Thank you, Cinephobe TV, for screening this lost gem. Night Of The Juggler (1980) stars James Brolin as a bearded trucker who returns home for his daughter’s birthday but then spends the whole day tearing up the city after she is kidnapped by a psychotic Cliff Gorman in a case of mistaken identity (this creep has confused her for the daughter of a property developer he wants to blackmail). The insanity of the first major action set piece is a gripping twenty minute chase through the streets of New York, wild stunt work on the busy sidewalks and across traffic jams, and including a young Mandy Patinkin as a scene-stealing cabbie. Beats all three seasons of HBO’s The Deuce for a portrait of sleazy, chaotic NYC with lots of recognisable character actors including Clemenza from The Godfather (Richard S. Castellano) as the wise-cracking detective on the case, Julie Carmen as a helpful vet, and Dan Hedaya as a crazed corrupt cop out for revenge (oh yeah, Brolin’s character is an ex-cop who Serpico’d his precinct). It’s a long day’s journey into night with brawls in peep shows, subway chases with teen gangs, shot-guns firing away on the crowded streets, and a tunnel climax near a live music gig. A wild ride and a buried treasure of New York urban action and atmosphere. There’s a copy available to watch on YouTube. Based on a novel by William P. McGivern. Recommended.
VHS Tracking 