Filmmaker reacts to Dog Day Afternoon (1975) for the FIRST TIME!

[@JamesVSCinema]

ATTICA! ATTICA! ATTICA!! Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema FIRST TIME WATCHING JUJUTSU KAISEN Tuesday. Enjoy the day!

[@bigneon_glitter]

De Palma's _Carlito's Way_ - one for the Pacino list.

[@bigneon_glitter]

@CLester Here comes the pain!

[@christhornycroft3686]

The Producers (2005) would be a nice change of pace. Mel Brooks is a genius.

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

Elephant is a good movie to watch very disturbing but poinient?

[@chrisbowling4060]

I'll vote here. More brilliance from the great Sidney Lumet: "Network."

[@matthewboyd3352]

The scene where John Cazale declines the cigarettes because "he doesnt want to get the cancer" is especially dark because he would die within the next couple of years due to lung cancer. He was a great actor who elevated every picture he was in. RIP

[@jaybee3055]

He was great actor died too young

[@fidel2xl]

And he left behind a young fiance who loved him very much. That fiance is Meryl Streep.

[@Jason-br5ow]

Fun fact about John Cazale: every single movie he was in was at least nominated for Best Picture.

[@glennthompson1173]

Great actor and died way too young.

[@jamesoblivion]

He even had a Best Picture winner and another Best Picture nominee, in the same year. No one could pick projects like John Cazale.

[@Jason-br5ow]

@@glennthompson1173 Yeah. I’m thinking James would really dig The Conversation.

[@korybeavers6528]

And was Meryl Streeps husband

[@patty1h]

@@korybeavers6528 They were in a relationship, but he died before they got married.

[@Polymathically]

This is one of my all-time favorite movies, partially because I worked in the banking industry for almost 20 years, much of which involved vault keeping, operations, and auditing. I dislike most heist movies because they're completely unrealistic. I've literally written essays about how hard it would be to pull a grand heist; there are many, _many_ more layers of security than what you see in most films. I could post it here, if you want. But always tell people that Dog Day Afternoon is the most realistic heist movie, _because they fail almost immediately._

[@JamesVSCinema]

Exactly!!

[@TTM9691]

Thanks for the information!!! Fascinating!

[@billhicks6449]

And they fail with one having worked at a bank which tells me there's layers of security most regular employees don't know about.

[@Polymathically]

@@billhicks6449 That's true; accessing vault cash involves some extra procedures that are intentionally designed to be slow and tedious to deter anyone from trying. Most staffers don't bother learning about it unless they're chosen to take on extra responsibilities. A couple more doors, safe combos, separate compartments that require different sets of keys, knowing where and how the money is stored... However, there's also the unfortunate fact that Sonny was just _that much_ of an idiot. Aside from stopping the tellers from pushing the silent alarm, he basically did everything else wrong. They went in there without masks or gloves on. They couldn't do anything about the cameras. They didn't keep a low profile; Sonny's frantic little dance trying to get the gun out of the box gave him away. All of that shouting was unnecessary. Even if that third guy hadn't bailed, there still wouldn't have been enough guys to get the job done efficiently. Burning the traveler's check log was completely pointless and caused more attention to be drawn to the branch. He should've double checked his information and/or staked out the branch himself. And even if all of that had gone right, there's no way they were getting out of there with a full vault's worth of cash without being noticed. Money is a _lot_ heavier than most people realize. Do you know how much a quarter million in 20s weighs? I do. I was in charge of ATM ops for a year, and hauled that much around at least twice a week. Stealing a full vault's worth would be like trying to escape a building with five or six Hefty of duffel bags filled with books without getting caught. Sonny's plan just wasn't going to happen.

[@herbyragan7801]

Hope “Serpico” will be going onto your reaction list. One of Pacino’s best role.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Stay tuned!

[@jillmayer9501]

My favourite Pacino movie. & he's really hot in that movie lol

[@vapormissile]

Serpico put me off wanting to be cop, if I ever did.

