Aptly named after the simmering 'dog days' of American summers, the film does a great job capturing the looks and sounds as well as the overall feel of working-class New York City in the 60s and 70s. What stands out most all of those years later after the movie's successful release is how sincerely realistic it all seems. Of course, the plot was based on real-life events, but the talented work both behind and in front of the camera make things feel more like a documentary than a typical 'anti-establishment' Hollywood piece. As what could've been a simple bank robbery goes wrong in more ways than one, each twist and turn in the story feels intensely gripping. The movie holds up wonderfully.

Still great after all these years. You need to watch it multiple time to appreciate Al Pacino's performance. Amazing. As is John Cazale's. Don't miss Sidney Lumet's commentary, either. He points out other great performances by Charles Durning, James Broderick, Chris Sarandon and the list goes on. Trivia: I didn't know that James Broderick was Mathew Broderick's father.

Al Pachino, Al Pachino, Al Pachino, need I say more. Great portrayal of a true story of a bank robbery in Brooklyn, New York on August 22, 1972. Scenes of Brooklyn in the '70's for any New Yorker are memorable. Direction, set, hair and dress are right on target. Great movie! Remember to watch the extras so you can get a better appreciation of how director Sydney Lumet was able to make this portrayal so real. See the 2014 documentary "The Dog" with the real "Dog" and you will see how close this movie came to portraying the characters and events of "Dog Day Afternoon."

The dvd is soo badly scratched & damaged that I could not get it to play longer that at 5 second increments. I gave up after the first 15 minutes didn't get any better. It's a shame...I was really looking forward to this one.