The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

It's a post-World War II drama set in Montreal, Quebec, and the Laurentian Mountains in a predominately Jewish context. David "Duddy" Kravitz (Richard Dreyfuss) is a recent 19-year-old high school graduate. He is a fast-talking hustler, somewhat like his widowed father, Max (Jack Warden), who is a cab driver and occasional pimp. Duddy's older brother, Lenny (Alan Rosenthal), is in medical school with the help of Max's more successful brother, Benjy (Joseph Wiseman). Benjy has never had time for Duddy. However, Zaide (Zvee Scooler), Duddy's grandfather, has always been supportive. He tells Duddy that you are only someone if you own land. The film follows Duddy's efforts to make money and become someone in a world that distrusts Jews. He has a French Canadian girlfriend, Yvette (Micheline Lanctôt), and hires an alcoholic filmmaker (Denholm Elliott). He tries to make money from a local gangster, Dingleman (Henry Ramer), who used to be friends with his father. Duddy also abuses the trust of a young, naive American, Virgil (Randy Quaid), whom he hires to transport pinball machines. "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" contains much humor, focused on Duddy's chutzpah as he struggles two steps forward and falls one step back. Richard Dreyfuss plays the role brilliantly, and Lanctôt provides a good counterbalance. One wished to see more of Scooler. The remaining characters are less developed. The script, also by Richler, is uneven. It has gaps and transitions that could have been smoother. The cinematography is good, particularly on the land that Duddy is pursuing. This Canadian movie has aged quite well.

The reputation of this movie speaks for itself, and there are some very noteworthy names in the cast. I certainly anticipated that it would be enjoyable, but I wasn't sure what to expect - and I'm very impressed. So impressed that I can only wonder how it is that I hadn't heard of 'The apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz' until now, through a chance recommendation. Where we're treated to humor, it's biting, and in the more seriously dramatic moments, the story is piercing, and only increasingly so. Yet it seems to me like the film doesn't have to work very hard to manifest either; as cutting as it may be at any point, the levity and the sobriety are borne naturally of the storytelling. And while that story carries familiar elements, the assemblage comes across as anything but ordinary. Very honestly, this deserves much more recognition. We've seen this idea play out before: an enterprising young person latches onto a big idea that will make them Somebody, and the path to that goal is riddled with hurdles. Yet it's the extremes that the titular figure is willing to go to in that pursuit that do much to elevate 'The apprenticeship' and help it to stand apart; therein lies the stark potency as a few turns in the plot are surprisingly dark. Moreover, Duddy Kravitz is quite the character, bursting with nervous and excitable energy, and fierce, opportunistic determination, and he makes for quite the protagonist. To that point, it's a delight to see that role filled by Richard Dreyfuss; these days one is hardly accustomed to seeing the veteran in a part of so much lively zest, and he was so very young here. Dreyfuss has always been a great actor, though, and he proves it here with a vibrant electricity that as a viewer is a real joy to watch. This is to say nothing of his co-stars, including venerable Denholm Elliott, and Randy Quaid in a role that is likewise a far cry from what we assume of him. Canadian actress Micheline Lanctôt is less immediately recognizable, but she ably makes her mark here with a fine show as supporting character Yvette. The whole cast is swell, and the parts they play lend tremendously to the zip of the tale being spun. That includes no small measure of racism that figures into the snappy dialogue, yet the inclusion here is not one of vilifying bigotry as is most often true in fiction. Rather, the racist overtones are part of the lived experiences of the characters, and something they readily acknowledge and play up with mirthful jest. It's an angle that like so much here is unexpected, but the underlying intelligence is gratifying. And for that, of course, we can thank Mordecai Richler, adapting his own novel to the screen. There's underhanded complexity and wit behind every aspect of the writing, such that nothing in 'The apprenticeship' feels like it's being thrust in our face. Instead, every slight idea, tone, and detail slowly bubbles to the surface on its own time, and as it does, we realize it was there all along, helping to fuel the fire. Richler's writing is impressively dexterous, and I'd love to discover more of his work. By design, this isn't necessarily a picture that's immediately grabbing, and anyone hoping for a more plainly impactful viewing experience may be put out. By and large, however, this is a steady, compelling feature that keeps us well engaged, and ultimately is very satisfying. Well made in all regards, the worst criticism to come to mind at the moment is that in some ways - sequencing, editing generally, the pace of plot development - the title feels a tad too brusque, as though spurred into a forced march. This is a minor gripe, though, particularly in light of the keen writing and excellent performances. 'The apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz' is more forgotten than not in the annals of cinema history (at least outside Canada), but there's superb value here that demands rediscovery: if you have the chance to watch this, it's very much worth two hours of one's time.

