Honest straight-arrow cop Vince Newman (adroitly played with right-on world-weary conviction by George Peppard) has both his job and integrity threatened after he uncovers an international drug ring that several high-ranking police officers are involved with.
Directed with utmost taut efficiency by Richard T. Heffron, with a compact script by Anthony Wilson, an absorbing story that unfolds at a constant pace, nice use of various seedy locations, crisp cinematography by Vilis Lapenieks, a gritty downbeat tone complete with an uncompromisingly grim ending, a groovy dissonant bluesy'n'jazzy score by Robert Prince, a vivid evocation of a certain plausibly drab'n'seamy workaday reality, and a few exciting and expertly staged action set pieces (a shootout in a sprawling department store in particular seriously smokes in no uncertain terms), this shamefully neglected little pip totally hits the supremely funky'n'cynical 70's cop movie spot.
The sound acting by the capable cast further keeps this picture humming: Roger Robinson as Newman's loyal partner Garry, Eugene Roche as shifty superior Reardon, Gordon Pinsent as eager D.A. Jack Eastman, Abe Vigoda as fearsome mobster John Dellanzia, Michael Lerner as wormy lawyer Frank Acker, Louis Zorich as slippery Mafia capo Frank Lo Falcone, Victor Campos as decent flatfoot Peter Jimenez, Mel Stewart as tough drug kingpin Quist, Teddy Wilson as sniveling pusher Jaycee, Marlene Clark as Garry's sweet wife Edie, and Pat Anderson as foxy model informant Sharon. Well worth a watch.
Directed with utmost taut efficiency by Richard T. Heffron, with a compact script by Anthony Wilson, an absorbing story that unfolds at a constant pace, nice use of various seedy locations, crisp cinematography by Vilis Lapenieks, a gritty downbeat tone complete with an uncompromisingly grim ending, a groovy dissonant bluesy'n'jazzy score by Robert Prince, a vivid evocation of a certain plausibly drab'n'seamy workaday reality, and a few exciting and expertly staged action set pieces (a shootout in a sprawling department store in particular seriously smokes in no uncertain terms), this shamefully neglected little pip totally hits the supremely funky'n'cynical 70's cop movie spot.
The sound acting by the capable cast further keeps this picture humming: Roger Robinson as Newman's loyal partner Garry, Eugene Roche as shifty superior Reardon, Gordon Pinsent as eager D.A. Jack Eastman, Abe Vigoda as fearsome mobster John Dellanzia, Michael Lerner as wormy lawyer Frank Acker, Louis Zorich as slippery Mafia capo Frank Lo Falcone, Victor Campos as decent flatfoot Peter Jimenez, Mel Stewart as tough drug kingpin Quist, Teddy Wilson as sniveling pusher Jaycee, Marlene Clark as Garry's sweet wife Edie, and Pat Anderson as foxy model informant Sharon. Well worth a watch.