Jimmy “Fingers” Angelelli (Harvey Keitel) is the son of ageing New York loan shark Ben Angelleli (Michael V. Gazzo) and a brutal repo man himself, but Jimmy wants more from life than threatening people for repayment.
A self-taught pianist, he has visions of performing at Carnegie Hal – although his passion for the piano seems more indicative of neurosis (his concert pianist mother is already in a mental hospital) than of any real possibility for a concert career.
Jimmy seems to be playing the piano in numerous scenes but the camera shows only glimpses of his hands actually touching the keys. In each of these scenes, a tape recorder unspools mysteriously in the background while he plays.
Suspicion that Jimmy only thinks he can play the piano is confirmed when he auditions for a recital at Carnegie Hall. And so the viewer realises that here is a man who is even crazier than he already appears.
Other evidence of his madness includes his habit of carrying a tape recorder wherever he goes, subjecting everyone within earshot to blaring renditions of Summertime, Summertime by The Jamies and other 1950s classics.
Jimmy is a sexual active daredevil who can’t resist the thrill of the chase – most of the time he’s attracted to women but sometimes to men – and everything in his twisted psyche conspires to shift his focus away from his dream.
There’s awkward sex, graphic violence, a little bit of rape and a vigorous rectal exploration.
The sex and violence in the film were heavily cut by the British Board of Film Censors when Fingers was first released in the UK in 1979.
Jimmy “Fingers” Angelelli
Harvey Keitel Carol
Tisa Farrow Dreems
Jim Brown Ben Angelelli
Michael V. Gazzo Ruth
Marian Seldes Butch
Danny Aiello Gino
Ed Marinaro Anita
Georgette Mosbacher Julie
Tanya Roberts Christa
Carole Francis Luchino
Lenny Montana Luchino’s Son
Vasco Valladeres Riccamonza
Tony Sirico Arthur Fox
Dominic Chianese Pianist
James Fields Carmine
Frank Pesce Patrolman Levy
Zack Norman Esther
Jane Elder Dr Fry
Murray Moston Leonard
Henry Judd Baker JR
Charles Polk Sam
Sam Coppola Dr Schwartz
Joe De Kama
Director
James Toback
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Jimmy seems to be playing the piano in numerous scenes but the camera shows only glimpses of his hands actually touching the keys. In each of these scenes, a tape recorder unspools mysteriously in the background while he plays.
