Popiis a 1969 Americancomedy-dramafilm directed byArthur Hiller,and starringAlan Arkin(in the title role) andRita Moreno.The screenplay was written by Tina Pine and Lester Pine. The film focuses on aPuerto Ricanwidowerstruggling to raise his two young sons in theNew York Cityneighborhood ofSpanish Harlem.
| Popi | |
|---|---|
 Original poster | |
| Directed by | Arthur Hiller |
| Written by | Tina Pine Lester Pine |
| Produced by | Herbert B. Leonard |
| Starring | Alan Arkin Rita Moreno |
| Cinematography | Andrew Laszlo |
| Edited by | Anthony Ciccolini |
| Music by | Dominic Frontiere |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 113 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2 million (US/ Canada rentals)[1] |
Plot
editAbraham Rodriguez, known as Popi to his sons Luis and Junior, supports them by working three jobs, leaving him little time to supervise them. He hopes to earn enough to marry his girlfriend Lupe and move the family into a better home inBrooklyn.Then reality crashes in as the boys see gangs do violence in the neighborhood and are even victimized when their clothes are stolen from them. While working at a banquet in New York for Cuban exiles, he hatches an idea. Realizing his boys have a better chance of making good aspolitical refugeesthan products of theghettoin which he's raising them, he plots to set them adrift in a rowboat off the coast ofMiami Beachin the hope they will be mistaken for escapees fromCubaand offered asylum. After teaching them how to row a boat in the lake inCentral Parkand how to handle a motorboat on theEast River,they depart forFlorida.
Popi steals a boat in Miami Beach and tells the boys to take it out until they run out of fuel, then remove the outboard motor and begin to row back to shore. When he is unable to convince theCoast Guardthat the boys are out there, he fears they are lost until he hears a radio report about the heroic rescue of two young "Cuban" boys. Luis and Junior, suffering fromdehydrationand severesunburn.The boys are hospitalized, and soon find themselves indundated with flowers and toys from thousands of well-wishers, many of whom offer toadoptthem. Wearing a disguise, Popi sneaks into their hospital room and tries to convince them they are better off being raised by wealthy parents. The three begin to argue loudly in English, alerting the staff and prompting Popi to flee, followed by his sons. Much to the relief of the boys, their hoax is exposed, and they happily return to their impoverished life in thebarriowith their loving father.
Cast
edit- Alan Arkinas Abraham Rodriguez
- Rita Morenoas Lupe
- Reuben Figueroa as Luis
- Miguel Alejandro as Junior
- Louis Zorichas Penebaz
Critical reception
editThe movie opened to good reviews, with Arkin especially being singled out for praise.Roger Ebertof theChicago Sun-Timessaid the film "splits apart in the middle. The first half, set in New York, is rich and warm, filled with the flavor of city life. The second half, involving the Florida plan, functions only on the level of TVsituation comedy.It is simply not believable... That is not to say thatPopiisn't an engaging movie. It is, largely because the kids were well cast and because of Arkin. "[2]
Varietyobserved, "Arkin is given too much free rein for his very personal style, and is sometimes guilty of working a scene, meant to be poignant or even dramatic, for a laugh, which he usually gets. The undecided mood of the film works against it for any lasting impression on the viewer."[3]
Awards and nominations
editFor the second year in a row, Alan Arkin won the Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor, after being honored the previous year for his performance inThe Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.He was nominated for theGolden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Dramabut lost toJohn WayneinTrue Grit.
Tina Pine and Lester Pine were nominated for theWriters Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplaybut lost toWilliam GoldmanforButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
TV series
editATV series with the same name,asitcombased on the same subject, aired in 1976, starringHéctor Elizondoas Popi.
Home media
editThe film was released onDVDinfullscreenformat on April 1, 2003. It has audio tracks inEnglishandSpanishand subtitles in English, Spanish, andFrench.
References
edit- ^"Big Rental Films of 1969",Variety,7 January 1970 p 15
- ^Chicago Sun-Timesreview
- ^Varietyreview