Madigan (1968)

Director:

Don Siegel

Writers:

Howard Rodman (screenplay) and
Abraham Polonsky (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

March 1968 (Austria)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

"If Detective Madigan kept his eyes on the killer instead of the broad..."

Plot:

Policemen Bonaro and Madigan lose their guns to fugitive Barney Benesch. As compensation, the two NYC...

Plot Keywords:

Police Commissioner | Police | Detective | Fugitive | Bar

Cast

Richard Widmark	...	Det. Daniel Madigan
Henry Fonda	...	Commissioner Anthony X. Russell
Inger Stevens	...	Julia Madigan
Harry Guardino	...	Det. Rocco Bonaro
James Whitmore	...	Chief Insp. Charles Kane
Susan Clark	...	Tricia Bentley
Michael Dunn	...	Midget Castiglione
Steve Ihnat	...	Barney Benesch
Don Stroud	...	Hughie
Sheree North	...	Jonesy
Warren Stevens	...	Capt. Ben Williams
Raymond St. Jacques	...	Dr. Taylor
Bert Freed	...	Chief of Detectives Hap Lynch
Harry Bellaver	...	Mickey Dunn
Frank Marth	...	Lt. James Price
Lloyd Gough	...	Earl Griffin
Virginia Gregg	...	Esther Newman
Henry Beckman	...	Philip Downes
Richard O'Brien	...	Det. O'Brien
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Marvin
Robert Granere	...	Buster
Dallas Mitchell	...	Tom Gavin
Lloyd Haynes	...	Sam Woodley (as Lloyd Haines)
Rita Lynn	...	Rita Bonaro
Gloria Calomee	...	Policewoman Doris Hawkins
Ray Montgomery	...	Det. O'Mara
Seth Allen	...	Subway dispatcher
Robert Ball	...	Prisoner
Kay Turner	...	Stella
Albert Henderson	...	Lt. Strong
Toian Matchinga	...	Rosita
Abel Fernandez	...	Det. Rodriguez
Paul Sorensen	...	Benesh Look-Alike in Saloon
Robert Biheller	...	Man
Ollie O'Toole	...	Man
Al Dunlap	...	Man
Pepe Hern	...	Man
Scott Hale	...	Ambulance driver
Sean Kennedy	...	Man
Bob O'Connell	...	Man
Conrad Bain	...	Hotel clerk
Ed Crowley	...	Man at precinct
Tom Rosqui	...	Man
Diane Sayer	...	Doreen
Mina Martinez	...	Woman
Kathleen O'Malley	...	Woman
Elizabeth Fleming	...	Woman
Madeline Clive	...	Woman
Philippa Bevans	...	Mrs. Hewitt
Nina Varela	...	Woman
Kate Harrington	...	Woman
Al Ruban	...	Kowalski
Lincoln Kilpatrick	...	Patrolman Grimes
Ralph Smiley	...	Captain
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Bramley	...	O'Brien (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Dance Extra (uncredited)
John McLiam	...	Dunne (uncredited)
James Nolan	...	Detective (uncredited)
Hal Taggart	...	Dance Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Don Siegel		(as Donald Siegel)

Writing credits
Howard Rodman		(screenplay) (as Henri Simoun) and
Abraham Polonsky		(screenplay)
Richard Dougherty		(novel "The Commissioner")

Produced by
Frank P. Rosenberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Don Costa

Cinematography by
Russell Metty

Film Editing by
Milton Shifman

Art Direction by
Alexander Golitzen
George C. Webb

Set Decoration by
John P. Austin		(as John Austin)
John McCarthy Jr.		(as John McCarthy)

Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Wes Thompson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph C. Cavalier	....	assistant director (as Joe Cavalier)

Sound Department
Lyle Cain	....	sound
Ronald Pierce	....	sound
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Albert Whitlock	....	matte supervisor

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Graeme Ferguson	....	title designer: background
Scott Hale	....	dialogue coach

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Films Española (1968) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1968) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Esselte CIC Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1969) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Cosmetique  cosmetics

Also Known As:

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1968) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:12 | West Germany:16 (f) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:18 (orginal rating)

Filming Locations:

57th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Conrad Bain's movie debut.

Goofs:

Continuity: Both detectives draw their service revolvers in the back room of the bar before confronting Benesch. But when they enter the bar, the guns are back in their holsters and they unclip them again.

Quotes:

Commissioner Anthony X. Russell:[after Kane drops his shield on Russell's desk] What am I supposed to do with that?
Chief Insp. Charles Kane:Commissioner, I thought you'd never ask.

Movie Connections:

References Tobruk (1967)

An Excellent Police-Drama Movie

Detective Daniel Madigan (the excellent Richard Widmark) is very efficient and experienced, but also has no ethics. His partner, Detective Rocco Bonaro (Harry Guardino), and him go to a hotel room for the simple arrest of the small-time bandit Barney Benesch (Steve Ihnat). Madigan is reckless and in a lack of attention on Benesch, he reacts, takes the guns of the detectives and escapes. When back to the precinct, they receive the information that Benesch is a killer. Commissioner Anthony X.Russel (Henry Fonda), a very rigid and moralist man, gives a schedule of three days maximum for the detectives to arrest Benesch. Yesterday it was the first time that I watched this excellent police-drama movie. In the present days, this movie is politically incorrect: Madigan has no ethics, most of the characters have affair with lovers, smoking is `in', the interrogation is rough without human rights, and this is one of the greatest points of this film, since it is very real. Further, Don Siegel does not need car chases, explosions and other special effects to hook the attention of the viewer. The direction, screenplay and performance of the actors and actresses are more than enough to satisfy the viewer. The characters are very well developed and the scenes are very realistic. Again, an excellent police-drama movie recommended for those who like police story. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): ` Os Impiedosos' (`The Unmerciful')