The younger son of a working-class Jewish family in Montreal, Duddy Kravitz (Richard Dreyfuss) yearns to make a name for himself in society.. We start with the idea: "A man without land is nobody." From there, we get to a surreal Bar Mitzvah film, a pinball business, assorted other ventures and possible scams... all so Duddy can buy up some farmland, which he does under another name because he thinks farmers will not sell to Jewish people (although this is not clearly explained). "Duddy Kravitz" has an important place in Canadian film history because it was the most commercially successful Canadian film ever made at the time of its release, and has thus been described as a 'coming of age' for Canadian cinema. One wonders how things have changed, because it seems that today (2017) Vancouver is one of the most-filmed cities in the world.

This highly acclaimed but basically forgotten slice of life character study doesn't have much of a strong plot outside the hero's desire to buy a parcel of land and create a town where there will be no organized crime in control. What it has would fill a ton of best lists for 1974. Best screenplay, best leading actor, best ensemble. Well maybe not best, but certainly top ten, and Richard Dreyfeuss's performance is one of the best of the 1970s not too receive an Oscar nomination. He's an independent minded Jewish young man in Montreal in the frantic 1950's, involved in all sorts of quick make a lot of money schemes, most (if not all) quickly failing, and in the process, he deals with struggling father Jack Warden, black sheep brother Alan Rosenthal and wealthy uncle Joseph Wiseman. On his deathbed, his uncle declares that Dreyfeus is hurting him with his strong words of resentment, but it's been a lifetime of disappointment for Diddy and through the neglect he claims his uncle treated with, years of hurt. So this brash young man isn't so confident in spite of his cocky attitude, hiding his fears behind lots of showy attitudes and actions. His brother (ironically named Lennie Kravitz) became a doctor against his will with his uncle's help and hates it, and his struggling father looks on at the world with cynicism and somehow envies son Duddy for his independent mindedness. Other acquaintances, friends and business associates share their views of the world, some resentful for being Jewish and others devoted to the religion and culture that had followed their people through history like a plague. You learn much about cultural pride as well as some of these individuals own self hatred as well as theories of why Jewish people of varying generations feel that they have become persecuted and the various reasons surrounding that. So there is not much in the way of story but you do get to see these people for their varying qualities, particularly Duddy who is quite likeable in spite of sometimes being outwardly dislikeable and often dishonest for reasons he believes are honorable. Randy Quaid, Denholm Elliott and Joe Silver are among the other familiar faces important in his life, and there is also Micheline Lanctôt, the love of his life who comes and goes, often making Duddy feel like he's been betrayed which leads to a final showdown at the end, indicating an incompleteness to the story, something which often happens in life. There is also the commentary of the other characters throughout the film as to what they think of Duddy, even minor ones, but all they do is show that what you may see on the surface is not always what you get. Dreyfus is better here than he was in his Oscar winning performance in "The Goodbye Girl", not an easy feat, and oh that ensemble, especially Jack Warden who manages to achieve the impossible, stealing every scene he's in with Dreyfus.

I caught this film on cable the other night and decided to keep watching since it was set in locations where I grew up. I was not disappointed. The story (a poor Jewish kid who wants to make it big) is interesting and offers many comedic highlights. Richard Dreyfuss gives a passionate performance that simply makes the film. The third act however derails, not exactly knowing where its going with its main characters. But it's good.

Hot off "American Graffiti", Richard Dreyfuss starred in another movie set in the era of Brylcream and poodle skirts: "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz". This one chronicles the rise of a working-class Jewish lad in 1948 Montreal. Duddy is determined to make it, even if he has to do some undesirable things to get there. A particularly eye-opening scene is when Duddy is working in the resort and a man offers him a dollar bill, tears it in half, and promises Duddy the rest if he provides good service. So, maybe this isn't the greatest movie ever made, but it's an interesting look at one man's dreams, and at post-WWII Canada. Very good performances by everyone. Also starring Micheline Lanctot, Jack Warden, Randy Quaid, Joseph Wiseman (that's right, Dr. No) and Denholm Elliott. If I may say so, Yvette is really hot. And to think that director Ted Kotcheff later directed the first "Rambo" movie.

"A little bit of Duddy Kravitz in everyone," so the poster tells us. Yeah, I guess you could say that, although it is exaggerated in the film to get the message across (either that, or I haven't met anyone like that yet.) Dreyfuss' character is believable, and so is his father. I would have to say the only wooden character in the whole film is that of Lenny, Duddy's brother. There is a good message to get from the film--if you watch it, you won't be disappointed.