Fingers (1978 film)

Infobox Film
name = Fingers


image_size = 164px
caption = Cover of DVD (2002)
director = James Toback
writer = James Toback
starring = Harvey Keitel,
Tisa Farrow,
Jim Brown
cinematography = Michael Chapman
editing = Robert Lawrence
distributor = Brut Productions
released = March 2 1978
runtime = 89 min.
country = United States
language = English
imdb_id = 0077549

"Fingers" is a 1978 drama film directed by James Toback. It features Harvey Keitel as a pianist who also works for his loan shark father as a "collector". He is a conflicted soul, torn between his art, his loyalty to his father, his sexuality, and his past. The film makes use of music to create a dichotomy between what the viewer is hearing and what they are seeing, which helps them feel the schizophrenia being experienced by the protagonist.

The movie inspired the 2005 French movie "The Beat That My Heart Skipped".

Music

Two notable pieces from the film are "Angel of the Morning" by Merrilee Rush and "Summertime, Summertime" by The Jamies. Director Toback, who is very knowledgeable about music, initially wanted to use the song "Summertime, Summertime" because the movie had a "summertime feel" to it, and they wanted to shoot it during the summer months. It wasn't to be however, yet he thought it appropriate enough to leave the song in there.

Miscellany

It was Keitel's idea to cast Michael V. Gazzo as his father.