Born to Win (Crime, Drama, Dark Comedy, 1971)

The film blends Crime, Drama, and Comedy/Dark Comedy. It is often described as a tragicomedy that infuses moments of absurdist humor and "slapstick" into an otherwise bleak narrative about drug dependency and low-life hustling, which distinguishes it from purely serious drug dramas of the era like The Panic in Needle Park.
The story centers on Jerome "J" (also called Jay Jay), a former hairdresser who has fallen into the life of a heroin junkie in Times Square. His life revolves around committing petty crimes and running errands for his drug dealer, Vivian "The Geek", just to afford his next fix. J is pathetic but retains a superficial charm, despite the "Born to Win" tattoo on his arm being a bitter contradiction to his reality.

The plot kicks off when J meets Parm, a free-spirited, off-beat young woman, while attempting to steal her car. Instead of calling the police, she is intrigued by his street life and begins a complicated, doomed romance with him.

J's situation spirals further when he and his junkie friend Billy Dynamite are caught by two plainclothes narcotics detectives, one of whom is Danny. Under threat of a long jail term, J is forced to become a narc (police informant) to set up The Geek. Caught between the relentless police and the menacing dealer, J becomes increasingly desperate, struggling with his self-hatred and his all-consuming addiction.

The film follows J's desperate attempts to get clean with Parm's help, his inevitable relapse, and the tragic consequences for those around him, ultimately leaving his fate ambiguous and dark.

Main Cast

George Segal as Jerome "J": The charming but self-destructive heroin addict and protagonist.

Karen Black as Parm: The eccentric, free-spirited girl who falls in love with J.

Paula Prentiss as Veronica: J's estranged wife, who is also a drug addict and works as a prostitute.

Héctor Elizondo as Vivian "The Geek": J's sinister and intimidating drug dealer.

Jay Fletcher as Billy Dynamite: J's junkie friend and partner in petty crime.

Robert De Niro as Danny: One of the undercover narcotics cops who pressures J to become an informant (an early, small, but memorable role for the actor).