[@skyeslaton3435]

The godfather Scent of a woman Any given sunday Scarface

[@chrisbowling4060]

@@skyeslaton3435 All great and acclaimed films. For something different from Pacino, try "And Justice For All," a dark comedy. For more intensity, there's a very young Pacino in "Panic in Needle Park."

[@rhwinner]

This was the time of the Christopher St riots, and gays were just getting some of the harassment laws overturned. It used to be cops could raid a gay bar and arrest patrons if they were kissing and stuff like that. So this movie came out just as things were changing socially.

[@ompatel8988]

Yea, I surprised with its Transgender subject matter, because this wasn’t a thing that was well supported back then. This movie was ahead of its time.

[@artdeco64]

It’s so much fun watching the younger crowd discover great older movies.

[@jesstube6466]

One of the best acting performances ever

[@drdavid1963]

Pacino's best certainly - I would say it's up there with De Niro in Taxi Driver, Nicholson in Cuckoo's Nest and Peter O'Toole in Lawrence of Arabia. It's my favourite

[@mistahmata]

Easily my favorite Al Pacino film soooo brilliantly directed and written so much timeless social commentary but also hilarious it’s a masterpiece

[@JamesVSCinema]

Great way to describe the comedy!

[@joelwillis2043]

John Cazale made 5 movies before he died young from cancer. He was dating Meryl Streep at the time. Al Pacino said he learned more about acting from John than anybody. All 5 movies were Oscar nominated for best picture.

[@jomac2046]

Yes he did say that and here's the proof. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4Kkhqh4q5l_r5I

[@chrisbowling4060]

Cazale was also an accomplished stage actor. It was during the production of Shakespeare's "Measure For Measure" that he met Streep.

[@richieclean]

12 Angry Men is another masterclass from Sidney Lumet.

[@krautgazer]

I agree, and so is Network, released only one year later after Dog Day Afternoon

[@rustincohle2135]

Wow, I just watched the only other KZbin reaction to this movie yesterday and now this... nuts. And yes, the cheering for the bank robbers by the bystanders was not exaggerated. It actually happened in real life. The real story happened in '72, and back in the 1970s, there was a major anti-establishment attitude throughout the Western world, especially in the United States. In 1972, Vietnam was raging on, half the US population protested it in the streets, the Civil Rights movement was still going on (people were still shaken and riled up over the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King), the women's rights movement was happening, the counterculture rebellion and hippies will still in full swing, corruption within the US government (particularly in the White House) was being exposed en masse etc. And the famous "Attica" line was referring to the infamous Attica Prison riot of 1971, in which the entire prison was taken over by the inmates over the prison's deplorable living conditions. It lasted 4 days and it was mostly peaceful and non-violent until Governor Nelson Rockefeller got tired of negotiating and ordered police to perform a full force take-back of the prison which resulted in 33 dead prisoners, 10 dead correctional officers, and over 100 more shot or wounded. The state government and the police just did not care anymore about anyone's well being (even of those working in the prison) and they just wanted the standoff to end. This notorious incident sparked EVEN MORE of the public's distrust of the government and of authority figures in general. So, yea, nearly every American f"ing HATED cops and the government back then. That's why almost every great movie from the 70s has underlying themes of rebellion and anti-establishment attitudes in them and "Dog Day" is a prime example.

[@AI_Image_Master]

I remember when this actually happened. It's difficult to convey to people today that don't know the history how powerful the "Attica" scene is. You did a good job explaining it.

[@BONETOASTER1111]

You should DEFINITELY look into the history behind this film. From what I’ve found it’s basically 100% accurate (except for specific words said within the bank and so on). It’s dedication to the real events is actually fairly well known.

[@morganalabeille5004]

It's probably pretty accurate to the events of the day in question but there's a bunch of other stuff they changed. Like his irl wife was already well into her transition when the bank robbery happened. She was a six foot tall blonde Amazonian beauty and the money from this movie did help pay for her surgery. Unfortunately she died relatively young during the AIDS crisis.

[@sukie584]

Though very close to real events, it’s not 100%. He was divorced from his wife & living & married to Eden already. There’s also some belief that this was also a mob backed job,not strictly for the sex change operation.

