Director: Paul Mazursky
Writer: Paul Mazursky and Josh Greenfeld
Cinematographer: Michael C. Butler
by Jon Cvack
Here’s a film I’ve never heard of and came across during a random burst of trusting the Netflix suggested rating. The story is very much inspired by John Steinbeck’s “Travels with Charley”, which was a personal memoir of Steinbeck traveling around the country in a trailer with his dog Charley. Counter to Steinbeck’s success, this story involves 70-something retired Harry (Art Caney) as he carries out his daily routines — walking his cat Tonto, singing him songs, stopping at the local market for a few groceries, meeting with his friends in the park (in this case, a Polish Socialist who spouts anti-capitalist rhetoric, pontificating about the demise of America, leaving you wondering why he’s living in the States). Harry nods his heads during the political tangents, simply enjoying watching the streets and living his remaining years in the city; that is, until he’s evicted from his rent controlled apartment in order to make way for a new parking lot.
Harry moves in with his son’s family, but the house is small — with both sons still living at home, one having taken a vow of silence after a few bad acid trips, and the other soon getting married and completely resentful of his brother. Everyone bickers with everyone, and with Harry sharing a room with the silenced son, it’s only moments before he’s back out the street, searching for another apartment. But things have changed — New York is wildly expensive, and to get an apartment for what he was paying means he’ll be living in a run down part of town that accepts no cats. It’s the latter that’s not possible. Thus begins a trip across the country, heading to Santa Monica to see his other son.
Read the rest of the story at Yellow Barrel.