Sixth And Main (1977)

A wealthy woman (Beverly Garland), who dabbles as a writer visits Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to soak up the atmosphere for a book she plans to write about the homeless. One mysterious homeless man (Leslie Nielsen) in particular catches her eye and she seeks him out. Written, produced and directed by Christopher Cain (THE NEXT KARATE KID). Filmed on the streets of L.A., what the movie gets right is the atmosphere, the feel and look of L.A.'s skid row and its homeless population. I'm just guessing but I suspect that those weren't background actors but real homeless people used in the background, they look authentic and not out of Central Casting. Alas, the film is saddled with a heavy handed and poorly written script that sabotages whatever authenticity the movie displays. The casting goes against type what with an unshaven and disheveled Leslie Nielsen as a homeless man and Roddy McDowall as a legless junkie scooting around on a skateboard but both to very nicely in their roles given the severe limitations of the script. With Leo Penn (Sean's father and overacting abominably), Joe Maross and in the film's best performance, Gammy Burdett as a pregnant hooker.