[@headwound]

The man himself wrote to New York Times complaining that the movie was only 30% accurate.

[@CapraDemon101]

You're wise beyond your years James. I'm hitting 43 this September and you've got a much more emotionally intelligent mind than many of my peers. Dope ass fucking movie btw. Can't wait

[@JamesVSCinema]

Wow thank you for this comment brother! I’m doing my best. One step at a time

[@CapraDemon101]

@@JamesVSCinema the methodical approach pays off. Slowly slowly wins the race

[@chrisbowling4060]

@@JamesVSCinema Forget millennial films and TV; focus on classics and you can't go wrong. There were no whiz-bang CGI-driven productions, so great writing and acting were required for audiences to pay attention. Most years of the '70s, there would be a dozen great films released; nowadays, there's half of that. Some years, there might be three or four films worthy of Oscars which weren't nominated that were superior to some modern winners. For more Lumet-directed films, try "Network," a prescient political satire (written by the great Paddy Chayefsky with an all-star cast which accounted for three of the four acting awards) and for more Pacino sample a dark comedy, "And Justice For All."

[@jp3813]

@@chrisbowling4060 Nah, he won't even try to forget given his reaction video to the recent Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer. And I bet you that 70s cinema enthusiast Quentin Tarantino will be just as stoked since he's also a comic book nerd. lol

[@chrisbowling4060]

@@jp3813 You mean adults watch cartoons and live-action comics? Times have changed (in many ways, few for the better culturally). I don't see Tarantino doing a Marvel film as his 10th (and "final") flick.

[@magicbrownie1357]

This flick was ground breaking in so many ways. An absolute juggernaut, an assault on the senses and the sleepy American sensibilities of the time. Some of the greatest acting of all time as well.

[@matias5817]

Man, Pacino and De Niro own the 70s, 80s and mind 90s, react to more of their drama roles please

[@tylerdell1878]

Nicholson too

[@matias5817]

@@tylerdell1878 He's great too

[@MouthyMercMouthyProductions]

Yes!! This is one of my favourite films. Period. Glad to See Someone React to it, Keep it up!

[@raphaelcarmo1286]

My favorite heist movie ever, one of my favorites period. Sidney Lumet is underappreciated, so many classics under his belt.

[@Justwalks]

This is hands down my favourite Pacino film. His performance is BRILLIANT. And it's written and shot so good.

[@duanevp]

I'm sure people have suggested it already but you NEED to see The Conversation with one of my favorite actors EVER - Gene Hackman.

[@Theomite]

As far as I'm concerned, the only movie where Gene Hackman doesn't play Gene Hackman.

[@brettv5967]

Thank you so much for having the good taste to choose this under appreciated film. I really love it. It’s completely engaging. Great performances by all.

[@thamnosma]

The Algeria reference relates to Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver’s flight to the country after a shootout with Chicago police. It took on a bit of a Cuba reputation.

[@Nick_CF]

As a filmmaker I HIGHLY recommend you watch the behind the scenes documentary making this film. Sydney Lamet is a master film maker. They interview a sound guy and he says he loves working with him because he does so much prep it makes his job super easy and stress free. Right in the middle of him talking Lamet yells to set the scene and he immediately has to get back going again. Good stuff.

[@the9-2-5outlawdoestech9]

22:47 The actor who played the cop who shot John Cazale was Lance Henriksen. He's been in over a hundred films and TV shows. He usually appears in science fiction and horror films, but his likeness and his voice is featured in the Ubisoft video game Detroit:Become Human. The other cop who takes Al Pacino's character in was James Broderick, the late father of Matthew Broderick.

[@jacobvardy]

"he only got 20 years?" It was back in the days when prison sentences were at least rational. If it is a life or a death sentence to take a hostage, what incentive is there to spare lives? Back in the 70s most hostages were released. When the cops started killing hostage takers in the 80s, hostage takers started killing hostages.

[@richieclean]

I love this movie. I was probably around 17 when I watched it for the first time and I found it utterly compelling from start to finish.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Super compelling!

