****SPOILERS**** Tough but golden hearted super social worker Neil Brock aka Bruchinsky, George C. Scott, seems up against it in trying to prevent the demolishing of an residence in the Fordam Section in the Bronx. That's to make way for a supermarket by a Mister Calvan, John Randolph, who owns the property. With the some dozen elderly tenants about to be thrown out and displaced Brock and his assistant Frieda Hechlinger, Elizabeth Wilson, can only stand by and watch or convince the tenants to move out or end up, with all their belongings, on the streets.
Bending the rule just a little bit Brock gets the kindly and high pitched voiced, he seems to be suffering for tonsillitis, cop on the beat, Gene Hackman, to make things very difficult for Cavan by ticketing everyone, driving and those just walking, in the neighborhood to get Cavan in seeing that his supermarket won't make any business there in order to change his mind. Which the greedy Cavan who was about to call in the wrecking squad was not going to do.
***SPOILERS*** Just when Brock as well as Mrs. Hechlinger were about to throw in the towel one of the tenants the shut-in Miss Allen,Patricia Collinge, invited the two in for coffee and crumpets and the story that she told them about the building, that she called the White Tower,changed their minds. It turned out that author Herman Melvill lived there some 120 years ago and was inspired, by the freshly brewed Hawaiian coffee that he drank there, to write the great American novel "Moby Dick" that has since become a literary classic. Sure enough Miss. Allen's story about Melvill, with his notes and sketches on the book being found there, checked out and turned out to be the God honest truth! With that ammunition on him Brock got the city to declare the White Tower a landmark and the tenants, including Miss. Allen, as its caretakers immune from being kicked out. It also for once showed that the people can come out on top against big business if truth or in this case history is on their side! P.S This "East Side/West Side" episode was to be broadcast on Monday Nevermer 25, 1963 but was was re scheduled a month later. That in it being preempted by JFK's, who was assented three days earlier, state and national funeral.
Bending the rule just a little bit Brock gets the kindly and high pitched voiced, he seems to be suffering for tonsillitis, cop on the beat, Gene Hackman, to make things very difficult for Cavan by ticketing everyone, driving and those just walking, in the neighborhood to get Cavan in seeing that his supermarket won't make any business there in order to change his mind. Which the greedy Cavan who was about to call in the wrecking squad was not going to do.
***SPOILERS*** Just when Brock as well as Mrs. Hechlinger were about to throw in the towel one of the tenants the shut-in Miss Allen,Patricia Collinge, invited the two in for coffee and crumpets and the story that she told them about the building, that she called the White Tower,changed their minds. It turned out that author Herman Melvill lived there some 120 years ago and was inspired, by the freshly brewed Hawaiian coffee that he drank there, to write the great American novel "Moby Dick" that has since become a literary classic. Sure enough Miss. Allen's story about Melvill, with his notes and sketches on the book being found there, checked out and turned out to be the God honest truth! With that ammunition on him Brock got the city to declare the White Tower a landmark and the tenants, including Miss. Allen, as its caretakers immune from being kicked out. It also for once showed that the people can come out on top against big business if truth or in this case history is on their side! P.S This "East Side/West Side" episode was to be broadcast on Monday Nevermer 25, 1963 but was was re scheduled a month later. That in it being preempted by JFK's, who was assented three days earlier, state and national funeral.
