Jan Kadar's strange Jewish fable is based on a Bernard Malamud short story that's pretty weak (and kind of racist). But Kadar and the writers re-invent the story and make it something special. Zero Mostel gets a chance to show how good a dramatic actor he was, and Harry Belafonte also shines as the atypical angel, sent to help Mostel, a wretched New York tailor. There are a few "arty" touches that haven't aged well, but the film is fascinating and haunting. Bonus points for the bizarre score.

Holds up well with time.

A slightly muddled affair, but still a hidden gem. Co-written by Bill Gunn based on a novel by Malamud, it's half magical-realistic yiddish fairytale, half existential blaxploitation, with the title character a deceased hustler wondering what has he done with his life. The relationship he forms with the bitter jewish elder he's sent to save is fascinating. Kadar uses fluid, late 60's New-York camera movements, and the superb hallucinatory music that accompanies it make for a unique experience.