Donate
What's On
View full program

Mikey and Nicky

Directed by Elaine May
United States
1976
106 mins
M
A friendship palpably implodes over one night in this gritty, Philadelphia-set mobster tale starring John Cassavetes and Peter Falk and inspired by May’s own upbringing.

Small-time gangster Nicky (Cassavetes) suspects there’s a hit out on him. He calls on his old pal Mikey (Falk) for back-up, and the pair embark on a restless escapade through dive bars, cemeteries and all-night movie theatres, dodging the low-level hitman who is indeed on Nicky’s tail. Veering from tenderness to mutual distrust, they have a love-hate bond that feels set to fracture at any moment. Intense and freewheeling in style, Mikey and Nicky is easily mistaken for an improvisation. In fact, it was precisely scripted by May, who drew on stories she’d heard growing up around mobsters. May clashed with the studio and the film was buried on release, but it’s now ripe for rediscovery in this director’s cut.

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.

“Astonishing. May’s determinedly tawdry, desperate urban universe keeps expanding and growing like crystal in the mind.”
Kent Jones, Film Comment
“Astonishing. May’s determinedly tawdry, desperate urban universe keeps expanding and growing like crystal in the mind.”
Kent Jones, Film Comment

Tickets

Sun 8 June 2025, 10:15am
Past Event
Art Gallery of New South Wales
AGNSW
WheelchairAssisted Listening
See more, save more with a Flexipass or Youth Pass

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking, or see our Access & Inclusion page for more information.

  • Year
    1976
  • Classification
    M
  • Country
    USA
  • Language
    In English
  • Director
    Elaine May
  • Producer
    Michael Hausman
  • Cast
    Peter Falk, John Cassavetes, Ned Beatty
  • Screenwriter
    Elaine May
  • Cinematographer
    Victor J. Kemper
  • Editor
    John Carter
  • Genre
    Thriller & Crime, Retrospective, Women Directors
  • Company Credits
    Rights/Print Source: Jumer Productions
Aboriginal FlagTorres Strait Flag

Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.

We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Don’t miss a thing!

Whether you’re in Sydney or one of our rural locations, sign up to our newsletters for all the latest news and offers.

SFF
  • Submissions
  • Festival Hub
  • Tickets
  • Films & Events
About
  • Contact Us
  • Our Organisation
  • Jobs
  • Media Releases
Support
  • Individual Support
  • Partnerships
General Enquiries
  • 02 8220 6600
  • info@sff.org.au
Ticketing Enquiries
  • 1300 733 733
  • tickets@sff.org.au
Office Hours

MONDAY – FRIDAY: 9AM – 5PM AEDT

Discover
  • The Living Archive
  • Travelling Film Festival
Follow
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Letterboxd
In Partnership With:
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
Website by ED.

Don't miss a thing!

Whether you're in Sydney or one of our rural locations, sign up to our newsletters for all the latest news and offers.

Search films, venues, guests...
Explore
Browse All Films A-ZTickets and FlexipassesView Calendar
Suggested Searches
What's playing at the State Theatre?Official CompetitionWhat's on at the Hub?
Search films, venues, guests...
Explore
Browse All Films A-ZTickets and FlexipassesView Calendar
Suggested Searches
What's playing at the State Theatre?Official CompetitionWhat's on at the Hub?