"Last Exit to Brooklyn" treats its many unseemly social and sexual issues in an unflinching and unashamedly forthright manner, but even more than this it is the generous assortment of heartless characters inhabiting this sordid and squalid depiction of Brooklyn which almost makes the whole film unwatchable while simultaneously creating the biggest impression of all. They embody the worst and the most close-minded…

Set amidst some fairly violent industrial turmoil, this potpourri of stories focuses on some of the diversity that existed, though it didn’t necessarily thrive, in 1950s NYC. The local factory is the centre of the troubles as the dockers take strike action, galvanised by their leaders “Harry” (Stephen Lang) and the manipulative “Boyce” (Jerry Orbach). Meantime, the striking in an altogether different manner…