[@harmonicpies]

Always have been fascinated by this movie. I hit “like” before “play”

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

Welcome to New York. The trigger happy cops, the crowd. Such a New York film.

[@vbrueggeman5756]

such a fantastic movie and your reaction was great, you always catch and comment on important and interesting things. This movie seems both completely of, and way ahead of its time

[@filmfredrik]

Such a New Hollywood masterpiece! You should really check out The Conversation!

[@the9-2-5outlawdoestech9]

17:00 The guy that plays his gay lover got an Academy Award nomination, and is the ex-husband of Susan Sarandon, and he's best known for playing the Chicago police officer in the film Child's Play, but three years before, portrayed Jerry Dandridge, the vampire next door in the original Fright Night, he also makes a brief cameo in the 2011 reboot starring Colin Farrell.

[@gobias_]

This is one of my probably top 3 movies of all time. I adore it from start to finish. It's such an incredible film. I've never seen anyone else react to it before, barely know anyone who has seen it these days. Thanks for watching it for us :D

[@Peter-pj4zj]

Another true life film Pacino did is Serpico. About a NYC cop that testified in a NYPD corruption scandal in the 70s .

[@CornishCreamtea07]

Fun fact, the actor who plays the FBI agent is the father of Matthew Broderick.

[@joannevincent2035]

Sonny's transgender lover Leon was played by Chris Sarandon, whose first wife was Susan. She kept his name after 12 years of marriage followed by divorce. Chris received Best Supporting Actor nomination for this role. In 1987 he played Prince Humperdinck in The Princess Bride.

[@ashleywintle572]

This is one of those films that’s so well made that it’s timeless in terms of direction, editing, acting, story-telling

[@nevrogers8198]

This film breaks my heart every time, because (a) it's so good, (b) Pacino and Cazale are on the top of their game and deliver some heartbreaking performances, (c) Lumet is a genius and (d) it's so good (again).

[@alexa.english174]

Back when Al Pacino still had a high pitched accent.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Hahahaha

[@rachelfiddler4886]

Seriously, 90s Pacino is practically a body double!!

[@brandonb.5304]

@@rachelfiddler4886 That's what smoking a pack a day will do to ya.

[@sdkelmaruecan2907]

I'm so glad this classic is finally getting the attention it deserves from First Time Watchers...

[@laurab68707]

This is such a great movie. I absolutely love it! Glad you watched and reacted to it.

[@lillymsf5946]

What i love most about this film is its not only a sweet and simple plot despite being a robbery/hostage situation (which is refreshing in comparison to all the MI 5 stuff u see nowadays) but this was one of Pacino's first roles, long before he became the cliche mafia boss with that deep voice everyone recognised. This is the first role i've seen where Pacino feels like a normal guy; when he got older he kinda became forever typecast-ed in Godfather-esque films as a gangster so i never really paid much attention to his acting. Watching his phone calls with Leon and his convos with Sal and Morretti, it doesn't feel as tho he's trying too hard in this role which is out of the ordinary; he feels very real and more intimate and gentle than rough and tumble. It makes his performance so much more intriguing

[@lillymsf5946]

@@mohammedashian8094 Yo srsly?? That's acc pretty cool :D u mean they improvised on the spot or they had their own lines mapped out b4 the camera started rolling?

[@alexpereira7851]

Loved your commentary! So few people I know have seen this film, it’s one of my favorites. Def recommend more films during the 60s/70s. I suggest Kramer Vs Kramer (Meryl Streep film that put her on the mark)

[@Weaseldog2001]

You're impressing me with your selections. You just earned a patron.

[@the9-2-5outlawdoestech9]

12:31 that guy you are referring to is the late character actor Charles Durning. If you remember The Muppet Movie, he played the malevolent and egregious Doc Hopper who wanted Kermit the Frog to be his spokesfrog for his fledgling chain of deep fried frog legs restaurants.

[@lrsrosebud]

Just found your reaction to this! It’s in my top 5 of favorite movies! Thank you.

[@marennicholson5444]

STOKED you reacted to this movie. It’s probably on my top ten list. John Cazale (Sal) was taken far too soon. It’s a flawless film.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Happy to hear how hyped you are!

