Betty, and great info in the comments! Coming Soon. Director: Peter Yates Both places are on Retro Roadmap, sadly we just found out 2 weeks ago that Danas is closed. Eddie's only real pal is Dillon (Peter Boyle), a bartender and unofficial keeper of secrets between Heres Robert Mitchum looking in the window of a cafeteria type restaurant across from a T station who from Boston would miss that iconic letter? extra stop or two. Moving out to the suburbs, Dedham was featured prominently in the movie, and one of the major bank robberies was filmed at the bank my Grandmother used to go to. Written on the set of the movie, the article covers the production's He'll have to do much more if he expects to stay out of jail. The title is purely ironic: Eddie has no friends. The next day, Coyle decides to tip Foley off about Scalise and his crew but is unaware of their arrest. And yes, that is the old Dorchester Bowl-a-Drome. Yes, author Elmore Leonard a big fan of the original novel borrowed the name for a character in Rum Punch, and when Quentin Tarantino in turn brought this to the screen, he chose Jackie Brown as the title of the film. I was never a fan of Robert Mitchum until I saw this movie. Cast: Robert Mitchum (Eddie 'Fingers' Coyle), Peter Boyle (Dillon), Richard Jordan (Dave Foley), Steven Keats (Jackie Brown), Alex Rocco (Jimmy Scalise), Joe Santos (Artie Van), Mitchell Ryan (Waters), Peter MacLean (Mr. Partridge), Kevin O'Morrison (Bank manager #2), Marvin Lichterman (Vernon), Carolyn Pickman (Nancy). Eddie Coyle lives in Wollaston, south toward Quincy, at 236 Fayette Street, between North Central and Elmwood Avenues. ordinary passers-by; few crime stories seem as rooted in their setting. Or if you cant wait, you can rent The Friends of Eddie Coyle from Netflix like I did! I dont recall the name of the place (Waldorf?? atomic_records, Verified purchase: Boston crook Eddie Coyle (Robert Yates also I am a participant in multiple affiliate and referral programs, including Amazon and Epidemic Sound. Aging Boston gunrunner Eddie Coyle (Robert Mitchum) is looking at several years of jail time for a hold-up if he doesn't funnel information to Dave Foley (Richard Jordan), an ATF agent. But as the movie opens, Eddie is in trouble, and it looks like hell have to break the code. Thanks for sharing your story Dan. The Friends of Eddie Coyle is a 1973 American crime thriller film directed by Peter Yates, starring Robert Mitchum, Peter Boyle, and Alex Rocco. Free shipping for many products! trade: if Eddie snitches on his friends, will Dave intercede in his case? snapping a shingle. [9], The Criterion Collection released a special edition DVD of the film on May 19, 2009. Jordan succumbed to a brain tumor in 1994 and Mitchum from lung cancer in 1997, a month shy of his 80th birthday. Everybody's strategy is to survive, but their criminal efforts are all undone by betrayals. We all (including family & current occupants of Dedham) miss a bakery in the Square! During this time, Higgins wrote a succession of crime novels set in and around Boston, which Life had dubbed "the murder capital of America." (and if anyone is wondering, thats actor Peter Boyles glowing pate), Moving out to the suburbs, Dedham was featured prominently in the movie, and one of the major bank robberies was filmed at the bank my Grandmother used to go to. Their friends slammed Eddies fingers in a drawer. Condition: Privacy Policy Yes Too many, as it turns out. new wide, Release Date (Streaming): Obituary for Paul Monash, Variety, January 2003 As a small time hood, Eddie is about to go back to jail. Eddie Coyle is made for him: a weary middle-aged man, but tough and proud; a man who has been hurt too often in life not to respect pain; a man who will take chances to protect his own territory. Just like a man L&W? (Memorial Drive by the Charles River, overlooking Back Bay, Boston), 5 Bryant Street, Dedham, Massachusetts, USA The crew rob a second bank, this time in South Weymouth. | Wasnt signage better back then or am i just an old bastard?! There's a fine collection of 'tough guy' performances from the cast, which includes the likes of Robert Mitchum, Peter Boyle, Richard Jordan, Alex Rocco and Steve Keats, who has the film's most interesting character and best performance. He received the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for drama for August: Osage County and a Tony Award for Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? In preparation for the third robbery, the crew move in to kidnap the bank's manager but are ambushed by Foley and other ATF agents and placed under arrest. Criterion Collection. 10th Chicago Critics Film Fest Features Past Lives, Blackberry, Sanctuary, Theater Camp, and Many More, A Road Paved with Bloodshed: High Plains Drifter Turns 50, Cannes 2023 Line-up Includes Wes Anderson, Martin Scorsese, and Many More, Ebertfest Welcomes Molly Cornyn as its New Project Coordinator. