The Prisoner of Second Avenue is an American black comedy play by Neil Simon, later made into a film released in 1975. The play ran on Broadway from November 1971 until September 1973, with Peter Falk and Lee Grant starring as Mel and Edna Edison, and Vincent Gardenia as Mel’s brother Harry. The play was nominated for the 1972 Tony Award for Best Play. It was produced for the stage by Saint Subber.
The film version of The Prisoner of Second Avenue stars Jack Lemmon, Anne Bancroft and Gene Saks. It was produced and directed by Melvin Frank from a screenplay by Simon. The story revolves around the escalating problems of a middle-aged couple living on Second Avenue on the Upper East Side of New York City.
Mel Edison has just lost his job after many years and now has to cope with being unemployed at middle age. The action occurs during an intense summer heat wave and a prolonged garbage strike, which just exacerbates Edison’s plight to no end as he and his wife Edna deal with noisy neighbors, loud sounds emanating from Manhattan streets up to their apartment and even a robbery of their apartment during broad daylight.
Mel eventually suffers a nervous breakdown from the whole affair, and it is up to the loving care of his brother Harry, his sisters and Edna to bring Mel back to a firm reality.
Sylvester Stallone made one of his earliest film appearances as an alleged pickpocket.
Summary via Wikipedia.