Atlantic City (motion picture)

Atlantic City (motion picture), drama about an aging, small-time gangster and the decline of Atlantic City, New Jersey, in the 1980s. Louis Malle directed this French and Canadian film, which was released in 1980. Lou (played by Burt Lancaster) claims that he was a prominent gangster back in the town’s heyday, but all he really did was run errands for a mob boss. He takes care of the mob boss’s widow (Kate Reid) and lives next door to Sally (Susan Sarandon), a young woman who dreams of working for a fancy casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco. When Sally’s estranged husband brings some stolen drugs to town, Lou helps him sell them. Lou defends Sally from the Mafia after they kill her husband for stealing their drugs.

Alternate Titles

• Atlantic City, U.S.A.

Director

• Louis Malle

Cast

• Burt Lancaster (Lou)
• Susan Sarandon (Sally)
• Kate Reid (Grace)
• Michel Piccoli (Joseph)
• Hollis McLaren (Chrissie)
• Robert Joy (Dave)
• Al Waxman (Alfie)
• Robert Goulet (Singer)
• Moses Znaimer (Felix)
• Angus MacInnes (Vinnie)
• Sean Sullivan (Buddy)
• Wallace Shawn (Waiter)
• Harvey Atkin (Bus driver)
• Norma Dell’Agnese (Jeanne)
• Louis Del Grande (Mr. Shapiro)
• John McCurry (Fred)
• Eleanor Beecroft (Mrs. Reese)
• Cec Linder (President of hospital)
• Sean McCaan (Detective)
• Vincent Glorioso (Young doctor)
• Adele Chatfield-Taylor (Florist)
• Tony Angelo (Poker player)
• Sis Clark (Tollbooth operator)
• Gennaro Consalvo (Casino guard)
• Lawrence McGuire (Pit boss)
• Connie Collins (Connie Bishop)
• John Allmond (Police commissioner)
• John Burns (Anchorman)
• Ann Burns (Singer in casino)
• Marie Burns (Singer in casino)
• Jean Burns (Singer in casino)

Quote

• Lou (to Sally’s husband, remembering the town in better times): “Yes, it used to be beautiful—what with the rackets, whoring, guns.”