WTF Really Happened to Dog Day Afternoon?

When it comes to the all-time craziest and most unbelievable true stories ever committed to celluloid, Sidney Lumet’s Dog Day Afternoon (starring Al Pacino and the late, great John Cazale) tops the list. Ripped right from the headlines, the stranger-than-fiction true-crime story about three men attempting to rob a bank during broad daylight in the dead of summer in New York - only to become a grueling 14-hour hostage situation and high-profile media circus - will forever live in infamy due to how incredibly outlandish the details are. While the names of the primary players have been changed for the big-screen adaption, and while many fascinating tidbits about the case were slightly altered or omitted from the final film, the overwhelming majority of what transpires in Dog Day Afternoon really happened on one sweltering summer day in August 1972. Come closer y’all, it’s time to separate the wheat from the chaff and find out What The F*ck Really Happened to Dog Day Afternoon!

[bradley]

John Cazale was such a phenomenal talent who was lost way too soon. Godfather Part 1 and 2, Dog Day Afternoon, The Deer Hunter, The Conversation. It's insane that he was in only 5 films, and all of them nominated for Best Picture (with 3 of them actually winning).

[Peer]

Man Al Pacino really had some eyes on him. His gaze was really intense.

[interdimensionalsteve]

Best bank robbery flick of all time - hands down, without question. The build-up and the realism behind every aspect of this movie are simply superb.

[trinaq]

Al Pacino definitely should have won an Oscar for this movie over "Scent of a Woman." His performance here is far more memorable.

[SuperCosty]

So the real robber went to see The Godfather to inspire himself by at the day of the robbery, and in just like 2 years Al Pacino and John Cazale from the said Godfather played him and his accomplice in the film about that robbery?? Just to imagine something like that is friggin' carzy

[Vntilator]

John Cazale only played in 5 movies and all of them were were either Oscar nominated or won oscar.
He were one of the best friends with Al Pacino in real life. Even over 40 years after his death, Pacino have problems talking about him as he misses him so much. Most remembers him as Fredo in Godfather i think. He dated Meryl Streep until his death in 1978.

[maryberon]

I saw this movie in the theater 10 times, at least. Now I have the DVD and can watch it any time I want!!
All the acting was fabulous!!

[lindaross]

I was working as a flight attendant and getting ready for work.I lived in New York. I listened to this event in the radio or TV can't recall which but followed it until I had to leave for the airport. Unbelievable!! Came home to the rest of the story.

[BrianSmith-kvpx]

Thank you for your added attention to detail and the care with which you corrected Elizabeth Eden's story.

[Entertainment]

The movie gets better and better with time! Pacino is a Giant!

[mikeyfn-a]

Absolute classic. Even with that "I'm sorry about that Sonny. You know how these Puerto Ricans are, you got his woman in there." line, I'm Puerto Rican and found it pretty funny; I still love this movie. 👍
Oh and that line inside the bank over the phone:"What do I want? What do you mean what do I want?" 😂😂 Scarface was my first introduction to Pacino so this was a surprise, right along with 'And Justice For All..'👍👍

[blackamerican]

I have this dvd on a double set with Serpico.

[ajtaylor]

Might be my favorite film from Sidney Lumet of all-time. You could argue "Serpico, " but "Dog Day Afternoon" does so much right and very little wrong, and has a Top 2 Al Pacino performance.

[Locadel]

I also liked the first role of Lance Henriksen, he was the one who killed John Casale in the end. Then became a great actor and he was everywhere in the 80s and 90s

[galesito]

Cazale and Pacino get all the attention for this movie (and rightly so) but nobody mentions the great Charles Durning. He was brilliant in this film, as he was in everything he acted in.

Also, "Attica! Attica! Attica!" :D

[thumpyloudfoot]

Imagine watching a movie starring the person thats going to star in a movie based on something you do hours before you do it...

[mullaoslo]

Cazale must have one of the best track reacords of any actor ever Godfather parts 1 and 2, dog day afternoon and Deer Hunter

[rubysuncle]

All the exteriors were shot in the Brooklyn neighborhood I grew up in, Windsor Terrace. It’s kind of a point of pride and a great time capsule of the place I called home for so long.

[johnprudent]

One of those times where life is truly (as interesting or) stranger than fiction. I’ve always had this on my list as one of those films I have to see. Now after this episode of WTF, I really have to watch it now.

[Frank-Einstein-Madman]

They should do a remake of this and Groundhog Day and mix them together and call it:
*Groundhog Day Afternoon!*