- Actors: Julie Carmen, Juan Adames, Buck Henry, Gena Rowlands
- Directors: John Cassavetes
- Producers: Sam Shaw
- Format: Subtitled, PAL
- Language English
- Subtitles: Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- DVD Release Date: 1 Aug 2005
- Run Time: 121 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0009MZ7WK
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 51,379 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
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Even a genre film looks different in the hands of writer-director John Cassavetes. In Gloria, he casts a wonderfully hard-boiled Gena Rowlands as the title character: a former Mob moll who picked up a few tricks along the way. She becomes the unexpected guardian of a young boy (John Adames) who has just seen his parents wiped out. Worse, the Mob is after him as well, seeking a book he has--and the overdue fine is a killer. Though Cassavetes lets his actors have a little too much rein, it pays off in the complex--and surprisingly funny--performance by Rowlands as an unlikely nanny who discovers that, though she is an unwilling bodyguard, she actually learns to care for the tough little guy she's trying to keep out of harm's way. --Marshall Fine
Synopsis
Rowlands garnered an Oscar(r) nomination for her fierce portrayal as an ex-mob mistress who takes care of a young boy after his family is wiped out by the Mafia. Gloria must rely on all her street-savvy to prevent both herself and the boy from being the mobster's next target.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Gloria remains one of director John Cassavetes most accessable films. It is also his most commercially successful, being one of 1980's biggest hits at the Box Office.
Cassavates cast his wife, Gena Rowlands in the title role of a former Mafiosa Moll trying to get on with a life, in a post Mob existence. This, however, is turned upside down when she finds herself with a six year old boy whose family has just been wiped out by the very Mob with whom she used to consort. Realising the magnitude of the situation, she cynically first of all tries to get rid of the lad but later forms a maternal bond with him. Both go on the run together, in a desperate struggle to survive and flee the city. Before long, the Mob have despatched their hitmen. However, and unfortunately for the Mob, Gloria definitely ain't a lady for the burning, and instead is a very tough individual who uses her streetwise knowledge and considerable skill with a firearm to terrible effect. Soon a trail of Mob bodies begins to pile up as various gangsters lethally underestimate Gloria, in their attempts to snatch the boy....
Rowlands is simply superb in the role, and at times strides across the screen like a female Bogart. Her wardrobe complements this, and the overall effect is that of a tigress protecting its young. This is underlined by one scene where she guns down a hitman and retrieving his pistol, snarls contemptuously "Huh, he had to use a Magnum on me!"
The music by Bill Conti is superb and sax riffs have seldom sounded so good as in this film. Ultimately this is a bleak film to watch, colour is very subdued and the atmosphere is raw and gritty. The ending is very ambiguous and Cassavates has pretty much left it up to the viewer to interpret what is actually happening.
This is a truly great film though and I recommend it unreservedly.
Cassavates cast his wife, Gena Rowlands in the title role of a former Mafiosa Moll trying to get on with a life, in a post Mob existence. This, however, is turned upside down when she finds herself with a six year old boy whose family has just been wiped out by the very Mob with whom she used to consort. Realising the magnitude of the situation, she cynically first of all tries to get rid of the lad but later forms a maternal bond with him. Both go on the run together, in a desperate struggle to survive and flee the city. Before long, the Mob have despatched their hitmen. However, and unfortunately for the Mob, Gloria definitely ain't a lady for the burning, and instead is a very tough individual who uses her streetwise knowledge and considerable skill with a firearm to terrible effect. Soon a trail of Mob bodies begins to pile up as various gangsters lethally underestimate Gloria, in their attempts to snatch the boy....
Rowlands is simply superb in the role, and at times strides across the screen like a female Bogart. Her wardrobe complements this, and the overall effect is that of a tigress protecting its young. This is underlined by one scene where she guns down a hitman and retrieving his pistol, snarls contemptuously "Huh, he had to use a Magnum on me!"
The music by Bill Conti is superb and sax riffs have seldom sounded so good as in this film. Ultimately this is a bleak film to watch, colour is very subdued and the atmosphere is raw and gritty. The ending is very ambiguous and Cassavates has pretty much left it up to the viewer to interpret what is actually happening.
This is a truly great film though and I recommend it unreservedly.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
At last this raw gritty movie is on DVD.I have the VHS version,and quality is not that great.
Gena Rowlands is superb.She acts and looks like a woman that's had a tough life,but yet retains the glamour of the old hollywood movie stars.
The film looks like it has been shot low budget, with a suberb saxaphone soundtrack which all adds perfectly to the atmosphere.
The re-make with Ms Sharon Stone has a gloss coating,but seems cheap,nasty,and is unnessaryly foul mouthed.It certainly falls short of this original(Not that I've anything against Ms Stone)
The DVD at last,but if you get chance to see it again on the big screen,it's worth it! Enjoy.
Craig
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Is this the best thriller ever made or just the best film of all time? Pacy, gritty, nasty, touching and profound - and that's just Gena Rowland as glorious .. Gloria. The kid is her pefect screen partner. The score is magnificent. Cassavettes' work surely deserves wider recognition.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fabulous!
what a great film! great quality. wonderful visit to the past - well worth it!
Gena Rowlands is just fabulous, great buy.
Gena Rowlands is just fabulous, great buy.
Published 19 days ago by phil
Gena Rowlands is excellent!!
wow,what a film!It's excellent,very good actress Gena,and the kid what a talent.
Very entertaining,it's a thriller,a must have dvd!
Very entertaining,it's a thriller,a must have dvd!
Published 19 months ago by Elipel
Will they, won't they?
Gina Rowlands is one underrated actress. She convincingly portrayed the dilemma she has in looking after a friends child who is likely to be killed by the mob, her own need to... Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2009 by G. Holland
Ex Gangster Moll fights the mob
This 1980 film directed by John Cassavetes holds up well. The urban visuals and music score give an image of New York that's as memorable as Woody Allen's - but much seedier. Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2008 by purpleheart
One of the very best in the Gangster genre
Gloria remains one of director John Cassavetes most accessable films. It is also his most commercially successful, being one of 1980's biggest hits at the Box Office. Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2006 by D. I. Shipley
Gena Rowlands is simply glorious!
What an awesome film! John Cassavetes is a true genius with all the films he has made but Gloria is the best film he has made and my personal favourite. Read more
Published on 15 Aug 2003 by F. V. L. Buliciri
Action packed from start to finish
This is one of my favourite films of all time. Gena Rowlands is superb as the central character - gritty and sexy and totally believable. Read more
Published on 19 May 2003
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