[@GillDawe]

The Joker is very heavily inspired by the anti-hero movies of the 70s, like Taxi Driver, and I'm sure Dog Day Afternoon as well. This is such a fascinating story, and it's so wild to me that they covered this subject matter in an empathetic way as far back as the 70s. It was on my list fo soooo many years but I only watched it of the first time a couple of years ago. Great film!

[@jkeegan154]

Also influenced by Network.

[@anniethenonnymouse]

This film is SO good. Just the right blend of complex, suspenseful, and heart-wrenching. Pacino is definitely one of the GOATs. You might enjoy "Looking for Richard", Pacino's exploration of Shakespeare and the modern world through, of course, Richard III. Very meta, very enjoyable. Even if you don't do a reaction, I highly recommend it! As always, I love the content you post!

[@anniethenonnymouse]

@@laurettelaliberte8864 Dog Day Afternoon shows Pacino early in his career, and Looking for Richard shows how much he has developed his craft. So glad to meet a fellow fan!

[@filmfredrik]

And you can’t miss Serpico! Great channel!

[@johnneils9084]

Happy Birthday young man!🍰 I hope it was a special one. This review was great and I am impressed with your perspective & compassion for the characters. Great film! Cheers!

[@Greaseball01]

This is one of the best movies ever made and is somehow super underrated, didn't realise you'd done it til now I think I suggested it a while back so it's cool to see

[@kareningram6093]

Happy Belated Birthday, James! You look great in glasses, BTW.

[@Lmaoh5150]

Lumet is an absolute GOAT. Weirdly doesn’t get enough appreciation. So many brilliant films under his direction

[@Theomite]

he doesn't have a distinct visual style like Tarkovsky or Kubrick. he tailors each movie to look the way the story needs. For that reason, his work stands out but not in an authorial way, which is how we're used to seeing directors.

[@jmleon6313]

YES! So glad you got to watch this classic film. This is another classic that should be in the "must watch list" for any inspiring filmmaker, and a must own in any movie collection. Thank you for sharing your reaction!

[@artvandelay3840]

Fun fact, Leon was played by Chris Sarandon, who played Prince Humperdinck in The Princess Bride.

[@rogercalvomedina674]

Al Pacino's performance in this is my fav male performance of ALL TIME. he's that good. Gosh i love this movie!

[@movieswithsammykitty]

Sidney Lumet was one of the great directors. I’d highly recommend 12 Angry Men!

[@juandesalgado]

And "Running on empty"!

[@movieswithsammykitty]

@@juandesalgado Yeah! That’s a good one too!

[@edwardsighamony]

And Serpico, and Night Falls on Manhattan

[@movieswithsammykitty]

@@edwardsighamony Serpico is great! I haven’t seen the other one, so I’ll have to check it out :)

[@ridd22]

@travelling_sammykitty 12 Angry Men is a superb debut from Lumet. His swansong, Before The Devil Knows You're Dead is pretty spectacular too and in between there is a ton of gold!!

[@sarahwhite4906]

Phenomenal reaction! Happy (belated) Birthday!!!

[@brgreg8725]

The lines with Pacino and Chris Sarandon (Leon) were improvised quite a bit. Also, Very smart observation, Todd Phillips wanted a very New York 70s feel to The Joker (Dog Day, Taxi Driver etc)

[@lyletuck]

I imagine that someone has already mentioned it, but John Cazale ("Sal") appeared in five films before his untimely death at 42 from lung cancer. Every one of those five films were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and three of the five won the award. ("The Conversation" and "The Godfather Part II" were both nominated in 1974, so only one of them could win.) This film lost to "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" but it's still a riveting piece of filmmaking.

[@the9-2-5outlawdoestech9]

9:50 August of 1972, thus the month of August is referred to as the dog days of summer because it's the slowest time of the summer.

[@billtmarchi4320]

That's the way a lot of older movies were so much great acting and emotion and dialogue.. It puts these new movies to shame. And even the scene settings.

[@Slipthejab152]

Happy Birthday Young Man... Well Wishes. First Time Watching. Don't Forget Us When U Make Ur Big Movie Some Day!!!!

