Set in 1948 Montreal in a Jewish ghetto, a young Dreyfuss gives an excellent performance as the title character who suffers through years of self-abuse in an effort to become something of substance. Constantly reinforcing the low self-image created by his peers, Kravitz entertains thoughts of riches and glamour. His failed entrepreneurial efforts lead him not to success as he hopes but alienate him from those who can help.

Driven, determined, scheming, and manipulative, Duddy Kravitz breathes life into many of the negative Jewish stereotypes. Yet somehow, we root for the rascally Duddy, played with humor and vigor by a young Richard Dreyfuss.

Duddy's program for prosperity begins with a job at a Jewish resort, where he has a romance with a French Canadian chambermaid. With her help, he embarks on a plan to buy land, so that he can build a lakeside community and give his zeyde, his grandfather, the farm he longs for. In order to pay for the land, Duddy pursues several schemes, lending comedy and tragedy to the story.

Morey Altman's Essential Jewish Film List