Originally released in 1980, Night of the Juggler bears all the trappings of an exceptional cult thriller, though it’s one that has never been terribly easy to find, due in part to the film’s lack of a proper DVD release. To celebrate its 45th anniversary, Night of the Juggler is now the recipient of a brand new 4K restoration, thanks to the good folks over at Kino Lorber, who are planning a physical media release due out later this fall in addition to a theatrical re-release in August. The film, whose plot has a proto-Taken feel to it, charts the determination of a single father, played by James Brolin, scouring New York City for the psychopath who kidnapped his daughter. In that regard, one could say that Brolin walked so that Liam Neeson could run, though that’s not quite true; rarely is Brolin not an object in motion, whether it be running full sprint through Central Park, furiously driving a stolen preacher’s car in the Bronx, or hopping a turnstile to catch the subway. Coupled with its tremendous snapshot of a seedy NYC that no longer exists, Night of the Juggler is a marvelous film about exemplary dedication to parenthood, exposing no limits to what a father would do to save his child.
The kidnapper in question is one Gus Soltic (Cliff Gorman), a mentally deranged, disgruntled tunnel worker with a terrifying knack for violent tendencies and a loathsome chip on his shoulder toward minorities. Looking to score big, Gus plots the kidnapping of the daughter of a real estate mogul, with a plan in place to intercept her on the way to school and hold her ransom for one million dollars. Brolin is Sean Boyd, an ex-cop turned blue collar truck driver, now divorced and splitting the duties of raising his own teenage daughter Kathy (Abby Bluestone) in the Big Apple, while ex-wife Barbara (Linda Miller) expresses her desire to move their daughter out of the city to the proposed safety of Connecticut. When Gus sets his plot in motion, he inadvertently kidnaps Kathy instead of his intended target, leading Sean on a wild chase through the city to get her back. Also on the case is Lieutenant Tonelli (Richard S. Castellano, Clemenza from The Godfather), a politically-minded cop using what resources he can to get the girl back safely.
As directed by Robert Butler, who took over for Sidney J. Furie one-third of the way through production, Night of the Juggler is a propulsive experience, moving forward with terrific economy. When Gus kidnaps Kathy, Sean happens to witness this, and he does not let her go easily. What follows is an impressively sustained, 10-minute-plus chase sequence that finds Gus desperately fleeing with his hostage while Sean is in hot pursuit, escalating from foot to multiple cars to even the subway system. In exploring the grimy netherworld of NYC, Butler has a distinct vision of the city in mind, refusing for one second to romanticize his central location. Filthy rodents, street gangs running rampant, coin-operated sex clubs, the slick subterranean dwellings that keep the city running: Night of the Juggler is a potent time capsule, capturing the once omnipresent for all to see.
Sporting a rugged mane and a thick, glorious beard, Brolin is an absolute force of nature here, transforming into a human wrecking ball as he tears through NYC to save Kathy. He’s fantastic and frenetic to behold, delivering a performance that is the very definition of scorched earth and handily demonstrating the implacable resilience of a determined father. Gorman matches him well with his own physicality and despicability as Gus, a vile beast who’d benefit the world best if he were put down indefinitely. Other familiar faces populate the film as well: Dan Hedaya plays Sergeant Barnes, a former colleague of Sean’s who bears his own grudge against the man, resulting in a genuinely insane sequence with the former chasing the latter down the streets of New York while firing off a shotgun with abandon; Julie Carmen takes on the role of Maria, a sympathetic ally to Sean who helps him navigate the streets of unfamiliar territory; and Mandy Patinkin briefly pops up as a helpful cabbie in the initial chase sequence, offering some flavorful bits of character work to add more spark to the proceedings. Long unavailable to see in most markets, the new 4K restoration of Night of the Juggler is stunning, capturing all of the sleaze and grime that 1980 New York had to offer in this incredible, action-charged thriller. Here’s hoping the film now finds a proper audience enthusiastic to celebrate its triumphs.
Published as part of Fantasia Fest 2025 — Dispatch 4.
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