- Harry Fabian
Harry Fabian is a
fictional character in aGerald Kersh novel, in the 1950 film adaptationNight and the City and in the remake version. He was portrayed byAcademy Award -nominated actorRichard Widmark in the original film adaptation and then played byAcademy Award -winning actorRobert De Niro in the remake version, which is not based on the source novel.Character overview
1950 version
In both films Harry Fabian is portrayed as a two-bit man who dreams of the good life provided by money. In the first film, Harry Fabian is a hustler in
London planning many go-nowhere schemes but he has what he believes is a chance of a lifetime.One day, when he encounters the most famous Greco-Roman wrestler in the world, Gregorius (
Stanislaus Zbyszko ), at a London wrestling arena run by his son Kristo who is an underworld boss. Fabian dreams up a scheme that he thinks will finally be his ticket to financial independence. As Harry attempts to con everyone around him to get his scheme to work, he ends up conning himself.1992 version
In the second adaptation of the book, Harry Fabian (
Robert De Niro ) is also portrayed as a two-bit man. This film is set inNew York City . At this time, Harry Fabian is an unsuccessful, fast-talking lawyer. He chases ambulances to get work. He also has an affair with Helen Naserros (Jessica Lange ) who is married to Manhattan Boxers pub owner Phil (Cliff Gorman ).While losing a case to a local mobster who fronts as a sports promoter, Fabian whiffs his future at a boxing gym - he decides to be an impresario. But the market is dominated by Ira "Boom Boom" Brossman (
Alan King ), a senior promoter of big fights in N.Y. who sees his domain threatened by Fabian. To get the money to promote the fights, Fabian needs to beg for money from all his friends, including Phil. Meanwhile Helen plans to leave Phil and open her own pub, for which she needs Fabian's help to get a liquor license. For protection from the mobster, Harry recruits the boss's older brother as his judge of talent, he books a hall, he orders posters. Soon he is in debt waiting for the big night to rake in the cash.Popular culture references
In "
That Thing You Do! " Jimmy is referred to as "Fabbian" while trying to pitch his music at one point, a reference to Harry Fabian.The 1950 film version is featured in the 2007 film "The Savages ".External links
*imdb title|0042788|Night and the City|(1950 version)
*imdb title|0105001|Night and the City|(1992 version)
* [http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0046958/ Character page on IMDb (1950)]
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