Drama about guy who doesn't want to win the lottery?

January 13, 2016 12:50 PM

I'm trying to identify a movie I saw on television when I was a kid. It's about a guy who doesn't want to win the lottery, but wins it anyway?

I saw it on one of WGN's weekend movie slots about twenty years ago. From what I can remember of the cinematography (dark, gritty), I'd peg the movie as a late seventies production. Here's the opening, as best I can recall:

FADE IN.
Montage of a city in winter, set to mournful jazz. We're somewhere on the East Coast, I guess. Everything's kind of wet and shabby. Crumbling brick. Shadowed streets. Lots of crowds. Everybody seems happy, but what do they know?

ANGUISHED MALE PROTAGONIST
(voice over)
Please. Please, god...

We see the interior of an arena. Thousands of excited people on bleachers. In the middle of the floor, a distinguished gentleman in a suit is pulling lottery balls from a copper drum.

ANGUISHED MALE PROTAGONIST
(cont.)
Please don't let me win the lottery...
The distinguished gentleman prepares to read off the numbers. Just before he speaks-

CUT TO
INTERIOR - POLICE STATION - MORNING
Two cops shoot the shit. In the background, a sullen figure can be seen huddling in the drunk tank.

FIRST COP
Yeah, I guess they brought him in around 4 AM. The report says he went on some kind of "existential bender." He was almost too far gone to give his name: Anguished M. Protagonist.

SECOND COP
(frowning)
"Protagonist?" Isn't that the name of the guy who won the lottery? And they haven't been able to find him to give him his winnings?

FIRST COP
Man, wouldn't it be a crazy dramatic situation if they were the same person?


I turned off the TV at this point, when it became clear the movie was going to be a dour character study instead of a fun story about a guy enjoying a lot of money, but I'd be curious to know what I was watching.

posted by Iridic to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

Best answer: That is 29th Street, the true story of the guy who won the first ever New York State Lottery. It's one of my all time favorite movies. It's actually not nearly as dour as the beginning makes it seem. It's a fun movie, and a feel good movie. I don't want to give any spoilers, but it's full of funny moments and some surprises. I watch it every Christmas (it's set at Christmas time.) Some great performances by Danny Aiello and Lanie Kazan.
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:22 PM on January 13, 2016 [6 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks! That's been bothering me for years.
posted by Iridic at 1:28 PM on January 13, 2016 [1 favorite]

If you watch it, watch the credits closely. The real person who won - the real Frank Pesce - plays a part in the movie.
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:31 PM on January 13, 2016

Yes, Frank Pesce plays his own brother, the cop who is always asking his mother where his gun is. Anthony Lapaglia does a great New York accent.
posted by DTHEASH1 at 11:10 AM on January 19, 2016