great film . very 70 and very cassavetes . this be all about the character and not the story . the plot outline would and or certainly should and bore you rigid but here there be no hoodlum clichés and no nightclub clichés and no little big man clichés . ben gazzara be superb a the club owner who get into trouble and out of trouble and then right back in again . it be a spot on performance that have u believe in him from the start . the stripper at the club and i understand and be and or at least some of them be and actual performer at the actual club and crazy horse west and where the movie be largely shot . a little puzzling now and again the film nevertheless move well against it sleazy background and constant sense of mob menace . for once the mobster be largely portray a nasty and psychotic prick instead of some disney like mr cool . i have watch the shorter and re cut version that i know be partly re edit from the original longer release but do include material cut from the original . now i do not know whether to simply watch this again and it be so good and or watch the other version . such a delightful dilemma .