This satiric look at racial tensions has sheltered rich kid Elgar Enders (Beau Bridges) buying a ghetto tenement with the intention of kicking the tenants out and remodeling it for his own use. His plans change when he grows attached to the people living in the building--an interesting
assortment who spark emotions in Elgar that he never knew he possessed. He falls in love with Lanie (Marki Bey), a black art student, and decides to marry her, but their plans are postponed when he discovers he has gotten his neighbor Fanny (Diana Sands) pregnant. The film offers some fine
performances (Lee Grant was nominated for Best Supporting Actress), and Ashby's quirky but skillful direction allows the individual personalities of the characters to shine through. The script has a few uneven moments, none of which damage the overall quality of the film, and Willis captures the
atmosphere of both rich and poor New York lifestyles with an impressive visual style.
