The Public Eye (1992)
- Starring:
- Joe Pesci, Barbara Hershey, (more)
- Director(s):
- Howard Franklin
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
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Howard Franklin wrote and directed this film noir character study based on the famed New York Daily News photographer Weegee. Joe Pesci plays a character named Bernstein, a freelance photographer for the New York City tabloids of the 1940s. His life is dedicated to his work; with a police radio under the dashboard of his car and a darkroom in his trunk, he quickly and efficiently races to the scene of crimes, accidents and murders to snap photographs of gangsters, politicians, cops, and prostitutes, which he promptly delivers to the newspapers. His knack for arriving at a crime scene before the police earns him the nickname the Great Bernzini. The trouble begins for Bernstein when he agrees to look up a gangster for Kay (Barbara Hershey), the sexy owner of a fancy Manhattan nightclub. After making inquiries, Bernstein traces the man Kay is looking for, but he turns up dead. When he informs the police, he becomes a suspect in the murder; it also turns out that the FBI is interested the case. Bernstein then uncovers an elaborate conspiracy concerning gas rationing, the mob, and the government. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Joe Pesci - Leonard "The Great Bernzini" Bernstein
- Stanley Tucci - Sal Minetto
- Jared Harris - Danny the Doorman
- Dominic Chianese - Spoleto
- Richard Foronjy - Farinelli
- Joe Guzaldo - Spoleto's Lieutenant
- Richard Riehle - Officer O'Brien
- Louie Lanciloti - Mikey
- Phil Locker - Arresting Cop
- Richard Schiff - Photographer-Thompson Street
- Nick Tate - Henry Haddock Jr.
- Henry Bolzon - Photographer at Cafe
- Ian Abercrombie - Mr. Brown
- Donna Isaacson
- Jean Zarzour - Sal's Wife
- David Hull - Thatcher White
- Patricia Healy - Vera
- Chuck Gillespie - Cop-Puerto Rican Tenement
- Tim Gamble - Agent Chadwick
- Toni Fleming - Sal's Mother
- Kevin Dorsey - Singer
- Jack Denbo - Photo Editor
- Max Brooks - Teen at Thompson Street
- Bryan Smith - Young Cop
- Al Mancini - Camera Shop Clerk
- Mick McGovern - Cop with Hood
- Barbara Hershey - Kay Levitz
- Jerry Adler - Arthur Nabler
- Gerry Becker - Conklin
- Del Close - H.R. Rineman
- Bob Gunton - Older Agent
- Peter Maloney - Federal Watchman
- Marge Kotlisky - Rineman's Receptionist
- Tom Lauricella - 2nd Photographer
- George Lugg - 3rd Photographer
- Randall Stanton - Federal Guard
- Maurice Bravo - 1st Photographer
- Vinny Argiro - Sergeant at Police Station
- John M. Watson, Sr. - Sculllion
- John Farris - Albert Gerard
- Jason Wells - Garage Attendant
- Timothy Hendrickson - Richard Rineman
- Joe V. Greco - Villa Guard-Hitman
- David Gianopoulos - Portofino
- Steve Forleo - Hood
- Shay Duffin - Chief of Police
- Teresa di Marco - Mrs. D'Angelo
- Laura Cerone - Puerto Rican Woman
- Christian Stolti - Ambulance Attendant
- Gian-Carlo Scandiuzzi - Maitre d'
- Ellen McElduff - Lonely Woman at Drugsore
- Kyle Moore - Young Agent
- Director(s):
- Howard Franklin
- Writer(s):
- Howard Franklin
- Producer(s):
- Robert Zemeckis, Sue Baden-Powell
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Adult Situations, Profanity, Strong Sexual Content, Violence, Not For Children, Nudity)
- Closed Captioning:
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- Subtitles:
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