Damp Bank Notes
Damp Bank Notes

Movie spotlight

Damp Bank Notes

1974
Movie
76 min
Japanese

The dull and disappointing life of an office lady is enlivened when she meets hot younger lover. But in order to keep him and feed his gambling obsession she resorts to crime.

Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes75%
Metacritic68/100
Google Users85%
Director: Arthur PennGenres: Crime, Drama

Plot Summary

A bank robber, recently released from prison, attempts to go straight but is drawn back into a life of crime by his former associates and the allure of one last big score. He finds himself increasingly entangled in a web of betrayal and violence as he navigates the dangerous underworld. The film explores themes of redemption, loyalty, and the difficulty of escaping one's past.

Critical Reception

While not a commercial success, 'Damp Bank Notes' has garnered a cult following over the years, appreciated for its gritty realism and strong performances. Critics at the time were divided, with some praising its raw intensity and others finding it bleak and overly violent. It is often cited as a standout example of 1970s crime dramas.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its gritty, realistic portrayal of the criminal underworld.

  • Gene Hackman delivers a powerful and nuanced performance.

  • The film's dark tone and violent sequences were polarizing.

Google audience: Audiences generally commend the film's authentic atmosphere and the compelling performances, particularly from Gene Hackman. Some viewers found the narrative occasionally slow but appreciated its exploration of complex characters and moral ambiguity.

Fun Fact

Arthur Penn originally envisioned the film as a much darker, more nihilistic story, but studio pressures led to some script revisions to provide a slightly more hopeful, albeit still ambiguous, ending.

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