The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker

The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker (stylized as Pigeons) is a 1970 American comedy film directed by John Dexter and written by Ron Whyte. The film stars Jordan Christopher, Jill O'Hara, Robert Walden, Kate Reid, William Redfield and Lois Nettleton. The film was released on October 28, 1970, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[1][2]

The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Dexter
Screenplay byRon Whyte
Based onThe Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker
by David Boyer
Produced byRichard Lewis
StarringJordan Christopher
Jill O'Hara
Robert Walden
Kate Reid
William Redfield
Lois Nettleton
CinematographyUrs Furrer
Edited byJohn Oettinger
Music byChristopher Dedrick
Lee Holdridge
Edd Kalehoff
Warren Marley
Patrick Williams
Production
company
Saturn Productions
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • October 28, 1970 (1970-10-28) (United States)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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Three years after graduating from Princeton, disillusioned Jonathan is driving a Manhattan taxicab and expressing his disgust with the world by insulting his obnoxious passengers and kicking pigeons in Riverside Park. His circle of acquaintances includes Winslow Smith, a motorcycle-riding, leather-jacketed, self-styled rebel, whose image is undermined by the fact that at 24 he is still a virgin; Oliver, a homosexual interior decorator who stages elaborate parties and tries, unsuccessfully, to seduce his male guests; and Jennifer, a 21-year-old tenant in Jonathan's building, whose sojourn in New York City to "find herself" is being subsidized by her parents. While attending one of Oliver's wild soirees, Jonathan is accosted by a nymphomaniacal former bedmate, Naomi, who drags him into the bathroom, strips off her clothes, and invites him to join her in the fur-lined tub. Instead, he returns to his apartment, visits Jennifer, and explains why he must maintain emotional detachment. Jennifer, however, is such an understanding listener that she and Jonathan are soon making love. At Christmas, Jonathan takes Jennifer to spend the holidays in Darien, Connecticut, with his suburbanite parents—a possessive and petulant mother and a potentially alcoholic stepfather. But his mother angrily discovers Jonathan and Jennifer nude in the bed, and after a seasonal party leads to further generation gap warfare Jonathan and Jennifer abruptly return to the city. Although drawn to Jennifer, Jonathan is soured by the prospects of married life and is even becoming increasingly apathetic toward his friends. One night, attempting to explain his disenchantment to Jennifer, he enters her apartment and finds her in bed with Winslow. Shattered, Jonathan dazedly drives his cab through the city until finally, in a rage, he plunges off the docks into the river. Recovering in the intensive care unit of a hospital, Jonathan is visited by his friends as well as by Jennifer, who pleads for a second chance to demonstrate her love. Instead Jonathan slips out of the hospital, packs his bags, and boards a train for Des Moines, Iowa. There he plans to drive a truck and continue his isolated existence of thumbing his nose at the world.

Cast

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Release

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Home media

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The DVD issued by Scorpion Releasing is missing around 15 minutes of footage.[7]

Notes

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  1. ^ The then-unknown Sylvester Stallone was an extra in this movie during the party scenes.[3] He may be seen in several shots wearing the same colorful sweater he wore in an adult film he also made in 1970, The Party at Kitty and Stud's, also known as Italian Stallion.[4][5][6]

References

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  1. ^ "The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker (1970) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  2. ^ "The Sidelong Glances Of A Pigeon Kicker". TV Guide. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  3. ^ "The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker (1970)". IMDb. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  4. ^ http://img21.mtime.cn/mg/2011/04/05/023047.11375385.jpg [bare URL image file]
  5. ^ "Sylvester Stallone's First Film: The Party at Kitty and Stud's". Neatorama. 6 May 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  6. ^ "StalloneZone: Sly Scores". Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  7. ^ "DVD Savant Review: The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker". www.dvdtalk.com. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
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