Reviews

This is a movie I never forgot, nor the actor Dan Duryea. Every time I see Dan Duryea in a movie, I always remember the movie "Chicago Calling". If I remember correctly, I first saw the movie in the late 50's; and being ten or eleven years old, was very sad to see a father trying so hard to get his phone back on so as to be able to get word from his wife, that she and their son were going to be okay after a car accident. The accident with the little dog made it even sadder. It's nice to know, though, that there are good people working for the telephone company, as was the character that played the part of the telephone man sent to disconnect the phone, but is nice enough to make sure a man waiting for a call from a loved one that was involved in an accident, is given an an opportunity to connect and not be disconnected, like what happens to many of us when we are late in paying our telephone bill. Gee, I really would like to see this movie again.

If you did not serve in the military, don't bash this movie as did Boojob.357. Many of us that served in Viet Nam appreciate a movie like this.It shows how the enemy, too, bravely fought, and what war can do to both sides, especially the families. Those that dislike this movie, are those that would never serve to protect America, as did many of our politicians, whom back then were draft dodgers. Don't talk the talk, if you've never walked the walk. Besides, this movie gives us Hispanics [ like Puerto Ricans], credit for serving our country; not like "Saving Private Ryan", where Hollywood forgot that we Hispanics have proudly served, and many have been awarded the "Congressional Medal of Honor" I'm proud to say that I served with the 5/7 A Company, and 2/7 D Company, 1966-67, and a combat wounded veteran.

A Frank Serpico, Bo Dietl is not. Frank Serpico served in Korea while in the Army, and is a true hero cop. I know for a fact that "Paco" is affable and courteous to all, be it a beggar out on the streets, or the average Joe blow. He is what I call the real McCoy! Please check out comments on "Serpico."

The real Frank Serpico is a gentleman and a scholar. He treats people with respect, be it a beggar on the street or your average Joe blow. Unlike Bo Dietl "One Tough Cop," Frank Serpico is the real McCoy. I've had the honor to meet him and found him to be friendly and an affable caring man. He does not brush you away and pretend you don't exist like Mr. Bo Dietl does to people that do not interest him or his career. Frank Serpico never let all the publicity go to his head as did...you know who. When the going gets tough and dangerous...I want Frank Serpico , who not only served his country in Korea, but was a true hero cop, by my side.

If I may add one more short comment: When this movie was made, Mr. Bo Dietl; Stephen Baldwin; Chris Penn; the producers, and director...'Jumped the shark'... Hollywood jargon for a show or actor going downhill in his/her career.

I read the book and saw the movie. I guess the old adage: "It's not what you know, but who you know" applies here. I personally know a lot of true cop heroes, whom are both men and women, that would make this movie look like a Mickey Mouse cartoon flick if their stories were told.

It's about time a war movie like "We were soldiers" was made. Other movies like "Saving Private Ryan" kept us Latinos and blacks from being seen as we fought for our country [the good old U.S.A.]. Being of Puerto Rican descent, and one who served in Viet Nam "66-'67 with the First Air Cavalry Air Mobile 5/7, 2/7, and wounded with the 2/7 D Company, I felt proud at the end of the movie, knowing every ethnic group that fought in the war was recognized. There are those [very few though] that do not like this movie, and say it was not worth watching. Well, they were either draft dodgers back then or people that are not in support of what America is doing now to protect ourselves from the terrorists who hate everything America stands for. I speak for all Americans that have served and fought for their country. You talked the talk and walked the walk. God Bless America and Garry Owen!

Shame on the company that made this movie sham. The book at least tell a better story as far as being a bit more honest and no real shoot'em up, even though I found some exaggeration on Mr. Bo Dietl's way of telling of his exploits[ a word, if I may add, that can be taken in two different ways], like always fighting off bad guys with knives, mano a mano. You can fool some of the people most of the times, but you can not fool the NYPD cops, or for that matter, cops in general. This movie should not be saying that it is based on a true story. The only true incident was the rape of the nun. But the apprehension of the two young men that committed this heinous crime was not the way it happened. Read the book and see what I mean. For one tough cop, Mr. Dietl should have told Hollywood about his other exploits as an NYPD cop. Apparently those stories did not merit being put into the script. So what happens? Fiction with a childhood friend of Bo's that becomes a mafia made man. To add insult to injury, another mafia made man goes after Bo's partner. Never happened. One tough cop? tsk, tsk, tsk, I don't think so.

