Joe Gould's Secret

6.1

104 minutes

1/21/2000

Overview

Around 1940, New Yorker staff writer Joe Mitchell meets Joe Gould, a Greenwich Village character who cadges meals, drinks, and contributions to the Joe Gould Fund and who is writing a voluminous Oral History of the World, a record of 20,000 conversations he's overheard. Mitchell is fascinated with this Harvard grad and writes a 1942 piece about him, "Professor Seagull," bringing Gould some celebrity and an invitation to join the Greenwich Village Ravens, a poetry club he's often crashed. Gould's touchy, querulous personality and his frequent dropping in on Mitchell for hours of chat lead to a breakup, but the two Joes stay in touch until Gould's death and Mitchell's unveiling of the secret.

Cast List

Ian Holm
as Joe Gould
Stanley Tucci
as Joe Mitchell
Hope Davis
as Therese Mitchell
Sarah Hyland
as Elizabeth Mitchell
Hallee Hirsh
as Nora Mitchell
Celia Weston
as Sarah
Patrick Tovatt
as Harold Ross
Susan Sarandon
as Alice Neel
Patricia Clarkson
as Vivian Marquie
John Tormey
as Harry Kolis
Jack O'Connell
as Chef
Jerry Mayer
as Minetta Bartender
Nell Campbell
as Tamar (Hostess)
Ron Ryan
as Jack
Allan Corduner
as Francis McCrudden
Merwin Goldsmith
as Monsieur Gerard
Laura Hughes
as Dr. Kim Maxwell
Steve Martin
as Charlie Duell
James Hanlon
as Mike, Cop at Coffee Shop
David Wohl
as Max Gordon
Julie Halston
as Sadie Gordon
Aida Turturro
as Waitress
Alice Drummond
as Helen
Justine Johnston
as Mrs. Bagly
Gordon Joseph Weiss
as Man at Flophouse
Andre Belgrader
as Teddy
Gabor Morea
as Pawnbroker
Ben Shenkman
as David
Katy Hansz
as Margaret
Mark Casella
as Cop at the Building Site
Harry Bugin
as Anne
Lauren Ward
as Betty
Jessica Walling
as Phil (The Writer)
Ben Jones
as Southern Man at the Party
Peter Francis James
as Man at Party
Richard Litt
as Bartender
Tom Foral
as Man in Gallery
Leigh Carlson
as Janet
Hillary Hickam
as Greenwich Village Raven (uncredited)
Jon M. McDonnell
as Bar Patron (uncredited)