Dog Day Afternoon

After watching Dog Day Afternoon I was interested in researching the film and the story of John Wojtowicz. Writer Frank Pierson met Wojtowicz shortly before his death in 2006. When speaking to him he began to see a noticeable difference between the character Al Pacino portrays on screen based on his screenplay. Sonny as a character is more aware of his surroundings, John on the other hand seems only interested in taking what he needs from people. In the case of the public, more specifically Pierson, it is attention. Wojtowicz original intentions were in good nature, but judging from his interview he liked the attention he gained afterward moving his focus instead on publicity. I find the contrast between fact and fiction fascinating. If Sonny were written differently would I have felt the same about him? Would he be just as likable? His personality is what captivates you and ultimately causes his downfall.

A reoccurring theme in films about soldiers coming back from war, as we've seen in Coming Home, is the psychological damage it causes. We are aware Sonny and Sal are Vietnam vets and the effects it had on both of them is quite different. Sal is at the ready to shoot any hostage because killing is nothing to him. The same can be said for how each hostage reacts to robbery. One minute they are huddled in a room together, and later a woman is playfully tossing a gun around with no intent to overpower Sal and Sonny.

Trivia

• John Cazale's role as Sal was originally intended for an 18-year-old, which was the age of the real Sal.
• In the original script, Sonny and his trans-sexual lover were supposed to take part in a scene outside the bank in which a heart-felt goodbye was to take place along with a kiss. Al Pacino refused to do this, claiming it would take away from the phone conversation between Sonny and Leon. Frank Pierson was forced to make appropriate changes. This resulted in the just telephone conversation instead.
• Other than fake sweat, there was no make-up used in the rest of the film.
• SPOILER: Even though this film is about a bank robbery, and has several firearms throughout the whole film, only two shots are fired. The first is when Sonny (Al Pacino) shoots his rifle at a window to scare off the police that are trying to go around the back of the bank. The second and final one is at the end when Murphy (Lance Henriksen) shoots Sal (John Cazale) in the head, resulting to his death.

Sources:

IMDB
Wikipedia
Based On A True Story
Karyn Kay
Word Press