I've watched a few episodes of the '54-'58 Jeff's Collie [Lassie] and it brought back some good child memories. Being Hispanic and living in New York City, I fantasized how nice it would be to live in the midwest, on a farm, where I could go out with a friend like Porky, on our bicycles, and do the things they did like going fishing, and having a great dog like Lassie to watch over us. I would hear how they greeted each other with what I believe was "Aquie! Aquie!" Which in Spanish means over here, over here. Next time anyone watches the show, listen to their greeting, aquie, aquie, and see if I'm right. Sorry to hear that Tommy Rettig [Jeff Miller] past away. I'll be looking for Joey D. Veira's [Porky Brockway] movies, to see what he looks like as an adult. I know what John Provost [Timmy Martin] looks like. Thanks to the TV network/s, and IMD.com, for helping us walk down memory lane.

I found this made for TV movie with too many ridiculous scenes. A police detective's wife is kidnapped, and he later asks ex-cop, now private investigator [Spenser] to investigate, and find his wife.

In one scene, the detective responds to a 911 call where Spenser is force to shoot a man that had threatened his girlfriend with a knife. Upon arriving, the detective seems to have a condescending and unfriendly attitude towards Spenser.

The detective who is later laid in a hospital bed after being shot by the kidnapper, tells Spenser to find the shooter and waste him. This scene does not make sense as do others that follow, which I will not get into so as not to spoil it for those who want to see this drama of a movie. It's as if the script was rushed without proper technical advice, or scenes just made up as they went along. For those who do see this movie, I'm sure many will agree with my critique.

Being that I was not at the scene when Frank Serpico was shot in Brooklyn, New York, and the fact that I have received evidence of police- misconduct by more or less hearing it from the horse's mouth, I set the record straight and apologize to Frank Serpico. This apology comes from one that has seen more than his share. Take care Frank.

I saw this movie when I was about eleven or twelve- years-old, and felt sad about Lloyd Bridges dying and being left behind. I also felt sad for James Edwards who was suffering for the loss of his friend. His suffering is what they call to day "PTSD" Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I saw the movie again a few months ago and still find it to be a great and poignant movie. Here are two men; one white and the other black,who deep inside see no color, but love for their fellow man and brother. I can attest to that, for being a combat wounded Viet Nam Vet, I saw how soldiers who were white,black,brown,etc. cried for one another when death was upon them. As God knows my heart, I love this movie and thank those that had the courage to first put it out there and to the great cast.

Just a correction to one of the comments. This movie was not immediately or about the period just after "The Bay of Pigs" The Bay of Pigs was in '61 or'62 as I recall. I don't have time to check at the moment. But in any case, it took place in 1980, when Castro let many people from the town of "Mariel"[ the majority of whom were good people] leave Cuba. But he was slick and opened up the prisons, letting out vicious criminals he could no longer feed, and sent them to the GOOD OLD Old USA. These criminal were called or referred to, particularly by law- enforcement, as "Marielitos" because they came from Mariel. As Joe Friday in Dragnet would say: "Just the facts, Mam. Just the facts."

I saw this movie as a young boy,and at the time I was very naive as to what they meant by "Big Brother" Many people to day, in particular the young, do not know the real meaning to Big Brother. Another name for it is the "New World Order" As in the Bible,you will have a noticeable stamp on your body in order to buy food or what have you. And your whereabouts will be monitored. And for this reason, I've NEVER forgotten this movie. It's a must see film by those that are as naive as I was,when I was a young boy.

