Law and Disorder (1974)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Ivan Passer

Writers:

Kenneth Harris Fishman (writer)
Ivan Passer (writer)

Release Date:

31 July 1975 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Plot Keywords:

New York | Frustration | Independent Film

Cast

Carroll O'Connor	...	Willie
Ernest Borgnine	...	Cy
Ann Wedgeworth	...	Sally
Anita Dangler	...	Irene
Leslie Ackerman	...	Karen
Karen Black	...	Gloria
Jack Kehoe	...	Elliott
David Spielberg	...	Bobby
Joe Ragno	...	Peter
Pat Corley	...	Ken
J. Frank Lucas	...	Flasher
Edward Grover	...	Capt. Malloy (as Ed Grover)
Pepper Wormser	...	Yablonsky
Lionel Pina	...	Chico
Gary Springer	...	F.U. Kid

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Fadsin Cinema Associates

Funny Moments Hampered by a Confusing Narrative Structure

6 out of 10

After both being robbed two men, and a few of their pals, decide to join the police force as auxiliary cops. Their escapades are mostly comical although their are a few serious consequences.

A rare post "All in the Family" film for O'Connor. It is fun to see him although the role here doesn't exercise his acting talents enough. He seems on the most part to be a toned down version of Archie and comes off as being boring (that smiling face button on his coat is annoying as well). His two best parts come when he tries to pretend he is a young urban street punk. He also is good in a scene as a cab driver with a very nice way at handling two obnoxious passengers.

Believe it or not it is actually Borgnine that steals the picture. Usually he is just an unassuming supporting player, but here he really comes into his own. He is cantankerously funny and also has some good dramatic moments. He proves that he might have actually made a very good Archie had O'Connor not been available. It is also fun to see Wedgeworth, a native Texan, transplanted into the role of a Bronx housewife. Black though is outrageously wasted in two very meaningless scenes as a over-sexed hair stylist.

The story on the whole is alright. The beginning is good featuring a lot of funny, fast paced comical adventures. The problem really begins towards the middle when the film attempts to get deep and serious. It starts to bog everything down and gives off a very fractured affect. You get roped into thinking this is a good comedy and then find it is anything but. The drama really isn't bad it just doesn't mesh well with the comedy. It also veers too much from the main premise making the message and point of view confusing. Is this supposed to be a story about auxiliary cops? Crime ridden cities? Middle age? Friendship? Boring jobs? What?!!!

Overall the film is good enough to keep you hanging in there and on the most part it is entertaining. Yet it's very eclectic narrative structure mutes any serious message that it may have. The music played over the opening credits was a really bad choice. However the on location shooting of New York City is great and really gives you an authentic feel of a average New York neighborhood.