Boardwalk (1979)

As they approach their 50th wedding anniversary, an elderly Jewish couple (Lee Strasberg, Ruth Gordon) must contend with their Coney Island neighborhood deteriorating as gangs roam the streets but also the wife's ill health. This is the kind of film filled with good intentions that you really want to like but nothing goes right with it. The characters don't comes across as real but stereotypes, the dialog is cliched, the gangs seem phony and bongos play on the soundtrack whenever they appear which gives you an idea of how poorly the film is executed. And, with one exception, the acting ranges from uneven to downright amateurish. Strasberg may be a legendary acting teacher but as an actor, his line readings are monotonous and Gordon tries too hard to be adorable. The one exception is Janet Leigh as their daughter, her professionalism wins out as she nicely fleshes out a poorly written character though she looks more shiksa than Jewish. Directed and co-written by Stephen Verona. With Lillian Roth, Joe Silver, Eddie Barth, Kim Delgado, Linda Manz (DAYS OF HEAVEN) and Altovise Davis (Mrs. Sammy Davis Jr.)