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The Prisoner of Second Avenue

Play trailer Poster for The Prisoner of Second Avenue PG 1975 1h 45m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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52% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Neurotic middle-aged New Yorker Mel Edison (Jack Lemmon) is fired from his advertising job, forcing his loving wife, Edna (Anne Bancroft), to become the couple's sole breadwinner. Feeling emasculated, he begins to fall into a depression. A summer heat wave, unthoughtful neighbors and a robbery only worsen matters. When Mel finally suffers a nervous breakdown, he relies on those closest to him, including Edna and his brother Harry (Gene Saks), to restore his sanity.
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The Prisoner of Second Avenue

The Prisoner of Second Avenue

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Critics Consensus

The Prisoner of Second Avenue falters in its translation from stage to screen, with Jack Lemmon's strong portrayal of escalating paranoia overshadowed by forced situational humor.

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Critics Reviews

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Martin Knelman Globe and Mail Oct 8, 2025
Without the theatricality of the theatre it's easier to notice how hollow the gags are, how contrived the plot, how mechanical the direction. Go to Full Review David Robinson The Times (UK) May 2, 2025
Jack Lemmon is a pastmaster of the Simon style; and Anne Bancroft bats the dialogue back with lovely expertise. Go to Full Review Phil Strassberg Arizona Republic Apr 24, 2025
It's too grim for most filmgoers to attempt to extract the juicier laugh lines. Go to Full Review Charles Brock Florida Times-Union Feb 4, 2026
Treading on the narrow line of pathos between humor and tragedy, "Prisoner" is a first-rate filmization. Go to Full Review Lou Cedrone Baltimore Sun Oct 7, 2025
Where the stage version was all down, this has up, and the stars are in rare form. Go to Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times Aug 31, 2025
3/5
Working from his own play, Neil Simon unusually fails to strike the right balance between wit and pathos in this strained study of a midlife crisis. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sal D @SallyBooks Jul 20, 2024 A series of uncomfortable arguments between Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft, then between his family members, then everybody, then he and his brother, then he and Anne Bancroft again. Often excruciating, always boring. See more George L @RT47615177 Apr 14, 2024 Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft are fun to watch. This is a very enjoyable movie See more Josh R @RT27661070 Jun 20, 2020 For roles like this Lemmon deserves Oscar!!! Bravo! See more Jul 12, 2018 Wow, just wow. The story of This film is transcendent of generations. Mel and Edna can easily be me and my wife. The hardships of the 70'2 are still the same hardships of today. It is 2018 and this film's plot and characters are still just as relevant as when this movie premiered. As a matter of fact, even the news update snippets sound like snippets of today's society. Neil Simon was and will always be known as a great playwright and his stories (just like Shakespeare's) can be used by any generation. The acting was amazing (loved the chemistry of Jack and Anne), great supporting actors portraying great supporting characters. Melvin Frank's vision for the film was a key to the success of this flm. Recomend this to anyone in their forties no matter what year we are living in. See more Dec 27, 2016 'a lessor neil simon' I don't think so and this has the best balance of humour & pathos no ez feat See more Oct 11, 2015 Trite and boring. Another waste of time from Doc Neil Simon. I will never understand his appeal. Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft could be more irritating. Avoid It. See more Read all reviews
The Prisoner of Second Avenue

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Cast & Crew

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Melvin Frank

Director

Jack Lemmon

Mel Edison

Anne Bancroft

Edna Edison

Gene Saks

Harry Edison

Elizabeth Wilson

Pauline

Florence Stanley

Pearl

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The Prisoner of Second Avenue

The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975) The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Neurotic middle-aged New Yorker Mel Edison (Jack Lemmon) is fired from his advertising job, forcing his loving wife, Edna (Anne Bancroft), to become the couple's sole breadwinner. Feeling emasculated, he begins to fall into a depression. A summer heat wave, unthoughtful neighbors and a robbery only worsen matters. When Mel finally suffers a nervous breakdown, he relies on those closest to him, including Edna and his brother Harry (Gene Saks), to restore his sanity.
Director
Melvin Frank
Producer
Melvin Frank
Production Co
Warner Bros.
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 14, 1975, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 45m
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