Joe Gould's Secret

The story

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

I Ian HolmJoe Gould S Stanley TucciJoe Mitchell H Hope DavisTherese Mitchell S Sarah HylandElizabeth Mitchell H Hallee HirshNora Mitchell C Celia WestonSarah P Patrick TovattHarold Ross S Susan SarandonAlice Neel P Patricia ClarksonVivian Marquie J John TormeyHarry Kolis J Jack A. O'ConnellChef J Jerry MayerMinetta Bartender

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N Nell CampbellTamar (Hostess) R Ron RyanJack A Allan CordunerFrancis McCrudden M Merwin GoldsmithMonsieur Gerard L Laura HughesDr. Kim Maxwell S Steve MartinCharlie Duell J James HanlonMike, Cop at Coffee Shop D David WohlMax Gordon J Julie HalstonSadie Gordon A Aida TurturroWaitress A Alice DrummondHelen J Justine JohnstonMrs. Bagly G Gordon Joseph WeissMan at Flophouse A Andre BelgraderTeddy G Gabor MoreaPawnbroker B Ben ShenkmanDavid K Katy HanszMargaret M Mark CasellaCop at the Building Site H Harry BuginAnne L Lauren WardBetty J Jessica WallingPhil (The Writer) B Ben JonesSouthern Man at the Party P Peter Francis JamesMan at Party R Richard LittBartender T Tom ForalMan in Gallery L Leigh CarlsonJanet H Hillary HickamGreenwich Village Raven (uncredited) J Jon M. McDonnellBar Patron (uncredited)