Even though Hollywood is on the left coast, there may be no other police department to grace the silver screen more than the NYPD. There is something about New York, and the largest police department in the world that lends itself to some great cinema. The NYPD has filled its history with characters, horrific crimes, great police work, and unfortunately some corruption. All combine to create some great stories to tell.
There may have been no period more prolific than the 1970’s for NYPD films. The department was awash is a massive corruption scandal with the Knapp Commission in the headlines for months. Reformers like Commissioner Patrick Murphy garnered media attention. NYPD cops were going on strike. Crime was skyrocketing, seemingly unchecked, and stories of heroism abounded in that never ending fight. The New York Mafia went public with Joe Columbo’s Italian League and the Second Columbo War. Hollywood was interested, and they delivered some great cinema.
What is your favorite 70’s NYPD film? Take a look at some options (Substack limits us to 5 selections on polling) and pick your favorite. Please leave a comment if we missed a classic that you love.
Across 110th Street (1972)
Anthony Quinn stars as an aging NYPD Detective Captain trying to solve the homicide of NYPD cops. He is a product of the old way of policing - corrupt and violent. He is facing a department in flux where professionalism is replacing the end of a nightstick. Can he solve his biggest case in the new era of crime and policing?
Serpico (1973)
Al Pacino is Frank Serpico - the famous whistleblower that put a spotlight on institutional NYPD corruption. Serpico and Sergeant David Durk take on the NYPD brass, corrupt cops, and city hall to deliver a blow to misconduct in the criminal justice system.
The Seven-Ups (1973)
Roy Scheider plays Detective Buddy Manucci, the leader of a team of crack detectives that go after serious crimes. They only go after convictions that garner terms of 7 years and up - hence the name. Famed Detective Sonny Grasso wrote the screenplay for this gem.
The French Connection (1971)
Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider team up to portray Detectives Eddie Egan and Sonny Grasso (under pseudonyms) investigating what became the biggest drug bust in NYC history. The French Connection has one of the great police car chases of all time. Ironically this film was the death knell for Egan’s career as jealousy within the department led to some specious charges against him.
The Taking of Pelham 123 (1974)
Walter Matthau is New York Transit Police Lieutenant Zachary Garber. He is working when a subway car leaves the Pelham Avenue Station at 1:23 pm. The train in question is hijacked by a colorful team of criminals (see Reservoir Dogs for a tribute). Matthau must negotiate with this group of desperados to save the kidnapped straphangers.
Interested in seeing your votes - it’s a tough choice. Use the comments with your reasons and any movie you thought should have been included in the poll.
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I choose Taking of Pelham 123 because my husband was a transit cop.
This was a really hard decision to make. Every movie is a classic NYPD flick.