My son rented "Saving Private Ryan" last night and I watched it even though I had no real interest to do so, because I had heard that Steven Spielberg forgot to include a Black or Hispanic in the movie. If he did his homework he would see that during one of these major invasions, a Black medic was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for treating other wounded soldiers though he himself was constantly being wounded as he kept going from soldier to soldier.One thing, though, in the beginning of the movie while the old man is visiting the grave of his fallen comrade, you can see the real name of a Hispanic soldier by the name of Martinez or Ramirez as I recall, on one of the cross. I guess Steven Spielberg over looked that one. On another note, others have commented about our allies not being in this movie, and I can understand why Spielberg did what he did but, keeping us other Americans out is a disgrace to all those Blacks and Hispanics that fought and died for this great Country of ours. If I was to meet Mr. Movie Maker himself, I would ask him: "Hey,what happened to us Blacks and Hispanics?" And if anyone else out there feels that what I'm saying is a crock of s***, well, all I have to say is that I'm a Vietnam Combat Wounded Veteran and a Hispanic at that. I know what combat is and the fear that goes through your mind as you look for the enemy in the jungle, and more when you find him. You find yourself doing things you would never have imagined, and how close you become to other soldiers, whether they are black,red,brown, white or green. I must honestly say,though, that I did enjoy the movie and felt sad when ever a soldier was killed, for I've been there. But being that this movie was to Honor The World War Two Veterans,along with all other veterans,we forgive you Spielberg.

Like Substitute 1: This was also a DUMB movie. A lot of shooting and killing in a school, and yet NO cops around. Boy,what's going on? can't movie makers come up with some good movies anymore? And a lot of these movies are copy-cats. What? No good writers around to come up with some decent original story to put on film?

Based on a true story, "The Prince of the City" is about this NYPD Detective working narcotics, and how he turned crooked because he believed everybody else was doing it anyway, and then how he wound up fighting corruption or something and all the stuff that happened to him because of that. Anyhow, that's how they presented it in the movie. What really happened was that this cop got his tallywhacker caught in a crack, and then he got himself out of this tight place by turning in a bunch of other cops who weren't nearly as dirty as he was. There wasn't a damned bit of altruism in it--but Hell, you know Hollywood.

After reading Robert Leuci's [ the real prince of the city] new book "All The Centurions" which came out this July 2005, I've had a change of heart as to how I feel about him. I find him to be an idealist man that cares about people, and was once a good cop that tried to do the right thing, but was pulled into a cesspool of a corrupt legal system. As a young street cop he could relate to those that lived in the ghetto, and never looked down on them as if he were better... This is something he learned from his Italian father. He was not one to use the word spic or the N-word when dealing with those of other ethnic background, as some white cops--not all-- at times would do. As a young rookie cop in the mean streets of the concrete jungle, he felt as I once felt as a cop: a prince in shining armor protecting the innocent against a predator that would devour them. Read his book and see what I mean. PS: Tallywhacker is slang for penis. Also hope my new added comments are updated to the present page -Joe Sanchez Picon

I'm not trying to take anything away from Frank Serpico, But when you go up to a tough tenement apartment, be it in the Bronx, Brooklyn, or where ever, and your attire is less than a police uniform, even less, you look like a "Mugger" You don't knock on the door of a drug dealer, and say,"Oye, Dame algo." Which in Spanish means,"Listen, give me something." And then when the door is opened you try to force your way in by Yelling, "Police!" It only takes a second or two for the bad guy to react in a situation like that. What I believe happened was that the drug dealer was spooked and let one shot go. By the time Serpico's other partners whom the movie show closely near him can react, he is wounded in the face. In reality there was only speculation as to the possibility of the other officers not reacting fast enough. This scene was greatly embellished to captivate the audience's further opinion and make Serpico a living "Martyr" I respect him for his integrity, but I must say that I read in his web-site, where he states, "I have more trust in the Mafia than the Police, because the Mafia are not Wolves, in Sheep's clothing." No way JOSE! There are many cops that should not be on the job, particularly high ranking officers; let us not always blame the cop on the beat, but there are many,many good and honest cops that risk their lives every day for you and I. The Mafia is insidious. God forbid! if one day Serpico finds himself in a dangerous situation that he cannot get out of. Who is he going to call? 911? or the Mafia? Again, I'm not trying to take anything away from this man, but let's use some common sense here.

