The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974)

This 1974 film established Richard Dreyfuss as a comic star, and it contains his most compelling performance. Directed by Ted Kotcheff from a screenplay by Mordecai Richler based on his own semi-autobiographical novel, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz showcases Dreyfuss as a young Jewish man growing up in Montreal after World War II. Driven by a need to be "somebody," the hero stumbles into various get-rich-schemes that backfire. Instead of gaining the admiration he desires, he alienates everyone who is important in his life. Typical of the era's breed of films that center on the misadventures of an anti-hero, the film earned Richler an Oscar nomination for best screenplay and Dreyfuss many subsequent roles. Much of its strength comes from its richly detailed urban characters, portrayed by such stalwarts as Jack Warden, Denholm Elliott, and Randy Quaid. Independently made and shot in Canada in a realistic semi-documentary style, Kotcheff's film was a rare box-office success that temporarily revived a dormant Canadian film industry. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide