John Cassavetes directs Ben Gazzara, Seymour Cassel and Azizi Johari in this character study of a strip club owner who finds himself in deep with the mob. 

A very stretched out, strung out mood piece. Whenever it is just Gazzara interacting with the sleazy populace of his self-made hell, it is captivating. When we see the overly serious strip skits play out ad nauseum, it is deathly. The overarching message seems to be to create even low art means compromising yourself with commerce. Gazzara’s doomed gambler is the auteur (he is even praised by an ignacious gangster as putting every aspect of the show together) while the mob (Hollywood, investors or the audience?) wants him to add violence and their own directions to his life and work. We share the charming Gazzara’s hellish descent, away from community based good time to red lit deadly trap, once they have their hooks in him. Shame the journey is so loose and ragged. Saint Jack does all this better.

5