Toback Vs. Mailer: The Incident

Betting, boxing, and boozing.

Toback Vs. Mailer: The Incident — Plot

Directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, this punchy short features James Toback recounting a bizarre, years-long rivalry sparked by a drunken argument with Norman Mailer over bourbon versus Scotch—an ego duel that escalates from boozy barbs to a tense Jets–Browns stare-down and a few jabs to the gut. A brisk, first-person tale of bravado, celebrity circles, and the fine line between literary legend and street-corner scuffle.

• Release date
• November 23, 2016
• Runtime
• 6 min
• Genres
• Documentary, Animation
• Director
• Josh Safdie

Toback Vs. Mailer: The Incident — Cast

James Toback Self (voice)

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Michael Chaiken Self (voice) Hailey Benton Gates (voice) Larry Sloman (voice)

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Jacob Perlin (voice) Buddy Duress The Waiter (voice)