Taglines: Charlie and Paulie. Two dreamers fighting to get lucky.
The Pope of Greenwich Village movie storyline. Charlie and his troublesome cousin Paulie decide to steal $150000 in order to back a “sure thing” race horse that Paulie has inside information on. The aftermath of the robbery gets them into serious trouble with the local Mafia boss and the corrupt New York City police department.
The Pope of Greenwich Village is a 1984 American crime black comedy film directed by Stuart Rosenberg and starring Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Daryl Hannah, Geraldine Page, Kenneth McMillan and Burt Young. Page was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her two-scene role. The film was adapted by screenwriter Vincent Patrick from his novel of the same name.
In an Italian neighborhood of Greenwich Village, cousins Charlie (Rourke), a maître d’ with aspirations of someday owning his own restaurant, and Paulie (Roberts), a schemer who works as a waiter, have expensive tastes but not much money. Paulie gets caught skimming checks, and he and Charlie are both fired. Now out of work and in debt, Charlie must find another way to pay his alimony, support his pregnant girlfriend Diane (Hannah), and try to buy a restaurant.
Paulie comes to Charlie with a “can’t-miss” robbery, involving a large amount of cash in the safe of a local business. Charlie reluctantly agrees to participate, and they manage to crack the safe with help from an accomplice, Barney (McMillan), a clock repairman and locksmith. But things go sour, resulting in the accidental death of police officer Walter “Bunky” Ritter, who had been secretly taping “Bed Bug” Eddie Grant (Young). Charlie soon learns that the money they stole belongs to Eddie.
The mob figures out that Paulie is involved, and not even his Uncle Pete, part of Eddie’s crew, can help him. Eddie’s henchmen cut off Paulie’s left thumb as punishment.
Diane leaves Charlie and takes his money to support their unborn child, while Paulie is forced to work as a waiter for Eddie. He gives the mob Barney’s name but initially refuses to identify Charlie as the third man involved. However, under pressure, he is forced to rat on his cousin. Barney leaves town and Charlie mails him his cut of the loot. And when Charlie makes $20,000 on a horse, things begin to look up.
Charlie prepares for a showdown with Eddie, armed with a copy of the tape that the police officer made. But at the last moment, Paulie puts lye in Eddie’s coffee. Then he and Charlie casually walk away from Greenwich Village.
The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984)
Directed by: Stuart Rosenberg
Starring: Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Daryl Hannah, Geraldine Page, Kenneth McMillan, Tony Musante, Burt Young, Jack Kehoe
Screenplay by: Vincent Patrick
Production Design by: Paul Sylbert
Cinematography by: John Bailey
Film Editing by: Robert Brown
Costume Design by: Joseph G. Aulisi
Set Decoration by: George DeTitta Sr.
Music by: Dave Grusin
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Date: June 22, 1984
Visits: 112
