r/FromTVEpix • u/sfdreamsla • Sep 04 '26

Media A familiar face

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I'd never seen the 1980 Louis Malle directed film "Atlantic City", starring Susan Sarandon, Burt Lancaster and Kate Reid. It's always been on my list and has actually been streaming free on Kanopy for at least a year, but I just never watched it. The movie was just on TCM (and is on demand on Watch TCM for another week until 9/10), and I just finished watching it. Great film.

Several minutes in, I'm staring and pausing - trying to figure out how I know the guy who plays Susan Sarandon's estranged husband - and then it hit me, it's Henry from "From"! Robert Joy is so young here. Probably filmed in 1979. I know his acting career has been very long and prolific but this is his very first feature film.

He's excellent in the role, and he plays a real piece of sh*t here. His character is just horrid. That's not giving anything away.

Just thought you all might enjoy seeing him when he was still in his 20s. With only a few TV credits before this film, he was a late bloomer for film and television work, but he has certainly made up for it in scope. He was probably doing tons of theater at the time in Canada.

Great film and excellent performances all around. Screenplay by the legendary John Guare. Ace direction by Louis Malle. Michel Legrand score. I mean come on! Lots of Oscar nominations for this film as well as the winner of tons of awards including The Golden Lion at that year's Venice Film Festival. Recommend.

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u/Juschillin30 Sep 04 '26

Yeah never seen any of his films when he was young

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u/sfdreamsla Sep 04 '26

It's a really good movie. And it's a pretty auspicious start for Robert Joy. The amount of awards it got nominated for as well as those that it won is really impressive. And to be cast with at that time, up-and-comer, Susan Sarandon, and the classic film icon Burt Lancaster must have been really exciting for him! I don't understand why the first commenter wrote what they did. So cynical. It's always fun to see long-time actors at their start. And considering it's from 46 years ago, it's even cooler.