The Night They Raided Minsky's

Before making his name with The French Connection, William Friedkin directed this 1968 backstage comedy set in a failing music hall during the burlesque era in the early 20th century. Jason Robards and Norman Wisdom star as Raymond and Chick, the leading comics of the troupe, who perform vulgar baggy-pants routines with off-color humor to roaring approval from working-class and immigrant audiences. There is absolutely nothing classy about the place, but Amish runaway Rachel (Britt Eklund) begs for a spot as a dancer in a show that Raymond tries to sell to the audience as an exotic spectacle. Ostensibly about the accidental birth of striptease, The Night They Raided Minsky's really offers a nostalgic look at the forgotten world of New York burlesque, built on broad, suggestive comedy acts and the promise of sexy ladies (“ten terrific girls but only nine costumes,” teases the MC—but all they deliver is bumps and grinds in skimpy outfits). Elliot Gould makes his cinematic debut as proprietor Billy Minsky, trying to keep his venue open after his landlord (and father), Louis (Joseph Wiseman), refuses to renew the lease. This was also the final film for real-life vaudeville legend Bert Lahr, who died before completing his scenes. Minsky's has a reputation for being a troubled production that was “saved” by its editors after Friedkin left for another project. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)