Deadly Hero (1975)

Director:

Ivan Nagy

Writers:

Don Petersen, George Wislocki

Stars:

Don Murray, Diahn Williams, James Earl Jones

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Don Murray	...	Lacy
Diahn Williams	...	Sally
James Earl Jones	...	Rabbit
Lilia Skala	...	Mrs. Broderick
George S. Irving	...	Reilly
Treat Williams	...	Billings
Charles Siebert	...	Baker
Hank Garrett	...	Buckley
Dick Anthony Williams	...	D.A. Winston
Mel Berger	...	Arco
Virginia Sandifur	...	Ellie
Ron Weyand	...	Captain Stark
Conchata Ferrell	...	Slugger Ann
Tom Kampman	...	Hunter
Josh Mostel	...	Victor

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

murder | mugger | death | new york | racial slur | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 February 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Troubled Times

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

AVCO Embassy Pictures, City Time Partners

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Movielab) Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Hidden gem, for sure....UNLAWFUL ENTRY anyone?

I found this movie for 50p in a second-hand shop, and it's taken me a few months to get round and watch it, but i'm glad i did!

DON MURRAY is excellent in this movie, and i can feel for his character (untill maybe the final 10 minutes, or so) as a cop with 18 years clean service, a glittering side career ahead of him (championing a would-be mayor) and a loving wife and daughter. When this (seemingly, by-the-numbers) cop guns down an un-armed kidnapper (JAMES EARL JONES) during the act, the kidnapped lady (DIAHN WILLIAMS) feels a little uneasy about her saviors methods, and decides to change her statement to the D.A. The disgraced cop, finds his world crumbling around him (his mayor friend wants nothing to do with him, and his police precinct suspend him) so he decides to 'pursuade' the women, to re-think her statement. Unfortunately his methods border on psychotic.

To give away anything else, would be a crime (though i will say, it has a great ending!) as i watched the movie knowing nothing about it, whatsoever (the video i bought was such an old pre-certificate copy, it consisted of a front inlay card in a VHS cover. I'd say circa 1980, on the 'MAGNETIC' video label) and for a movie made in 1975, it is certainly gritty enough (the language and violence are quite coarse at times) but is a must for fans of 'bad-cop' cinema.

With not one bad performance throughout, this also marks TREAT WILLIAMS debut (plus a completely un-noticed one by a credited DANNY DE VITO) The movie can be seen as an early blueprint for 1992's UNLAWFUL ENTRY (with RAY LIOTTA, KURT RUSSEL) in that, we witness a gradual breakdown of a respected cop. But plot wise, this is a very daring movie for it's time (and would still be deemed too controversial today!) lacking the total sleaze and religious subtext as BAD LIEUTENANT, it is more of a rarely seen curio, on lines with ORDER OF DEATH (with HARVEY KIETEL and JOHN LYDON) But is also a stunning (yet little-seen) classic, which poses the question of police rights and police wrongs. A great movie, made all the more meaningful for it's apparent obscurity.

10 out of 10, seek it out now (a DVD release would also be welcomed!)