Fort Apache the Bronx (1981)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Daniel Petrie

Writer:

Heywood Gould (writer)

Release Date:

6 February 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

15 minutes from Manhattan there's a place where even the cops fear to tread. [UK Theatrical]

Plot:

From the sight of a police officer this movie depicts the life in New York's infamous South Bronx. In the center is "Fort Apache"...

Plot Keywords:

Police | South Bronx | New York | Police Station | Rebellion

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Murphy
Edward Asner	...	Connolly
Ken Wahl	...	Corelli
Danny Aiello	...	Morgan
Rachel Ticotin	...	Isabella
Pam Grier	...	Charlotte
Kathleen Beller	...	Theresa
Tito Goya	...	Jumper / Detective
Miguel Pinero	...	Hernando
Jaime Tirelli	...	Jose
Lance Guecia	...	Track star (as Lance William Guecia)
Rony Clanton	...	Pimp (as Ronnie Clanton)
Clifford David	...	Dacey
Sully Boyar	...	Dugan
Michael Higgins	...	Heffernan

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | UK:AA (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Producers Circle

Trivia:

The experiences of Real life former NYPD Detectives Thomas Mulhearn and Pete Tessitore served as inspiration for the original screenplay. It is reported that Paul Newman spent some time with Mr. Mulhearn, getting into character for Officer Murphy. Thomas and Pete, along with other ex-cops helped add to the authenticity of the experiences documented in “Fort Apache the Bronx”.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the last scene, you can see the (non-extra) locals being held back in the background to give the illusion of a deserted area.

Quotes:

Murphy: What is this, the gunfight at the O.K. Corral?
Finley: As long as there's cop killers around, pal, I'm gonna be ready.
Murphy: It don't make no difference how many guns you got. You only got two hands.

Movie Connections:

References Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

Bleak but rewarding...

Some movies can rely on atmosphere and acting skills alone. This is one of them. The plot is flimsy, and the setting and most characterizations a bit unlikely (but extremely well acted), and the film might recycle many cop-series clichés, but why carp? I expected little more than a gritty urban cop-flick, which it is, but it also proves to be very successful as a heart-felt human drama, thanks in large part to a prime cast with Paul Newman, Edward Asner, Ken Wahl, Rachel Ticotin, Danny Aiello and Pam Grier in a small but extremely creepy part as a deranged homicidal hooker.

Paul Newman is excellent as a tough tired Officer Murphy and his partner, Ken Wahl, at least 30 years his junior, is one of the very few characters in the film blessed with an almost unbendable optimism, but he is in no way naive. He has a strong sense of realism and pride and, in many ways, represents Newman's moral conscience and ratio.

The world here is without glamour. It's all very raw and real - not necessarily a realistic setting, but with believable characters - and that makes the whole thing work. It's not formulaic, and never seems to go where you expect it. The film has a downbeat neon-lit dark photography by John Alcott. Depressing, but perfectly matching the mood. It's simple, straightforward, unpretentious, and s basically a portrait of human tragedy. Don't expect flashy car chases or fast action. There's plenty of violence, but it seems to be a way of life, rather than serve as sensationalism, but proves to be a all the more effective. Worth seeing.

Camera Obscura --- 9/10