Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Sonny turns the crowd on the police in two syllables. The Attica prison riot had ended a year earlier with dozens dead from police gunfire, so the name is a reminder of how far police could go. A robber becomes, for a moment, a folk hero, and the crowd cheers him. It is the best known scene of Pacino's career because it was not scripted, and people shout it at mock police standoffs to this day.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Dog Day AfternoonShow the scene
On a sweltering day in August 1972, first-time crook Sonny Wortzik and his friend Sal try to rob the First Brooklyn Savings Bank and end up besieged by police and a growing crowd. Detective Moretti persuades Sonny to come outside and negotiate, and when Sonny steps out the exchange between them ends with Sonny shouting "Attica!" to cheers from the crowd. Attica was the New York state prison whose riot ended on 13 September 1971 when law enforcement retook it, killing dozens of men. Al Pacino improvised the whole crowd exchange after the assistant director whispered the idea to him.
Sources (3)
- Wikipedia: Dog Day AfternoonPlot; Production, street sceneReference checked
- Wikiquote: Dog Day AfternoonScene dialogue with Moretti and the crowdReference checked
- Wikipedia: Attica Prison riotLeadReference checked
Context reviewed