Serpico
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| Serpico | |
|---|---|
 Original Film Poster |
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| Directed by | Sidney Lumet John G. Avildsen |
| Produced by | Dino De Laurentiis Roger M. Rothstein Martin Bregman |
| Written by | Peter Maas (book) Waldo Salt Norman Wexler Sidney Kingsley |
| Starring | Al Pacino John Randolph Tony Roberts Bernard Barrow M. Emmet Walsh |
| Music by | Mikis Theodorakis Giacomo Puccini |
| Cinematography | Arthur J. Ornitz |
| Editing by | Dede Allen Richard Marks Ronald Roose Angelo Corrao |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | December 5, 1973 (USA) |
| Running time | 130 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | 1,000,000 |
| IMDb profile | |
For other uses, see Serpico (disambiguation).
Serpico is a 1973 English language film based on the true story of New York City policeman Frank Serpico who eventually went undercover to expose the corruption of his fellow officers, after being pushed to the brink at first by their distrust and later by the threats and intimidation they leveled against him. It stars Al Pacino, John Randolph and Tony Roberts.
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[edit] Summary
The film opens with Frank Serpico (Al Pacino) slumped in the backseat of a police car, covered in blood as it races to a hospital with lights and sirens blaring. He has just been shot. The rest of the movie is essentially a flashback. It follows Serpico as he becomes a police officer in 1960. He is very idealistic and believes in non-brutal methods to catch criminals. Serpico also refuses to join in on police corruption.
Serpico begins to appeal to his bosses about the corruption, but gets nowhere. He enlists a fellow officer, Bob Blair (Tony Roberts) in his fight against corruption, but still faces it. It eventually leads to his breakup with Laurie (Barbara Eda-Young). After a transfer, Serpico is shot in a drug bust and is seriously injured, because his bitter colleagues did not come to his rescue.
At the end of the film, Serpico testifies to the Knapp Commission on police corruption.
[edit] Production
The real-life Frank Serpico wished to be present during the filming of the movie based on his life. Initially he was permitted to stay but was eventually dismissed from the filming by director Sidney Lumet after making him and the other actors (including lead actor Al Pacino) nervous.
The story was filmed in the streets of New York City. Frank Serpico's former residence at 5-7 Minetta St. between Perry and Greenwich in Manhattan's Greenwich Village was used in the movie. A total of 105 different locations in four of the five boroughs of New York City were used. No filming took place in Staten Island.
Prior to any work on the movie, producer Martin Bregman had lunch with biographical book author Peter Maas to discuss a film adaptation. Waldo Salt, a screenwriter, began to write the script which director Sidney Lumet deemed to be too long. Another screenwriter, Norman Wexler , did the structural work followed by play lines. Screenwriter Sidney Kingsley also wrote and did structural work on the script.
Director John G. Avildsen was originally slated to direct the movie, but was demoted to assistant director due to differences with producer Bregman. Sidney Lumet took the helm as director just before filming.
Woodie King Jr., originally cast as a hoodlum, was replaced after suffering a broken leg while filming a chase scene for this movie. He returned to the set two months later to play Leslie's friend Larry in the party scene.
The movie was adapted by Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler from the biographical book of the same title written by Peter Maas. It was directed by Sidney Lumet. The original music theme has been composed by Mikis Theodorakis and its Greek name is Dromoi Palaioi.
It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Al Pacino) and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.
Serpico is considered by many to be a classic film. Pacino's performance in the movie is widely considered as one of his best. His role as Frank Serpico is ranked at 40# on the American Film Institutes "100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains" list. The film is also ranked at 84# on the American Film Institutes "100 Years... 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies" list.
Serpico was made into a 1976 television series starring David Birney. There was also a movie made in the same year, called Serpico The Deadly Game also starring Birney.
[edit] Firearms
For the first half of the movie, Serpico carried a Smith & Wesson six-shot revolver in .38 Special caliber. For the second half, he carried a Browning Hi-Power Mk.II with a 13-round magazine in 9 mm Luger Parabellum caliber.
[edit] Cast and Crew
- Al Pacino .... Officer Frank Serpico
- John Randolph .... Chief Sidney Green
- Jack Kehoe .... Tom Keough
- Biff McGuire .... Capt. Insp. McClain
- Barbara Eda-Young .... Laurie
- Cornelia Sharpe .... Leslie Lane
- Tony Roberts .... Bob Blair
- John Medici .... Pasquale
- Allan Rich .... Dist. Atty. Herman Tauber
- Norman Ornellas .... Don Rubello
- Edward Grover .... Insp. Lombardo (as Ed Grover)
- Albert Henderson .... Peluce (as Al Henderson)
- Hank Garrett .... Malone
- Damien Leake .... Joey
- Joseph Bova .... Potts (as Joe Bova)
- Gene Gross .... Capt. Tolkin
- John Stewart .... Waterman
- Woodie King Jr. .... Larry (as Woodie King)
- James Tolkan .... Lt. Steiger (as James Tolkin)
- Ed Crowley .... Barto
- Bernard Barrow .... Insp. Roy Palmer
- Sal Carollo .... Mr. Serpico
- Mildred Clinton .... Mrs. Serpico
- Nathan George .... Lt. Nate Smith
- Gus Fleming .... Dr. Metz
- Richard Foronjy .... Rudy Corsaro
- Alan North .... Brown
- Lewis J. Stadlen .... Jerry Berman
- John McQuade .... Insp. Kellogg
- Ted Beniades .... Al Sarno
- John Lehne .... Insp. Gilbert
- M. Emmet Walsh .... Chief Gallagher
- George Ede .... Deputy Chief Insp. Daley
- Charles White .... Commissioner Delaney
- F. Murray Abraham .... Detective partner
- Don Billett .... Detective threatening Serpico
- Raleigh Bond .... Detective partner
- John Brandon .... Police lieutenant
- James Bulleit .... Det. Styles
- Roy Cheverie .... Cop
- Sam Coppola .... Cop
- Marjorie Eliot .... Rape Victim
- René Enríquez .... Cervantes teacher
- Frank Gio .... Police lieutenant
- Trent Gough .... Cop
- Paul E. Guskin .... Police Academy classmate
- Judd Hirsch .... Cop
- Richard Kuss .... Detective
- Tony Lo Bianco .... Cop
- George Loros .... Det. Glover
- Kenneth McMillan .... Charlie
- Stephen Pearlman .... Desk sergeant
- Tim Pelt .... Black hood
- William Pelt .... Black hood
- Jaime Sánchez .... Cop
- Franklin Scott .... Black prisoner
- Tom Signorelli .... Bookmaker
- Tracey Walter .... Street Urchin
- Mary Louise Weller .... Girl
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
12 Angry Men • Stage Struck • That Kind of Woman • The Fugitive Kind • A View from the Bridge • Long Day's Journey Into Night • The Pawnbroker • Fail-Safe • The Hill • The Group • The Deadly Affair • Bye Bye Braverman • The Sea Gull • The Appointment • King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis • Last of the Mobile Hot Shots • The Anderson Tapes • Child's Play • The Offence • Serpico • Lovin' Molly • Murder on the Orient Express • Dog Day Afternoon • Network • Equus • The Wiz • Just Tell Me What You Want • Prince of the City • Deathtrap • The Verdict • Daniel • Garbo Talks • Power • The Morning After • Running on Empty • Family Business • Q & A • A Stranger Among Us • Guilty as Sin • Night Falls on Manhattan • Critical Care • Gloria • Strip Search • Find Me Guilty