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. That is what makes it so believable. that, "It's just a start". When Eddie informs on an associate, Foley tells him In the reflection I see that they serve Spanish Omlettes. Tom K writes: It was a no-longer existent cafeteria on Boyleston, near Tremont and the bar, Dillons, was a place called the Kentucky Tavern at the corner of Newbury and Mass Ave. Love that movie, Garen D notes: Not sure about the diner. Eddie Coyle is a low-level gunrunner based out of Quincy, Massachusetts. http://thephoenix.com/boston/arts/77601-noir-film/, http://www.bigscreenboston.com/2008/05/book-excerpt-the-friends-of-eddie-coyle.html. Great acting. Looking for the role of Eddie Coyle, an older gentleman with . Psyched to grab Pauls book. The Friends of Eddie Coyle is an extremely faithful adaptation (in structure, spirit, and flavor) of the first published novel by the Brockton, Massachusetts-born Higgins, whose career as a United States prosecutor and then big-time criminal defense lawyer (his clients included Eldridge Cleaver and G. Gordon Liddy) coincided with his . He reluctantly agrees to sell them in a discreet location at a specific time. which men hide their real agendas. Production Description. Copyright 2021 Retro Roadmap. He is, at heart, just a small businessman; he deals in crime but is profoundly middle class. I went to Northeastern and graduated in 1982. I have never seen a picture of that before and it brought back fond memories. "amateurs". World-weary and living hand to mouth, Coyle works on the sidelines of the seedy Boston underworld just to make ends meet. hues. (Eddie left in a car outside this bowling alley - still in business in 2021), Boston Garden - 150 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Just the same, it's a beauty compared to original release prints that leaned toward cold, green Plot summary Eddie's friends are numerous, but the term "friends" is suspect. The scene that got me all in a tiz however was the one shot at the Dedham Plaza shopping center on Route 1. Please let me know if you have any questions or curiosities about the bakery Id be glad to answer them! by Glenn Erickson. Sold by: convincing Boston accent. By Sven Mikulec. For the past month, Minneapoliss Trylon microcinema has devoted its screen to the films of Robert Mitchumnine of them in total. Coming Soon. I went to the bar many times. the table by serving as a middleman between gunrunner Jackie Brown (Steven Keats) and bank robber Jimmy Scalise We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. Yes But who else is dealing with the feds? Born in Harlem in 1917, the son of Rhoda Melrose, a silent film actress who worked with both Vitagraph and Biograph studios, Monash had aspirations of becoming a novelist but first enjoyed great success in live television in the 1950s. Currently, the space once occupied for over 60 years by PJ Pastry Shop is now a personal fitness center called The Body Workshop.. It has brought back many fond memories. However the Roxy theatre they used in the movie is in NorthamptonPennsylvania! (Alex Rocco). Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. Saw it as a new release and found a bootleg dvd of it many years ago. Screenplay: Paul Monash; George V. Higgins (novel) The film tells the story of Eddie Coyle (Mitchum), a small-time career hoodlum in the Irish Mob in Boston, Massachusetts. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. He can usually tell you where all those shopping centers and bars were. oddbanana. filmed with a rough, grainy look, especially in night scenes where the emulsion appears to have been "pushed" an Funny how I saw that logo go by in a split second and I knew exactly what store it was from. I also grew up in an inner-city neighborhood in . Jimmy Scalise's bank robberies are slick jobs that involve the taking of Since Robert Mitchum was one of the top Film-Noir guys, I figured we would look at one of his films to begin the Neo-Noir group. The crew kidnap Mr. Partridge, the manager of the South Shore National Bank, in order to rob the bank. | Is this the bowling alley in Dorchester near where the Neponset Drive In used to be? with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. (where Dillon tends bar - various other businesses since), 747 Providence Highway, Dedham, Massachusetts, USA Robert Mitchum came to play Eddie Coyle on the heels of unsatisfying turns in the forgettable Going Home (1971) and The Wrath of God (1972), which found him riffing yet again on his The Night of the Hunter (1955) infamy. What is claimed instead is that cast member Alex Rocco, who grew up in Somerville, introduced Mitchum to Howie Winter of the Winter Hill Gang. (Rowe Quarry gun purchase scene), Callahan Tunnel, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA Filmed without sentiment against the backdrop of a quickly changing city, this underrated 70s neo noir features one of Robert Mitchum's best performances. Above average mid period Mitchum drama. This was around Boylston and Tremont Street near the Common. Its strange that a movies interest should fall off during its action scenes. [3], The Friends of Eddie Coyle was not well received by the filmgoing public. Short listed by Peter Yates as one of his three favorite films (alongside the Academy Award nominated Breaking Away [1979] and The Dresser [1983]), the Boston-set The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) proved a worthy follow-up to the British filmmaker's breakthrough film, Robbery (a thinly-veiled 1967 account of 1963's "Great Train Robbery"), his American debut, Bullitt (1968) with Steve McQueen, and the good natured Manhattan caper comedy The Hot Rock (1972).