[@TTM9691]

The only thing that prevented Pacino from getting an Oscar for this was Jack Nicholson's just-as-fantastic performance in "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest"!

[@KS-xk2so]

Al Pacino was cast in his first movie in 1970. He made The Godfather in 1972, Serpico in 1973, The Godfather 2 in 1974, Dog Day Afternoon in 1975. He didn't win an Oscar till 1992. Was nominated 7 bloody times before he won. He seems to have been the original Leo, lol

[@miqx1977]

Another fantastic choice, James! Way to go, man!

[@JamesVSCinema]

Anytime!

[@mckeldin1961]

As usual I’m playing catch-up, but a really great reaction, thank you! Most of Sidney Lumet’s great movies have already been recommended in the comments- and I second each one - but I’d also like to mention Lumet’s 1962 film version of Eugene O’Neill’s great play, LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (with Katharine Hepburn, Ralph Richardson, Jason Robards and Dean Stockwell). It’s well worth a look and a reaction. It’s both faithful (if somewhat trimmed down) to the play, and an excellent *movie* as well!

[@isabeljimenez6067]

Love, love, love this film!

[@Kotten84]

I've thought about seeing this movie so many times and not got around to it. But then I saw this video pop up and saw it as a sign, so I watched the movie a couple of hours ago before watching this reaction. Holy fuck, this is a great movie and Al Pacino is fenomenal. And it's always a pleasure to see John Cazale who appeared in way too few movies, but was excellent in all of them.

[@josephmontalvo5250]

Love the reactions. This channel has quickly become, not just one of my favorite reaction channels, but just a favorite KZbin channel period. Hoping to see you one day to react to Reservoir Dogs or The Departed. Loving the content and keep up the hustle.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Much love Joseph! Enjoy the holiday!

[@josephmontalvo5250]

You too my good sir.

[@oneafter9095]

I enjoy your film reactions..Neat reaction from a technical POV..I remember as a thirteen year old they filmed the exterior shots in Windsor Terrence Brooklyn and I recall the makeshift bank on Prospect Park west between 17th and 18th streets as a bunch of us kids used to pass by it on our way to and from the theater or Prospect Park..I at that time was living in nearby Sunset Park Brooklyn. Yes it was certainly a different and a bit wild time back then…The streets were like an extension of the playgrounds..We used to roam the Brooklyn neighborhood’s unsupervised, our parents never knew where we were half the time..we could gather 15 to 20 kids in no time without the use of a cellphone…we didn’t have X Boxes..we played in discarded refrigerator boxes and if someone tossed out a mattress all the better..we climb factory roofs to retrieve our one spaldeen or have daring fun by jumping from one rooftop to another..we played handball, stickball, stoop-ball, whiffle-ball and played skelzies in the middle of the streets…we had our own after school program by sneaking on the subway’s and riding the trains all the way to the Bronx and back to Brooklyn..and we use to hitch a ride on the back of the 5th avenue buses on our way to and from Sunset Park pool and movie theaters…the neighborhood’s were infested with street gangs, like the South Brooklyn Boy’s, the Sixth Avenue Czar’s, The Black Pearl’s…and I recall the foul language at the time was off the freaking chart’s…I don’t think I’ve ever heard such profane language since.

[@TTM9691]

Interesting analogy to "Joker"! Usually everyone points to "Taxi Driver" and "The King Of Comedy" - rightfully so. But I can totally see what you're talking about!

[@jobrimar8291]

Yay! A US 70’ classic, ‘Little big man’ and ‘Paper moon’. are well worth checking out from this era too.

[@diha2271]

"And justice for all" - another great Pacino movie. Haven't seen anyone to react to it yet.

[@MrAitraining]

The negotiator Charles Durning was a great actor and a ww2 hero.

[@sntxrrr]

Powerful movie. There is this moment when the doctor is watching Sonny after the phone call and Sonny lowers his head. And a split second before his head hits the table and his face is completely obscured, you see him let his emotions go. He lets himself break, you just see the emotions roll over his face but blink and you missed it. It is the only moment, apart from the release after the ordeal, where he just gives in to his feelings of stress and panic. Brilliant acting, and captured on film.

