Gloria

Columbia. Director John Cassavetes; Producer Sam Shaw; Screenplay John Cassavetes; Camera Fred Schuler; Editor George C. Villasenor; Music Bill Conti

Gena Rowlands
John Adames
Buck Henry
Julie Carmen
Lupe Guarnica

Gloria is a glorious broad perhaps pushing 40. She has been in prison but now has her nestegg and just wants to be let alone with her cat, friends and a fairly economically carefree life. But the way things happen, she has to put her neck out again, and for a precocious kid, half Puerto Rican, whom she has inadvertently pledged to help.

Director-actor John Cassavetes eases up on his unusually probing, darting camera and closeups studying human problems and disarray. Here instead he stands back and churns out a chase film that pits Gloria and the kid against the powerful Mafia no less.

Gena Rowlands is excellent as the tired woman who decides to take her chances for the boy. The kid is a right blend of understanding and childish tantrums.

1980: Nomination: Best Actress (Gena Rowlands)

(Color) Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1980. Running time: 123 MIN.

Variety is striving to present the most thorough review database. To report inaccuracies in review credits, please click here. We do not currently list below-the-line credits, although we hope to include them in the future. Please note we may not respond to every suggestion. Your assistance is appreciated.