Downtrodden writer Henry and distressed goddess Wanda aren’t exactly husband and wife: they’re wedded to their bar stools. But they like each other’s company- and Barfly captures their giddy, gin-soaked attempts to make a go of life on the skids.

Rachel arrives in New York from her Amish community intent on becoming a dancer. Unfortunately Billy Minsky’s Burlesque is hardly the place for her Dances From The Bible. But the show’s comedian Raymond sees a way of wrong-footing the local do-gooders by announcing the new Paris sensation “Mme Fifi” and putting on Rachel’s performance as the place is raided. All too complicated, the more so since her father is scouring the town for her and both Raymond and his straight-man Chick are falling for Rachel.