The New Centurions (1972)

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

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

Release Date:

9 November 1972 (West Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

The nationwide bestseller about cops - by a cop!

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Law | Police | Lapd | Veteran | Rookie Cop

Cast

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
William Atherton	...	Johnson
Peter De Anda	...	Gladstone (as Peter DeAnda)
Ed Lauter	...	Galloway
Dolph Sweet	...	Sergeant Runyon
Stefan Gierasch	...	Landlord
Debbie Fresh	...	Rebecca Fahler
Mike Lane	...	Lumberjack (as Michael Lane)
Roger E. Mosley	...	Truck Driver
Charles H. Gray	...	Bethel
Read Morgan	...	Woodrow Gandy
Michael Delano	...	Ranatti (as Michael DeLano)
Adriana Shaw	...	Drunk Mother
Pepe Serna	...	Young Mexican Man
Bea Thompkins	...	Silverpants
Hilly Hicks	...	Young Black Man
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Otis Day	...	Mugging Suspect (uncredited)
Dick DeCoit	...	(uncredited)
Kitten Natividad	...	Go-Go Dancer in Bar (uncredited)
Anne Ramsey	...	Wife of Crazy Man (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Fleischer

Writing credits
Stirling Silliphant		(screenplay)
Joseph Wambaugh		(novel)
Robert Towne		uncredited

Produced by
Robert Chartoff	....	producer
Henry Gellis	....	associate producer
Irwin Winkler	....	producer

Original Music by
Quincy Jones

Cinematography by
Ralph Woolsey		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert C. Jones

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
Boris Leven

Set Decoration by
Harry Reif

Costume Design by
Guy C. Verhille		(as Guy Verhille)

Makeup Department
Del Acevedo	....	makeup artist
Dave Grayson	....	makeup artist (as Dave Greyson)
Delree F. Todd	....	hair stylist (as Delree Todd)

Production Management
Russell Saunders	....	unit production manager (as Russ Saunders)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Russell Saunders	....	assistant director (as Russ Saunders)
Malcolm R. Harding	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
William Black	....	leadman (uncredited)
Albert Indrisano	....	second props (uncredited)
Joe LaBella	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Arthur Piantadosi	....	sound
William Randall	....	sound
Jack Night	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Augie Lohman	....	special effects (uncredited)
Thomas R. Ward	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Ron Veto	....	stunts
Carey Loftin	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
James Glennon	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Don Jacobs	....	second grip (uncredited)
Martin Kashuk	....	key grip (uncredited)
Frank Leonetti	....	gaffer (uncredited)
John Monte	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Chris Schweibert	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Robert Shaw	....	best boy (uncredited)
Ronald Vidor	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Izzy Berne	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Ron Dawson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Vern Jacobs	....	transportation captain (uncredited)

Other crew
Jeffrey Benjamin	....	assistant to producer (as Jeff Benjamin)
Duane Toler	....	script supervisor (as Duane Tober)
Tom Clark	....	publicist (uncredited)
Richard E. Kalk	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Emily Torchia	....	publicist (uncredited)
Bill Venegas	....	location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Chartoff-Winkler Productions
• Columbia Pictures

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1972) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Pacific Title  titles

Also Known As:

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Iceland:16 | Canada:14+ | France:U | West Germany:16 (f) | Portugal:M/18

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Chartoff-Winkler Productions

Trivia:

The movie was spoofed in MAD Magazine as "The New Comedians" in edition No #158 published in April 1973.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in National Lampoon's Movie Madness (1982)

shot to the gut

Stacy Keach and George C. Scott star in this very gritty, very honest portrayal of early-70s police life. It's directed by Richard Fleischer, who usually worked on much flashier material than this. I've seen a lot of films that dug in and tried to paint a clear image of police life, but this story brings a level of realism that is somewhat missing in most cases - in was written by a cop (Joseph Wambaugh).

"The New Centurions" is a title that hints at a much deeper perspective into familiar territory. Even though all the suspected clichés are still somewhat in place, they're there out of reality rather than just filling space in a movie plot. George C. Scott's character is on his way to retirement, but instead of him not making it, he takes a much darker path. It's that darker path, and the sense of hope behind it, that informs both Scott and Keach in their fantastic performances. They're as good as they'd ever been here - deep, powerful, and incredibly personal. There's a real emotional vulnerability on display that can't be denied.