MovieChat Forums > City Across the River (1949) Discussion > The Amboy Dukes

The Amboy Dukes

posted 17 years ago by jaykaybuck
10 replies | jump to latest

This film was adapted from Bud Shulberg's classic The Amboy Dukes and was the first time I saw Bernard Schwartz (Tony Curtis). Too bad they eliminated some of Shulberg's most vivid characters, like "Crazy" Sachs. I wonder if New Lots Vocational is still open, and I wonder which ethnic group now crowds Pitkin Avenue. The Jews are long gone to LAWNG Island and Westchester. I first saw this film at the old Embassy Theater in the Hudson River village of Dobbs Ferry, then I read the Amboy Dukes to really experience Brooklyn in the 1940's. Think I'll go to the candy store for an egg cream.

Buck35

[–] plushing 17 years ago

Haven't seen it in many years, but I'd bet my life there is a docu-epilogue where the character/actors are brought out again, and at one point the voice-over says "By the way, Crazy isn't really crazy." Please correct me if I'm mistaken, but only on the basis of a recent viewing (your memory might not be better than mine!).

[–] jaykaybuck 17 years ago

You're right. The docu-epilogue is news to me, but I'd like to see it.

Buck35

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] jaykaybuck 17 years ago

Oh yeah! I'm looking at my paperback Bantam Book that I got in '58 in the PX at Ft. Meade, MD

Buck35

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] jaykaybuck 17 years ago

Yes, the cover is black. I didn't know about the sequels more's the pity. Twenty-six years from '61 to '87 in the four-one and the two-eight.

Buck35

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] jaykaybuck 17 years ago

I did work in Private security and I was an MP and the four-one is in the South Bronx and the two-eight is in Manhattan. You're batting a thousand.

Buck35

[–] js5905 11 years ago

I remember it. 'Mitch was played by Anthony Curtis...'

[–] OpryGhost 13 years ago

Schulberg did *not write AMBOY DUKES, he wrote ON The WATERFRONT about West side docks in Manhattan. They were controlled by Irish hoods.
Schulman wrote The AMBOY DUKES.