The Prisoner of Second Avenue

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The Prisoner of Second Avenue

PG

1975

1h 45m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

51%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Neurotic middle-aged New Yorker Mel Edison (Jack Lemmon) is fired from his advertising job, forcing his loving wife, Edna (Anne Bancroft), to become the couple's sole breadwinner. Feeling emasculated, he begins to fall into a depression. A summer heat wave, unthoughtful neighbors and a robbery only worsen matters. When Mel finally suffers a nervous breakdown, he relies on those closest to him, including Edna and his brother Harry (Gene Saks), to restore his sanity.

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Critics Consensus

The Prisoner of Second Avenue falters in its translation from stage to screen, with Jack Lemmon's strong portrayal of escalating paranoia overshadowed by forced situational humor.

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Martin Knelman

Globe and Mail

Without the theatricality of the theatre it's easier to notice how hollow the gags are, how contrived the plot, how mechanical the direction.

Oct 8, 2025

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David Robinson

The Times (UK)

Jack Lemmon is a pastmaster of the Simon style; and Anne Bancroft bats the dialogue back with lovely expertise.

May 2, 2025

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Phil Strassberg

Arizona Republic

It's too grim for most filmgoers to attempt to extract the juicier laugh lines.

Apr 24, 2025

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Lou Cedrone

Baltimore Sun

Where the stage version was all down, this has up, and the stars are in rare form.

Oct 7, 2025

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

Working from his own play, Neil Simon unusually fails to strike the right balance between wit and pathos in this strained study of a midlife crisis.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 31, 2025

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Frances Taylor

Newark Star-Ledger

Jack Lemmon applies all his skills as the harried Edison. Most of the time he overcomes the weakness of the script.

Aug 27, 2025

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Sal D

A series of uncomfortable arguments between Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft, then between his family members, then everybody, then he and his brother, then he and Anne Bancroft again. Often excruciating, always boring.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/20/24

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George L

Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft are fun to watch. This is a very enjoyable movie

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

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Audience Member

For roles like this Lemmon deserves Oscar!!! Bravo!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

Wow, just wow. The story of This film is transcendent of generations. Mel and Edna can easily be me and my wife. The hardships of the 70'2 are still the same hardships of today. It is 2018 and this film's plot and characters are still just as relevant as when this movie premiered. As a matter of fact, even the news update snippets sound like snippets of today's society. Neil Simon was and will always be known as a great playwright and his stories (just like Shakespeare's) can be used by any generation. The acting was amazing (loved the chemistry of Jack and Anne), great supporting actors portraying great supporting characters. Melvin Frank's vision for the film was a key to the success of this flm. Recomend this to anyone in their forties no matter what year we are living in.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

'a lessor neil simon' I don't think so and this has the best balance of humour & pathos no ez feat

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

Trite and boring. Another waste of time from Doc Neil Simon. I will never understand his appeal. Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft could be more irritating. Avoid It.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

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Melvin Frank

Director

Jack Lemmon

Mel Edison

Anne Bancroft

Edna Edison

Gene Saks

Harry Edison

Elizabeth Wilson

Pauline

Florence Stanley

Pearl

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Synopsis

Neurotic middle-aged New Yorker Mel Edison (Jack Lemmon) is fired from his advertising job, forcing his loving wife, Edna (Anne Bancroft), to become the couple's sole breadwinner. Feeling emasculated, he begins to fall into a depression. A summer heat wave, unthoughtful neighbors and a robbery only worsen matters. When Mel finally suffers a nervous breakdown, he relies on those closest to him, including Edna and his brother Harry (Gene Saks), to restore his sanity.

Director: Melvin Frank
Producer: Melvin Frank
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 14, 1975, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 45m

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