IMDb > The Laughing Policeman (1973)
The Laughing Policeman
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The Laughing Policeman (1973) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   1,099 votes »
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Director:
Stuart Rosenberg
Writers:
Thomas Rickman (screenplay)
Per Wahlöö (based on the novel "Den skrattande polisen" by) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Laughing Policeman on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 January 1974 (Sweden) See more »
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
This movie is so real it makes every other movie in this town look like a movie. See more »
Plot:
In San Francisco, one victim in a mass murder is a police detective. His partner and a new partner investigate in the city's seamy side. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Wonder Woman Exclusive: An Interview with Cathy Lee Crosby
 (From ComicBookMovie. 10 December 2012, 7:00 PM, PST)
Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man
 (From GreenCine. 15 August 2011, 5:36 PM, PDT)
Will Spiral become your new favourite Saturday night Euro cop drama?
 (From The Guardian - TV News. 1 April 2011, 4:00 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
I wish more cop movies were like this. See more (30 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Walter Matthau ... Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD

Bruce Dern ... Insp. Leo Larsen SFPD

Louis Gossett Jr. ... Insp. James Larrimore SFPD (as Lou Gossett)
Albert Paulsen ... Henry Camerero

Anthony Zerbe ... Lt. Nat Steiner SFPD

Val Avery ... Insp. John Pappas SFPD

Cathy Lee Crosby ... Kay Butler
Mario Gallo ... Bobby Mow, Snitch

Joanna Cassidy ... Monica, Beth's Roomate
Shirley Ballard ... Grace Martin
William Hansen ... Mr. Schwermer, Bus Vicitm
Don Borisenko ... Det. Mike Collins (as Jonas Wolfe)

Paul Koslo ... Duane Haygood, Drug Pusher
Louis Guss ... Gus Niles / Andrew Medford - Bus Victim

Frances Lee McCain ... Prostitute (as Lee McCain)
David Moody ... Pimp
Ivan Bookman ... Rodney Davis

Clifton James ... Officer Jim Maloney SFPD Bomb Squad

Gregory Sierra ... Ken Vickery, Outlaw Biker (as Gregg Sierra)
Warren Finnerty ... Ripple, Outlaw Biker

Matt Clark ... Coroner
Joseph Bernard ... Avakian's Brother Samuel
Melvina Smedley ... Maydala
Leigh French ... Porno Cashier
James Klawin ... Fowler
Anthony Costello ... Det. Dave Evans - Bus Victim
John Francis ... Inspector Russo, SFPD
John Frederick Vick ... Inspector Lou Terry SFPD

Wayne Grace ... Inspector Tom Brennan SFPD
Cheryl Christiansen ... Beth, Nurse on Bus
James V. Christy ... Lemuel Avakian, Bus Victim (as James Christy)
David Belrose ... Ralph Martin
Dawn Frame ... Debbie Martin
Ellan Nance ... Camerero's Receptionist #1 (as Ellen Nance)

Lavelle Roby ... Camerero's Receptionist #2 (as Lavelle Robey)
Hobart Nills Nelson ... Jail Guard
Gus Bruneman ... TAC Squad Captain SFPD (as Capt. Gus Bruneman)
The San Francisco Strutters ... Street Musicians
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Elaine Collins ... Go-Go Dancer (uncredited)

Sacheen Littlefeather ... (uncredited)
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Directed by
Stuart Rosenberg 
 
Writing credits
Thomas Rickman (screenplay)

Per Wahlöö (based on the novel "Den skrattande polisen" by) (as Per Wahlhoo) and
Maj Sjöwall (based on the novel "Den skrattande polisen" by) (as Maj Sjowall)

Produced by
Stuart Rosenberg .... producer
 
Original Music by
Charles Fox 
 
Cinematography by
David M. Walsh (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Bob Wyman (film editor)
 
Casting by
Joyce Selznick 
 
Set Decoration by
Doug von Koss 
 
Production Management
Mike Moder .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Moder .... first assistant director
Ron Wright .... second assistant director
Charles Ziarko .... second assistant director
 
Sound Department
Jerry Jost .... production mixer
Theodore Soderberg .... re-recording mixer
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Roger Shearman .... camera operator (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Gus Coreris .... technical advisor: SFPD (as Inspector Gus Coreris)
Charles Ellis .... technical advisor: SFPD (as Lieutenant Charles Ellis)
Peggy Locke .... production secretary
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"An Investigation of a Murder" - Australia (imdb display title), International (English title) (alternative title)
See more »
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
112 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Finland:K-18 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:18 (orginal rating)
Filming Locations:
1727 Laguna Street, San Francisco, California, USASee more »
Company:
Twentieth Century Fox Film CorporationSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
In the original screenplay, Martin was supposed to laugh at the end, true to the film's title. This idea was abandoned, either by director Stuart Rosenberg or Walter Matthau during shooting.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: When Larsen follows Henry Camerero into the back door of a gay bar, the sign outside it says "The Ramrod". However, when Camerero exits the bar through the front door a few minutes later, the sign above the door says "The Frolic Room".See more »
Quotes:
Insp. Leo Larsen SFPD:[after Camerero leaves a gay bar with another man] I think he's a fag. Things are looser now. I guess a couple years ago, that was enough to ruin you.
Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD:Well, that's what I've been saying.
Insp. Leo Larsen SFPD:Yeah, that's probably where I heard it. You think that Theresa found out about him and then didn't know which way to turn?
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in A Hard Day for Archie (1974)See more »
Soundtrack:
Ain't We Got FunSee more »

FAQ

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
8 out of 9 people found the following review useful.
I wish more cop movies were like this., 10 January 2002
Author: kelberto from New York

I happened upon this movie the other night by accident, and I loved it. I got hooked early on by the way the police in this film are portrayed as real human beings, with real foibles and weaknesses and prejudices. Definitely worth a viewing for anyone who knows anything about movies.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Laughing Policeman (1973)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Enrico's Tim-O-T
misplaced scene Flkysoh
The Ramrod obtuse_angle
Comparinig it to Life on Mars amcalabrese
Is that William H Macy? jhands-1
Sacheen Littlefeather? Erich-13
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