[@clash5j]

One of the terrific "New York" films of the 70's along with Taxi Driver, The French Connection, The Warriors, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Serpico and Death Wish

[@annw.7624]

This was the movie that introduced me to excellent films. I was 16, but LOVED this movie which I saw at the theater, and my goodness.. Al Pacino!!

[@beanz6745]

John Cazale: THE GODFATHER, THE CONVERSATION, THE GODFATHER Pt ll, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, THE DEER HUNTER. He certainly knew what films to star in

[@Nick_CF]

Fun fact. The part where Pacino fumbles around getting the rifle out the box really happened. It got stuck on the string and they just went with it.

[@jori1]

Excellent reaction of one of my favourite films. I didn't see anybody mention it, but the real life John Wojtowicz was released in 1978 and died in 2006.

[@Pengi_SMILES]

Sidney Lumet directed some great films, Twelve Angry Men, The Hill Serpico etc. One of those directors you don't hear talked about much anymore. Like Walter Hill, another director seemingly lost to time who is worth checking out (The Warriors, Southern Comfort, The Driver, 48 Hrs etc)

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

There's a really good documentary called Hold Your Fire about one of the first times police negotiators were used in a hostage situation. The situation was similar to the one depicted in Dog Day Afternoon. I recommend it.

[@Curraghmore]

One of the five films that John Cazale starred in, in his whole career that were all nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.

[@perrinyone1596]

Whoah James! Just got finished with "Thin Red Line", now I see you did this one. Wow. Great reaction, man. Pacino and Cazale. Have you never seen The Godfather? There are not many chances to see John Cazale act, he died four years after this movie. Definitely "Godfather". And definitely "Network", Sidney Lumet's next movie. Which one is better, "Dog Day Afternoon" or "Network"? I wouldn't even want to make such a choice. Basically he hit two smash home runs in a row, that's all I know!

[@bobbih6360]

Nice reaction! Another great Pacino film based on a real person/real event is "Serpico."

[@itsjemmabond]

Every aspiring film maker should watch this film.

[@DashLovesFilm]

James! Thank you so much for reacting to my all time favorite movie! Always love to hear your commentary 🙌🙌

[@JamesVSCinema]

Happy to hear my friend!!

[@gregharker1600]

The guy that played Sal was one of my fav actors. He is really good in the Godfather as well. It sucks that he died so young.

[@QueensLadyDay]

Al Pacino and John Cazale played brothers, Michael & Fredo Corleone in the "Godfather" (1972)

[@charlesprovencher6918]

I love that movie, one of my favorite heist movies ever

[@DamagedButManaging]

Also gotta add that Carol Kane has always been a favorite. Amazing, funny, beautiful, crazy lady, lol. She's had plenty of iconic roles. The original When a Stranger Calls, Scrooged, The Princess Bride, The Addams Family movies, Annie Hall, as well as the TV show Taxi. I absolutely love her!

[@darshin95]

Serpico and this, Pacino and Sidney Lumet, made two classics

[@edwardduarte7393]

My top 10 of all time. Such a great movie.

[@robertwill23]

I'd recommend another Sidney Lumet's classic films - "Serpico", with Al Pacino, and "Network".

[@AlkaHead]

You should see Serpico, it has Al Pacino, and the same director as this movie, and it's probably my favorite film with Al.

[@ste.6026]

'The Negotiator' (Samual L Jackson) & 'John Q' (Denzel Washington) are two other hostage, siege type movies that should be listed for future reaction...

[@sleeper9]

If you want to know more about the actual story there’s a great documentary called The Dog that’s about Sonny. It’s genuinely extremely interesting You definitely have to see it

[@yungchunks6931]

gangs of new york scorcese film with leonardo dicaprio and daniel day lewis my personal favorite film

[@Thathorrorguy12FU]

This movie is an absolute classic. They could never do s remake of this film if they had to. This is Pacino is at the absolute top of his game. I mean he's one of the best ever.