Search - The Prisoner of Second Avenue on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Adult Humor Movie Release: 1974 DVD Release: 03/30/2004 Format: DVD - Letterbox for TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 38 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 2 Genres: Comedy, Urban Comedy See Also: The Prisoner of Second Avenue

A lesser but still entertaining Neil Simon work, The Prisoner of Second Avenue was adapted to film in 1974. Jack Lemmon takes over the role played on Broadway by Peter Falk: Mel is a New York-based advertising man who goes through hell when he loses his job. The gods seem to conspire against him as he tries to cope with his unemployed status; he is particularly depressed over the fact that he must now subsist on the income of his wife (Anne Bancroft). There are laughs in The Prisoner of Second Avenue, but it's the laughter of desperation and despair; it might not be advisable to watch this film after a bad day at the office. Watch for Sylvester Stallone as the "human punch line" of an old urban legend about a pickpocket. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jack Lemmon - Mel
Anne Bancroft - Edna
Gene Saks - Harry
Elizabeth Wilson - Pauline
Florence Stanley - Pearl

Directed by Melvin Frank from a script by the legendary Neil Simon, The Prisoner of Second Avenue comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of the film. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English, French, and Spanish subtitles are accessible. The supplemental materials have the unique quality of being from the period of the film's release. A six-minute making-of short filmed during production is available, as is an appearance by star Anne Bancroft on one of the popular talk shows of the time, Dinah! The theatrical trailer rounds out this fine release from Warner Bros. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide