Watch On the Bowery

On the Bowery is a documentary-style movie from 1956 that was directed and produced by Lionel Rogosin. The movie portrays the daily struggles of destitute alcoholics who frequent the Bowery area of New York City, a famous skid row of the 1950s. Many of the film's actors were actually homeless alcoholics who were paid a small fee to act in the movie.

The movie's protagonist is Ray Salyer, a rural migrant who arrives in New York City and decides that he wants to try and survive on the Bowery. The movie follows Ray as he attempts to navigate this treacherous and unforgiving environment, where he comes across other desperate individuals like Gorman Hendricks and Frank Matthews. Gorman is a veteran who suffers from severe alcoholism, and Frank is a homeless and jobless man who is constantly in search of his next drink.

Throughout the movie, the audience is given a glimpse into the harsh realities of life on the Bowery. The film portrays the daily routines of its inhabitants and shows the consequences of their addiction. We see individuals sleeping on the street, stumbling around trying to find their next drink, and begging for money. We also see the dangerous and violent side of life on the Bowery, where alcohol-fueled fights often break out, and innocent people are caught in the middle of it.

One of the most striking aspects of the movie is its portrayal of the community that exists amongst the Bowery's inhabitants. Although they may be struggling with addiction and poverty, these individuals stick together and help each other out whenever possible. We see this firsthand with Ray, who quickly becomes friendly with Gorman and other inhabitants of the Bowery. Despite their troubled pasts and grim futures, the sense of camaraderie amongst these individuals is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

On the Bowery also highlights the difficulties of breaking the cycle of addiction and poverty. The movie shows how many of the individuals on the Bowery are stuck in a never-ending cycle, unable to climb out of their troubles despite their best efforts. For most, alcoholism is the only comfort they have left, and it's a comfort that they are unable to give up.

Throughout the movie, the audience is given a sense of hopelessness and despair, as we watch these individuals struggle in a world that seems to offer them no respite. However, the movie also serves as a powerful reminder of the human side of addiction and homelessness. The people on the Bowery are not just statistics – they are individuals with stories and lives that have led them to where they are today. On the Bowery forces its audience to confront the harsh realities of poverty and addiction and serves as a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit.

Overall, On the Bowery is a powerful and important movie that sheds light on a dark chapter in New York City's history. It is a documentary-style film that presents a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the lives of those who were struggling with addiction and homelessness on the Bowery. Through its portrayal of real people living real lives, the movie forces us to confront the harsh realities of addiction and poverty while also reminding us of the tenacity of the human spirit.

On the Bowery is a 1957 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 4 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.