Liberty Heights is a 1999 comedy-drama film by writer-director Barry Levinson. It is a semi-autobiographical account of his childhood growing up in Baltimore in the 1950s. It is the fourth in Levinson's series of four "Baltimore Films" — Diner , Tin Men , Avalon , and Liberty Heights — all set in his hometown during the 1940s, '50s and '60s. In the fall of 1954, the Kurtzmans, a Jewish family, live in Forest Park, a suburban neighborhood in the northwest section of Baltimore. At the beginning of the film, Nate, the father, runs a burlesque theatre, and engages in a community... numbers racket. His wife Ada stays home and takes care of the household. Van, the older son, attends the University of Baltimore, while Ben is finishing his final year in high school. Ben meets Sylvia, an African-American girl, who begins attending his school after the district has been integrated. Ben immediately starts to develop feelings towards Sylvia, and introduces himself. The two become close based on a mutual love for Little Richard, James Brown, jazz musicians, and black comedians.
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| Release date: | November 17, 1999 |
| Directed by: | Barry Levinson |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 127 Minutes |
| Producer: | Barry Levinson, Paula Weinstein |
| Editor: | Stu Linder |
| Music by: | Andrea Morricone |
| Cinematography: | Christopher Doyle |
| Screenplay by: | Barry Levinson |
| Genre: | Comedy |