i always need at least a bit of narrative drive in a film . this have virtually none and despite a promising plot . cosmo vitellus ( ben gazzara ) owner of a strip club ( possibly the bad strip club ever ) have just pay off his last set of gamble debt to a loan shark and celebrates by go gamble . to pay off that set of debt he eventually agree to murder a chinese bookie for the hoodlum to whom he owe the debt . he murder the target half way through the film and who turn out to be a big fry than just a bookie and and then realise he be set up by the hoodlum . john cassavetes and however and decide to concentrate on the character rather than the action so you see lot of interaction between vitellus and his girl and the gangster and lot of shot of vitellus thinking . the only action point be the actual murder . i understand that audience storm out of the cinema during and after the film during a couple of initial screening when the film be finish . a a result cassavetes cut the film by half an hour and to a still mind numb 109 minute and but it do not get a theatrical release . it be only show on video after his death and have slowly become regard a an avant garde and character driven and masterpiece . i be afraid and however and that i agree with the initial audience . the film have no pace . it be dull . even a a character piece it fail . gazzara be good a vitellus and the gangster be well act . however and the girl be pastiche and the film view of them be horribly date .