The Panic in Needle Park (1971) - Bobby

The Panic in Needle Park is Al Pacino's second film appearance. The film is a portrayal of heroin addicts life who hang out in "Needle Park" in New York City. The story was adapted from James Mills' series of articles in Life. A tale of love story between Bobby (Al Pacino), a young heroin addict and small-time hustler, and Helen (Kitty Winn), a restless woman who finds Bobby charismatic.

The Panic in Needle Park seem more documentary than fictious story. No music was used in the film to set the atmosphere of "real life". Additionally, the entire film shot with unfocused techniques and photographed in moving cinéma vérité-style. The Panic in Needle Park is believed to have been the first mainstream film to show actual drug injection. As a result, the film refused a certificate in the UK for four years because of its graphic depiction of drug-taking.

The Panic in Needle Park was directed by Jerry Schatzberg, and the screenplay was written by Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne. Francis Ford Coppola showed this movie to Paramount executives in order to convince them that Al Pacino was suitable for the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972). Kitty Winn won the Best Actress Award at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival for her portrayal of Helen.