Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976): Sweet, precisely evocative portrait of a bygone era, when girls still kept their diaphragms well-hidden from their parents, the Beats were in bloom, and a nice Jewish boy could pay the rent (in New York, no less!) working a 4-hours-a-day job working behind the counter at delicatessen where the regular customers also stop by for free medical advice. Following the misadventures of Larry Lapinski (the nice Jewish boy in question) as tries to cut the apron strings from his domineering mother (brilliantly played by a hysterically comic Shelley Winters as the quintessentional Jewish mother stereotype), the movie obviously has autobiographical basis in director Paul Mazursky's youthful experiences as an aspiring actor. Though the focus is on Larry (sweetly played by Lenny Baker -- whatever happened to him?), the ensemble playing by the supporting characters is all first-rate as more-regular-folks-than-they-realize bohemians living in 1953 Greenwich Village. Underrated, terrific time-capsule; I don't think I've ever seen New York ever portrayed as downright cozy and innocent (!).
Grade: A-