Jack Flowers, an American hustler in early-1970s Singapore, dreams of building a fortune by running a brothel and returning to the States to live a life of luxury.Jack Flowers, an American hustler in early-1970s Singapore, dreams of building a fortune by running a brothel and returning to the States to live a life of luxury.Jack Flowers, an American hustler in early-1970s Singapore, dreams of building a fortune by running a brothel and returning to the States to live a life of luxury.
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
Joseph Noël
- Gopi
- (as Joseph Noel)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaKnowing the Singaporean government would never sanction a film that depicted the city as a hotbed of corruption and sleaze, the script that Peter Bogdanovich submitted had been rewritten with all the contentious elements removed. When the film was completed, the Singaporean government was horrified, and banned it.
- GoofsAround 01:20:08, a woman on the left of the screen step out from a building, look at the camera, then goes quickly backward.
- Quotes
Eddie Schuman: Ever since Kennedy and Castro, you can't get a good cigar in America.
- Crazy creditsWe thank the people of the Republic of Singapore, on whose island this picture was filmed.
- SoundtracksI Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll
Written by Clarence Williams (uncredited) and Spencer Williams (uncredited)
Sung by Louis Armstrong
Featured review
"I can't exactly go to Immigration and say 'running a wang house'."
Chatty, engrossing character portrait, adapted from Paul Theroux's novel by Howard Sackler, Theroux and director Peter Bogdanovich, regarding Jack Flowers, a good-natured, middle-aged American living in early 1970s Singapore; he's a pimp who loves people and enjoys servicing his international clientele of businessmen with a colorful assortment of women, but recent events--a violent shakedown by the competition, also the death of a good friend--has caused him to rethink his life. Bogdanovich originally wanted Orson Welles to direct the film after then-girlfriend, Cybill Shepherd, won the rights to the novel in a legal settlement with Playboy magazine (Playboy is listed as a production company and Hugh M. Hefner is credited as one of the executive producers). Directing the film himself, Bogdanovich (who also has a key supporting role) won back the praise of critics--if not the general public--with this finely-etched drama for grown-ups. Ben Gazzara is a marvel in the lead; subtle, introspective, congenial but direct, a straight-talker with a head for business, the actor does some of the best work of his career. The film itself is too long, with a meandering midsection, though cinematographer Robby Müller has given the Singapore streets and daytime city views a beautiful hazy look. Bogdanovich introduces us to a collection of one-of-a-kind characters, funny and offbeat creatures who come out at night, and their interplay with Flowers and each other has a nice, friendly rhythm. Ultimately, the film is a wistful portrait of friendship, loyalty and business, with people happily scraping by, day after day, with private dreams but no ambition. **1/2 from ****
- moonspinner55
- Jul 1, 2017
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Şahane Jack
- Filming locations
- Bugis Street, Singapore, Singapore(Singapore's red light district)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $2,000,000 (estimated)
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