Is the movie Dog Day Afternoon (1975) based on a true story?

Yes, the movie Dog Day Afternoon is loosely based on a true story. It is based on the 1972 bank robbery in Brooklyn, New York, where John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturale tried to rob a bank to pay for Wojtowicz’s lover’s gender-reassignment surgery. The actual events had some differences from the movie, but the basic premise and characters are based on the real-life incident.

What is the true story behind the movie Dog Day Afternoon (1975)?

The movie Dog Day Afternoon is based on the true story of a bank robbery that took place on August 22, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York. The robbery was carried out by John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturale, who attempted to rob a Chase Manhattan Bank branch.

During the robbery, things went wrong, and the police were alerted. The situation quickly escalated, and the bank was surrounded by police officers. The two robbers took several hostages, including bank employees and customers.

Wojtowicz, who had planned the robbery, was also attempting to use it as a way to raise money for his partner’s sex reassignment surgery. After many hours of hostage-taking and negotiations with the police, the robbers agreed to release the hostages in exchange for a getaway car.

However, the situation continued to spiral out of control, and eventually, Wojtowicz was shot and arrested by the police. Salvatore Naturale was also arrested after being wounded in the shootout.

The events of the robbery were later turned into a book called “The Boys in the Bank” by P.F. Kluge and Thomas Moore. The book was then adapted into the movie Dog Day Afternoon in 1975, which starred Al Pacino as Wojtowicz and John Cazale as Naturale.

Are there any books about the true story behind the movie Dog Day Afternoon (1975)?

Yes, there are a few books that cover the true story behind the movie Dog Day Afternoon (1975):

1. The Boys in the Bank: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Bank Robbery by Gay Talese - This book is the original account of the 1972 robbery of the Chase Manhattan Bank in Brooklyn, upon which the movie Dog Day Afternoon was based.

2. Attica: The Official Report of the New York State Special Commission on Attica by Frank S. Hogan and Bernard C. Smith - This book covers the infamous Attica prison riots, which occurred just a few weeks after the Chase Manhattan Bank robbery and influenced the events in Dog Day Afternoon.

3. Dog Day Afternoon: The True Story Behind the 1975 Movie by John Wojtowicz - This book is written by the real-life bank robber, John Wojtowicz, who inspired the character of Sonny Wortzik in the movie. It is a firsthand account of the robbery and its aftermath, and includes details not seen in the film.

You can try an audible free trial and search for audiobook versions of those