A Coney Island-inspired, densely-layered visually dynamic documentary portrait of the life and times of the original Nathan's Famous, created in 1916 by filmmaker Lloyd Handwerker's grandparents, Nathan and Ida Handwerker.
Being from the Midwest, I really knew nothing about Nathan's. I knew it was on Coney Island and that it had the wiener-eating contest. But I did not know who Nathan was or anything about the business. This film really cleared that up for me. And I like that it was in a larger context -- not just who Nathan was, but his role in Coney Island.
The conflicting stories were good, and I am glad it was not all praise, even coming from a grandson. This was an honest look. And we even get a story or two (like Jackie Kennedy). My personal interests would have liked to hear a mob story in there, but maybe there never was one.
Being from the Midwest, I really knew nothing about Nathan's. I knew it was on Coney Island and that it had the wiener-eating contest. But I did not know who Nathan was or anything about the business. This film really cleared that up for me. And I like that it was in a larger context -- not just who Nathan was, but his role in Coney Island.
The conflicting stories were good, and I am glad it was not all praise, even coming from a grandson. This was an honest look. And we even get a story or two (like Jackie Kennedy). My personal interests would have liked to hear a mob story in there, but maybe there never was one.