''Bloodbrothers'' is a 1978

coming-of-age Coming of age is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult. The specific age at which this transition takes place varies between societies, as does the nature of the change. It can be a simple legal convention or can ...

film directed by

Robert Mulligan Robert Patrick Mulligan (August 23, 1925 – December 20, 2008) was an American director and producer. He is best known for his humanist dramas, including ''To Kill a Mockingbird (film), To Kill a Mockingbird'' (1962), ''Summer of '42'' (1971), ' ...

, and starring

Richard Gere Richard Tiffany Gere ( ; born August 31, 1949) is an American actor. He began in films in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in '' Looking for Mr. Goodbar'' (1977) and a starring role in ''Days of Heaven'' (1978). He came to prominence with ...

Paul Sorvino Paul Anthony Sorvino (, ; April 13, 1939 – July 25, 2022) was an American actor. He often portrayed authority figures on both the criminal and the law enforcement sides of the law. Sorvino was particularly known for his roles as Lucchese cri ...

Tony Lo Bianco Anthony LoBianco (born October 19, 1936) is an Italian-American film, stage, and television actor. Born to first-generation Italian American parents in New York City, Lo Bianco began his career in theater, and appeared in several Broadway prod ...

and

Marilu Henner Mary Lucy Denise Henner is an American actress. She began her career appearing in the original production of the musical '' Grease'' in 1971, before making her screen debut in the 1977 comedy-drama film '' Between the Lines''. In 1977, Henner wa ...

. It was based on the 1976 novel of the same name by

Richard Price Richard Price (23 February 1723 – 19 April 1791) was a British moral philosopher, Nonconformist minister and mathematician. He was also a political reformer, pamphleteer, active in radical, republican, and liberal causes such as the French ...

. It was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Premise

Set in a working-class

Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...

community, it tells the story of the De Coco family, a family of construction workers. Thomas is the head of the family with two sons, but one, Stony (

) wants to be a teacher, not a construction worker. Then he accepts a job as a recreational assistant at a children's ward. Immediately, bitter divisions begin to surface.

Cast

as Louis "Chubby" De Coco *

as Thomas "Tommy" De Coco Sr. *

as Thomas "Stony" De Coco Jr. *

Lelia Goldoni Lelia Goldoni (born Lelia Vita Rizzuto; October 1, 1936) is an American actress who appeared in a number of motion pictures and television shows starting in the late 1940s, including uncredited cameo roles in Joseph L. Mankiewicz's '' House of ...

as Marie De Coco *

Yvonne Wilder Yvonne Wilder (born Yvonne Othon, September 21, 1937 – November 24, 2021) was an American actress, comedian, writer, and artist. She appeared in ''West Side Story'' on stage and in the 1961 film, and had a busy career in American television fr ...

as Phyllis De Coco *

as Annette Palladino * Kenneth McMillan as Mikey Banion *

Floyd Levine Floyd Levine (born February 23, 1932) is an American film and television actor. He played Dr. Ralph Harris in the 1978 film '' Bloodbrothers''. He also played Gen. Duncan in the 1988 film '' Braddock: Missing in Action III'' and Lt. Mellin in ...

as Dr. Ralph Harris *

Kim Milford Richard Kim Milford (February 7, 1951 – June 16, 1988), known professionally as Kim Milford, was an American actor, singer-songwriter, and composer. He was known for his stage acting in musicals such as ''The Rocky Horror Show'' and ''Jesu ...

as Bobby Butler * Michael Hershewe as Albert "Tiger" De Coco * Lila Teigh as Mrs. Cutler *

Kristine DeBell Kristine DeBell (born December 10, 1954) is an American film actress. Career Born in Chatham, New York, DeBell began her career as a fashion model with Ford Models. She later moved into acting, debuting as the star of the 1976 erotic musical co ...

as Cheri *

Robert Englund Robert Barton Englund (born June 6, 1947) is an American actor and director. He is best known for playing the supernatural serial killer Freddy Krueger in the ''A Nightmare on Elm Street (franchise), Nightmare on Elm Street'' film series. Class ...

as Mott *

Gloria LeRoy Gloria may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music Christian liturgy and music * Gloria in excelsis Deo, the Greater Doxology, a hymn of praise * Gloria Patri, the Lesser Doxology, a short hymn of praise ** Gloria (Handel) ** Gloria (Jenkin ...

