The Public Eye (film)
| The Public Eye | |
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| Directed by | Howard Franklin |
| Produced by | Sue Baden-Powell |
| Written by | Howard Franklin |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Mark Isham |
| Cinematography | Peter Suschitzky |
| Edited by | Evan A. Lottman |
| Distributed by | Universal Studios |
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Release date
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Running time
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99 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15,000,000 |
| Box office | $3,067,917 |
The Public Eye is a 1992 Universal Studios neo-noir film produced by Sue Baden-Powell and written and directed by Howard Franklin, starring Joe Pesci and Barbara Hershey. Stanley Tucci and Richard Schiff appear in supporting roles.
The film is loosely based on New York Daily News photographer Arthur "Weegee" Fellig, and some of the photos in the film were taken by Fellig.
In the 1940s Leon "Bernzy" Bernstein is a freelance crime and street photographer for the New York City tabloids, dedicated to his vivid and realistic work and his unique ability to capture shots that nobody else can. He is very confident of his skills, declaring at one point, "Nobody does what I do. Nobody".
With a police radio under the dashboard of his car and a makeshift darkroom in his trunk, he quickly races to the scene of horrific crimes and accidents in order to snap exclusive photographs. He is so good at his job that he becomes known affectionately as the "Great Bernzini".
Bernzy meets a sultry widow, Kay Levitz (Barbara Hershey), who owns a fancy nightclub. It seems the mob is muscling in on her due to some arrangement with her late husband. Kay asks if Bernzy could investigate an individual she considers troublesome. Generally unsuccessful with women, Bernzy agrees to help Kay, and he slowly begins to fall in love with her.
After talking to his contacts, including journalist friend Arthur Nabler (Jerry Adler), he tracks down Kay's man, only to find him murdered. But when he calls the police, he becomes a suspect in the man's death. The police and the FBI are also very interested in this case. Bernstein makes a connection with a local gangster, Sal (Stanley Tucci), uncovering a conspiracy involving a mob turf war about illegal gas rationing, and the Federal government. His activities get Sal killed and place Bernzy's life in great danger as he waits in hiding at an Italian restaurant where a mob hit is about to take place.
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