The Panic in Needle Park

God help Bobby and Helen. They’re in love in Needle Park.

This film and Scarecrow (1973), both directed by Jerry Schatzberg, are pretty much companion pieces, stark depictions of people most would look down on. Both are raw, genuine and feature outstanding acting, but fall short when it comes to emotional impact (at least to some of us). We are introduced to life in “Needle Park”, which is Sherman Square in NYC, where drug addicts do business; two of them are a small-time hustler and a comparatively wide-eyed girl (Al Pacino, Kitty Winn) who fall in love. It goes downhill from there. Incredibly strong performances by the leads helps one put up with their hopeless characters.

The YouTube clip shows a trailer.

1971-U.S. 110 min. Color. Produced by Dominick Dunne. Directed by Jerry Schatzberg. Screenplay: Joan Didion, John Gregory Dunne. Novel: James Mills. Cast: Al Pacino (Bobby), Kitty Winn (Helen), Alan Vint (Hotch), Richard Bright, Kiel Martin, Michael McClanathan… Raul Julia, Paul Sorvino.

Trivia: Robert De Niro and Mia Farrow were allegedly considered for the leads.

Cannes: Best Actress (Winn).