Dog Day Afternoon

by Patrick Mann (Pseudonym), Leslie Waller

Un pomeriggio canicolare a New York. Sugli schermi televisivi si susseguono le immagini di una rapina in banca ripresa «dal vivo». Una coppia di anziani coniugi riconosce in uno dei banditi il proprio figlio. La madre lo ha sempre coccolato e viziato, il padre lo ha sempre odiato e percosso selvaggiamente. In questo quadro familiare affondano le radici, le contraddizioni di Joe, un reduce dal Vietnam, uno spostato spavaldo, generoso, spaccone, che, oppresso dalla moglie sfatta e stupida, è divenuto l'organizzatore di una frettolosa rapina per poter pagare l'intervento chirurgico dal quale dovrebbe essere reso donna il travestito da lui amato, Lana. Joe ha scelto, come compagno del colpo in banca, un piccolo teppista, Sam, un giovincello che, oltre a battere i marciapiedi, ha nel sangue la voglia di uccidere e sarebbe disposto a sterminare il mondo intero pur di non tornare nel carcere ove è stato sodomizzato. Nella banca si trovano gli ostaggi terrorizzati dalla violenza sul punto di esplodere: il direttore, una funzionaria, due giovani impiegate. Assediati dalla polizia, i due rapinatori-dilettanti tentano un ricatto: chiedono un milione di dollari, un salvacondotto per l'aeroporto, un jet sul quale fuggire: questo è il prezzo per la liberazione dei prigionieri. Quel pomeriggio di un giorno da cani è la cronaca spietata, cruda, realistica, dissacrante, di questa rapina, cui fa da sfondo l'ambiente di bulli e pupe, di froci e di checche, di baffoni e baldracche del Greenwich Village. È un romanzo mozzafiato, ed è qualcosa di più di un thriller: un'indagine psicologica senza precedenti per la sua brutale, terribile franchezza. I personaggi non rimangono confinati in un limbo di ombre anemiche, ma sono creature prepotentemente vive e smaniose di vivere, figure che si imprimono marcate a fuoco nella mente del lettore: l'imprevedibile Joe, il sadico Sam, la pittoresca Lana; e poi Marge, la sentimentale - ma non tanto - funzionaria di banca, Boyle, il direttore che cerca di difendere il proprio perbenismo, e infine, e soprattutto, il sergente investigatore Moretti, umano e comprensivo, il perdente nella battaglia contro i metodi cruenti della polizia e contro Baker, un agente dell'FBI, pronto a uccidere e a sterminare in nome di un'astratta giustizia.
Da questo libro è stato tratto un film di grande successo che ha lo stesso titolo.

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Mystery

Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Pseudonym of Leslie Waller

Reviews

[Feliks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a superb 1970s crime novel which--as far as I can make out--is a post-movie adaptation of a screenplay. But if any indication was needed as to how great it is--it is tightly associated (as I hope you realize) in one best American movies of that decade. DDA is legendary and this book is where it all started.

It is told in first-person POV from inside-the-mind of Sonny; the ex-Vietnam Vet, bisexual, overall screw-up (and later prison convict) after his would-be attempt at bank robbery. That robbery originally took place deep in southern Brooklyn.

Now I hereby warn you: don't pick up this novel looking for sensitive treatment of women or minorities. Mann did a good job. This book is raw, volatile, nasty, angry, sweaty, and raunchy. It is full of a kind of gritty, angry, grimy real-life which you probably can't take since it isn't much printed anymore. It pulls no punches.

So don't read it and then complain later about it 'not being nice'. It isn't nice. It's not meant for boy scouts or the ladies-garden-club or the knitting-circle in your neighbourhood. This is the way paperback thrillers used to be!

[W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the Al Pacino movie.

[Dr Zorlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Littlejoe (Sonny in the movie) is one hell of a well-drawn character. Dialogue is superb throughout. This novel is substantially different from what we see in Sidney Lumet's film... in a good way: there's a lot more backstory from Joe and Lana and the "leather bars" where Joe likes to hang out.

But then everyone will miss John Cazale's Sal, as this character (Sam) is a whole other person in the book. Moretti and Baker (Sheldon) are more developed here, and even though both Lanas, the book's and the film's, are fantastic, the one here comes across as more manipulative, dominant, and evil, while Chris Sarandon's Leon is a helpless victim.

