The New Centurions (1972)

An idealistic rookie cop joins the LAPD to make ends meet while finishing law school, and is indoctrinated by a seasoned veteran. As time goes on, he loses his ambitions and family as police work becomes his entire life.

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Stirling Silliphant (screenplay), Joseph Wambaugh (novel),

Stars:

George C. Scott, Stacy Keach, Jane Alexander

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George C. Scott	...	Kilvinski
Stacy Keach	...	Roy Fehler
Jane Alexander	...	Dorothy Fehler
Scott Wilson	...	Gus
Rosalind Cash	...	Lorrie
Erik Estrada	...	Sergio
Clifton James	...	Whitey
Richard E. Kalk	...	Milton (as Richard Kalk)
James Sikking	...	Sergeant Anders
Beverly Hope Atkinson	...	Alice
Mittie Lawrence	...	Gloria
Isabel Sanford	...	Wilma
Carol Speed	...	Martha
Tracee Lyles	...	Helen
Burke Byrnes	...	Phillips

Storyline

A group of new police recruits takes to patrolling the streets of Los Angeles. Roy Fehler is a law student with a family and has joined the LAPD until he can complete his degree. He's partnered with veteran patrolman Kilvinski and they soon develop a good rapport. On the street the policemen are exposed to the seedier side of life but Kilvinski is a fair cop and a good teacher. Over time however, Fehler comes to love the work and both his family and his studies fall by the wayside. Kilvinsky retires and Fehler loses his way, drinking heavily. Fehler's wife leaves him and he soon hits bottom. Just as he begins to get his life in order, fate intervenes.

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Plot Keywords:

law | police | lapd | veteran | rookie cop | 

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Taglines:

The Beat -- The Fuzz -- The City of Angels

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

9 November 1972 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Precinct 45: Los Angeles Police

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

George C. Scott wears the old eight-point hat that the LAPD stopped wearing in the late-'60s/early-'70s, while other officers wear the current round "wheel" hat. Scott wore it because his character was an "old-line" police officer.

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Connections

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

User Reviews

Nice little film. Good character study

Good little film, about the ins & outs of a group of cops in LA in the early 70's. Good eye for detail, and another fine performance by George C. Scott. This guy was on a roll back then. Having finished up the 60's w/ "Petulia", then "Patton", followed by the excellent gem "The Hospital", it was almost a couldn't miss. True to life depiction, bogged down just a bit by melodrama & cliche'-ridden script. Stacy Keach fine in this as well.