As a young boy growing up in New York City, My brothers and I LOVED watching the "Amos 'n' Andy" show. They should show it when ever possible. I know it's on tape but it deserves to be seen on tv. When I watch it,I see it as good actors performing their skills, not as a stereotype race. It was seen like that many years ago by those who felt attacked by the show, but we are in a new era. The Show opened the doors for the now successful black comedy shows.

I NEVER did like the tv series,"mod Squad" I don't mind watching fiction police movies,but having unarmed young people running around playing cop, is beyond fiction. And from what I've been reading from other comments [which I find are funny and entertaining],NO Way Jose am I watching this movie. Then again, if I want a laugh or two,I may just invite some friends over and show them what Hollywood thinks the new generation of cops should be like.

I've always Liked watching Audie Murphy's movies since I was a child. I guess it also had to do with the fact that he had that baby face. Being a combat wounded Viet Nam vet, I can relate to his ordeal during and after the war. This man was a caring man who thought of others. Like many other "Medal of Honor" winners; he like the others are not the movie RAMBO hero. They Are "THE REAL McCOYS" It's ironic, though. His last movie in 1971 was called "A time for dying"[A Jesse James movie.] In that same year he died in a small plane crash. A friend of his had once said," all those Germans could not kill him,yet a plane crash near home took his life." My last words are, "May he be with the Lord."

This has to be the most STUPIDEST movie I ever saw that I still remember it from the first time I saw it while back from Viet Nam in'67,and stationed in Ft. Stewart,Georgia for three months awaiting my discharge. To see Jesse James' side-kick was it his brother?],turned into a monster with all those stitches on his head was so ridiculous that it was not even comical. That movie was "SO BAD" that even though I've stated that it was not even comical,every time I do think about it and tell someone, I laugh... I guess I'd have to see it again to see if maybe I've misjudged this movie. You see, I had been wounded in Nam and had suffered some concussion from a VC hand grenade. Maybe what I was seeing wasn't what I was seeing. Nah![Laugh].

I know a bit about Spanish Harlem, where this supposedly fiction movie was filmed in. What I recall is a fugitive by the name of Robles who had a lot of "COJONES", and was wanted not only in New York City,but in Puerto Rico. Robles did a James Cagney imitation when trapped inside a tenement apartment. He challenged the NYPD Cops, by saying,"come and get me coppers!" A gun fight ensued. Now what they did with the book, and the movie is another story. I like Richard Widmark,and did like the movie,but there was no need for one or two sub-plots. Also I must comment that the part of the bad guy should have been played by a Hispanic actor,being that in reality that's where the writer got his Idea from.

Being Hispanic I've always remembered the movie,"Man Who Knew too Much",due to the fact that I saw it in 1960 when I was about 13-years-old, and lived in the Bronx, New York City; and Doris Day sang: "Quesera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not us to see, quesera, sera. What will be, will be. I cannot recall if I've seen it since, but I do remember that I did enjoy watching it back then.

In the "Devil's Advocate" Al Pacino says, "Vanity is my Favorite sin." So it applies to writer/actor,Chris Noth. I know Staten Island. For him to write a story where he is bored because he is investigating petty crimes is ridiculous. Staten Island has its share of homicides, rapes, robberies,serious assaults...and what have you. And for him to be in every shot of the movie is true vanity. Also he should have written it in the script to have Detective Curtis respond with him in order to properly interview the Spanish speaking maid in the hotel when he was inquiring about the old mattress which was removed due to all the victim's blood on it. If he is to continue to write and star in police stories, in particular in big city departments, I suggest he get off his high horse, and tell it the way it is.