A gallery of characters in Brooklyn in the 1950s are crushed by their surroundings and selves: a union strike leader discovers he is gay; a prostitute falls in love with one of her clients; a family cannot cope with the fact that their daughter is illegitimately pregnant.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Stephen LangHarry Black | Harry Black |
 Jennifer Jason LeighTralala | Tralala |
 Burt YoungBig Joe | Big Joe |
 Peter DobsonVinnie | Vinnie |
 Christopher MurneyPaulie | Paulie |
 Jerry OrbachBoyce | Boyce |
 Alexis ArquetteGeorgette | Georgette |
 Stephen BaldwinSal | Sal |
 John CostelloeTommy | Tommy |
| CCameron JohannSpook | Spook |
 Ricki LakeDonna | Donna |
 Frank MilitarySteve | Steve |
 Camille SaviolaElla | Ella |
| BBernard ZetteRegina | Regina |
 Jason AndrewsTony | Tony |
 James LorinzFreddy | Freddy |
 Sam RockwellAl | Al |
 Maia DanzigerMary Black | Mary Black |
| FFrankie AcciaritoEddie | Eddie |
| LLisa PasseroTeresa | Teresa |
| MMike CicchettiBrickowski | Brickowski |
 Nicholas J. GiangiulioStump | Stump |
| RRobi MartinGoldie | Goldie |
| SSarah RoseRosie | Rosie |
| JJulian AlexonCamille | Camille |
 Robert WeilAlex | Alex |
 Mark Boone JuniorWillie | Willie |
| SSylvie SpectorSubmarine Annie | Submarine Annie |
 Colleen FlynnRuthie | Ruthie |
 David WarshofskyMike | Mike |