A fun read that picks up the pace as soon as the heist begins.

[OCNY · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoyed the Al Pacino movie, treat yourself to its superb print version. Written by Leslie Waller, under the pseudonym Patrick Mann, this based-on-true-story novel is woefully unknown and underrated, but thanks to Internet bookstores, no longer hard to find. Waller, writing in third person, pulls you right into the life of Joe Nowicki, aka Littlejoe, who plans to rob a Queens Chase Bank so he can pay for a sex change operation for his transvestite lover. Topical and raunchy were two words used to describe the book and movie in the early 70s. The dialogue is a treat to the ear and the suspense is unyielding, even if you know the ending from seeing the movie. I don't know why the novel didn't have a long shelf life, but it deserves to be back in print and read by a larger audience.

[Chris Gager · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patrick Mann is the author and the pseudonym used by crime fiction author Leslie Waller when he novelized a screenplay, as is the case here. This was written after the fact of the movie and therefore based on the screenplay. Even so there are a few differences with the actual plot of the film. Pretty good, pulpy book.

[Deborah Sheldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to believe that this is a novelisation written from the script of the classic movie, starring Al Pacino. Reads like a classic.

[Tom Houlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

“This is a gun, Marge. One more word out of you and the slug gets you right in the left tit. What the fuck is the world coming to? I hold a gun on this broad and she badmouths me to my face? What is that? “

A complex and fragile window into humanity. An easy and must read.

'Never in his life had Littlejoe moved so quickly through the burrough of his birth. It was as if, in saying goodbye , the whole place was flashing before his eyes.'

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not enjoy the sexism in this book…but the main character is robbing a bank so I know he doesn’t share my morals. I thought what he was willing to do for his wife to get a gender confirming surgery was extremely romantic, the ending was a different story. But the story was told very well and I think was quite progressive for the times (and I love gay shit). It was also exciting and easy to read pretty quickly.

[KennyO · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the movie based on this book was in the theaters I read the book instead. I never have seen the movie. It's been sufficiently long ago, now, that I don't recall details but I remember enjoying the reading of it.

[Jill Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ‘corker’ of a book! Fast paced and very 70s, I enjoyed every page.
I’ve never seen the movie, and I think it has a different feel, and now I want to watch it. I have a feeling that the casting of Pacino is perfect.

[Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the better film-to-book adaptions I’ve read but it still read as a screenplay. Not much backstory, definitely very surface level. Would like to read the original book.

[Jude Hardee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot days make me rob banks too

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've actually never seen the movie. The book is about a man nicknamed "Littlejoe" who decides to rob a bank with his friend Sam in order to pay for Littlejoe's wife's (Lana) sex change operation. They take over the bank on a sweltering hot day in the summer and have a handful of hostages under their wing. Littlejoe tries to compromise with police officer Moretti as he leaves the hostages unharmed as he receives a million in cash and a flight out of the JFK airport to Casablanca. In the end their plan backfires when they discover the driver of the limo has the upper hand.
This book was a good read. It was face-paced, very detailed, and it kept you interested because you wanted to know Littlejoe's next move.

[Rocky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be a funny, entertaining read. Of course, any fan of the movie should find it enjoyable. It's a great tale of a bank heist gone epically wrong, and the characters--although not the brightest--are convincing and likable enough to gain sympathy from the reader. Little Joe is extremely selfish, but he's relatable in that he's stuck in an un-ideal life that he desperately wants to change. After deciding to rob a bank things quickly spiral out of control and soon he's stuck in a hostage situation and is in over his head. If you want a quick, entertaining read I'd recommend this.

[Lorma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Al Pacino, and after seeing the movie, I bought this book and must say really enjoyed reading it. The book is about a man nicknamed Littlejoe who decides to rob a bank with his friend Sam in order to pay for Littlejoe's wife's sex change operation.

This book is a good read fast-paced,and gripping.

[Dean Mansfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can't outsmart The Man.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

As engrossing as I remember, the pace builds nicely toward the conclusion. The movie adaptation is a good one, but this version is more abrasive and in-your-face if you like that kind of thing.

[Larry C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gritty, pulpy, foul-mouthed, and a helluva good read.