as Sylvia * Damu King as Chili Mac *

Paulene Myers Paulene Elenora Myers (November 9, 1913 – December 8, 1996) was an American actress. Variations on the spelling of her name include Pauline Myers and Pauline Meyers.Danny Aiello Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. () (June 20, 1933 – December 12, 2019) was an American actor. He appeared in numerous motion pictures, including ''The Godfather Part II'' (1974), ''The Front'' (1976), ''Once Upon a Time in America'' (1984), ''Hide in ...

as Artie Di Falco * Raymond Singer as Jackie Cutler * Bruce French as Paulie *

Peter Iacangelo Peter Iacangelo Jr. (August 13, 1948 – November 17, 2021) was an American film, stage and television actor. He was perhaps best known for playing the role of Lou, the irascible owner of Lou's Tavern in the 1999 film ''Fight Club''. Life and ...

as Malfie * Eddie Jones as Blackie * E. Brian Dean as Brian (credited as Brian Dean) *

Randy Jurgensen Randy Jurgensen (born December 7, 1933) is a former American NYPD detective, best known as the lead investigator into the murder of patrolman Phil Cardillo as well as his contribution as a consultant on various film and TV projects. Early li ...

as Randy *

Ron McLarty Ronald William McLarty (April 26, 1947 – February 8, 2020) was an American actor, playwright, and novelist. He also worked as an audiobook narrator, in which role he recorded over 100 titles and received many Audie Awards. McLarty appeare ...

as Mac * David Berman as Dave Stern *

Robert Costanzo Robert Jason Costanzo (born October 20, 1942) is an American film, television and voice actor. He has an acting career spanning over 40 years and is often found playing surly New York City types such as crooks, low-level workers and policemen, a ...

as Vic (credited as Bob Costanzo) * Edwin Owens as Stan (credited as Ed Owens) * Tom Signorelli as Sig * Kennedy Gordy as Tyrone *

Jeffrey Jacquet Jeffrey Michael Jacquet (born October 15, 1966) is a former United States, American actor perhaps best known for his television roles as Eugene in the first season of the American Broadcasting Company, ABC sitcom ''Mork & Mindy'' and as Jeremy S ...

as Derek

Response

The film opened to positive reviews, and though it would be forgotten about in later years, it was liked for the ensemble cast. As one of the De Coco sons,

was especially praised. The film also introduced

. Ryan McDonald of Shameless Self Expression said: "This 1978 Robert Mulligan tale about a seriously dysfunctional Italian-American family is too broadly played, stereotyped, and overly familiar... This is all very shouty and somewhat overbearing stuff for a story that isn’t all that memorable to begin with. ... Tony Lo Bianco and especially an unrestrained Lelia Goldoni are the worst offenders. Lo Bianco, often typecast as (an) Italian-American hood, gives us a stereotype of Italian-American machismo, misogyny, occasional brutality, and just general hamminess. Occasionally there seems to be a real character in there, but largely it’s just too much of a ‘performance’... But at least he has his moments, which cannot be said for the ghastly Goldoni, whose shrieking, mugging, wailing ... coupled with a pathetic, basically psychotic character derail the film. ... The most enjoyable work comes from Paul Sorvino, Marilu Henner, and Kenneth McMillan..."Ryan McDonald, "Bloodbrothers" Review Sept. 20, 2012 http://ryancmcdonald.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/review-bloodbrothers.html

Awards

*Nominee Best Adapted Screenplay -

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

( Walter Newman) *Nominee Best Adapted Screenplay -

Writers Guild of America The Writers Guild of America is the joint efforts of two different US labor unions representing TV and film writers: * The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), headquartered in New York City and affiliated with the AFL–CIO * The Writers Guil ...

( Walter Newman)

References

External links

* * * {{Richard Price 1978 films 1970s coming-of-age drama films American coming-of-age drama films 1970s English-language films Films scored by Elmer Bernstein Films about Italian-American culture Films based on American novels Films directed by Robert Mulligan Films set in New York City Films shot in New York City Warner Bros. films Films with screenplays by Walter Newman (screenwriter) 1978 drama films 1970s American films