The Balcony is a 1963 film adaptation of the 1957 play of the same name by Jean Genet, directed by Joseph Strick and starring Shelley Winters, Peter Falk, and Lee Grant. The supporting cast includes Peter Brocco, Jeff Corey, Ruby Dee, and Leonard Nimoy.
In an unidentified city, Madam Irma (Winters) satisfies the erotic fantasies of her customers at her high-end brothel, while a revolution is sweeping the nation.
This film provides examples of:
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: George in his speech says that "jaywalking will be crushed."
- Banana Republic: Played with. The country is said to be in the tropics but none of the characters have a Spanish accent.
- Corrupt Church: The man pretending to be the Bishop is actually a gas station attendant. He likes his prostitute to pretend to be a penitent.
- Da Chief: George. He likes the Madam to pretend to be the Queen.
- The Generalissimo: Played by Kent Smith. He likes his prostitute to pretend to be a horse.
- La Résistance: Roger
- Miss Kitty: Madam Irma
- Rousing Speech: George gives one over the radio to the citizens of the fictional nation.
- Stern Old Judge: He likes his prostitute to pretend to be a thief. Peter Procco's character has no individual name. None of the three impersonators have names. There is symbolism in this. Anyone who is in such a position of authority is not known by their name but by their position.
