Barfly (1987) ( Bar fly )

Barfly (1987) (Blu-Ray) (*)

~~$26.99~~ $23.98

Alternate Title: Bar fly
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Cannes Film Festival
Golden Globes
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
English ( DTS-HD Master Audio )
German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
German ( DTS-HD Master Audio )
German ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Germany ( Blu-Ray/Region B )

Running Time:
101 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 1987 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Barbet Schroeder

Written By:
Charles Bukowski

Actors:
Mickey Rourke ..... Henry Chinaski
Faye Dunaway ..... Wanda Wilcox
Alice Krige ..... Tully Sorenson
Jack Nance ..... Detective
J.C. Quinn ..... Jim
Frank Stallone ..... Eddie
Sandy Martin ..... Janice
Roberta Bassin ..... Lilly
Gloria LeRoy ..... Grandma Moses
Joe Unger ..... Ben
Harry Cohn ..... Rick
Pruitt Taylor Vince ..... Joe
Joe Rice ..... Old Man in Bar
Julie 'Sunny' Pearson ..... Hooker in Bar
Donald L. Norden ..... Man in Alley

Synopsis:

Based on a semiautobiographical short story by poet and screen writer Charles Bukowski and directed by Barbet Schroeder, Barfly offers insight into the world of the alcoholic, where all that matters is the next drink. Henry Chinaski (Mickey Rourke) is a talented writer of prolific prose; unfortunately, he's also a skid-row alcoholic with a violent temper. He picks fights nightly with Eddie (Frank Stallone), the bartender at the local watering hole the Golden Horn and lives in a seedy tenement, stealing food and trying to scrape together enough money for booze. Fellow alcoholic Wanda Wilcox (Faye Dunaway) catches Henry's eye at the bar one afternoon, and although she has a reputation for being unstable, the two embark on a relationship with each other and the bottle. Their liaison is full of drama, humour, and irrational behaviour and is put to the test when Henry meets Tully (Alice Krige), a rich, privileged literary editor who wants to publish his stories and save him from himself. The film features exceptional performances from Rourke and Dunaway as they portray the highs and lows that are part and parcel of alcoholism - as well as love.

Charles Bukowski, the talented crown prince of self-abuse, wrote the short stories upon which the surprisingly entertaining Barfly was based. The film concentrates on alcoholic writer Mickey Rourke (the Bukowski alter ego) who carries on a hate-hate relationship with bartender Frank Stallone. Rourke makes the acquaintance of another of society's castaways, Faye Dunaway, who in addition to being a souse is said to be crazy. They move in together, even though Dunaway all but promises to be unfaithful for the price of a drink. Rourke has a chance to clean up his act when offered a large commission for his writings by publisher Alice Krige. They too end up in bed, each trying to change the other. The clarion call of the cheap wine bottle overrides Rourke's half-hearted efforts to enter the mainstream. Watch for author Charles Bukowski, as well as Fritz 'Pop!' Feld and Vance Colvig (who's made a career out of playing street people) in Barfly bit parts.

Henry Chinaski, a poet and alcoholic, spends his life in Los Angeles bars. One day he meets and falls in love with Wanda, also an alcoholic. Together they meet Tully Sorenson, who publishes some of Henry's poems, bringing Henry a brief shot at fame and fortune. But, Henry and Wanda have only one real goal in life: drinking to numb the pain they feel outside the bars of Los Angeles.

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 14 September, 2020.