Fort Apache the Bronx (1981)

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", as the officers call their police station, which really ... See full summary »

Director:

Daniel Petrie

Writers:

Heywood Gould, Thomas Mulhearn (suggested by the experiences of),

Stars:

Paul Newman, Edward Asner, Ken Wahl

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

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", as the officers call their police station, which really seems like an outpost in enemy's country. The story follows officer Murphy, who seems to be a tuff cynic, but in truth he's a moralist with a sense for justice.

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Plot Keywords:

police | police station | drug addiction | stabbing | policeman | 

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Taglines:

No Cowboys, No Indians, No Cavalry To The Rescue, Only A Cop.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 February 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Apacseröd Bronxban

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$29,200,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Producers Circle, Time-Life Television Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rachel Ticotin's character "Isabella" was partly inspired Thomas Mulhearn's long-time Puerto-Rican/Cuban girlfriend Venus Castano. She worked in a medical office and lived in situations similar to "Isabella" at the time of writing and production. Venus Castano actually auditioned for the role despite the personal connection to the character. Though, she wasn't cast, she appeared as an extra in several scenes, along with Thomas Mulhearn and their daughter Elizabeth.

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Goofs

Credits typo: In the closing credits, Frederick Allan, who played Corelli's brother, is credited as Corelli's bother.

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Quotes

Morgan: [after Murphy failed to shoot down a purse snatcher who outran him] You'll catch a heart attack before you catch a nigger, Tarzan.
Corelli: What's his problem?
Murphy: He thinks I'm a liberal.

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Connections

References Tomorrow Coast to Coast (1973)

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Soundtracks

"Family Tradition"
Written by Hank Williams Jr. (uncredited)
Performed by Hank Williams Jr.
Courtesy of Elektra Records and Curb Productions
(P) 1980 Elektra Records

User Reviews

overwhelmingly sorrowful tale of urban life.

I have just seen this film as a late night slot, a time when the occasional gem shines amidst a field of c**p. This film is most definitely a gem. The scale and variety of the issues and problems the film attempts to address are perhaps too great, meaning that there is a sense that the film leaves certain areas underdeveloped or tantalisingly unexplored. However the grit and atmosphere of the city, along with the tired pathos which defines Newman's character, are powerful enough to allow a viewer not to become disenchanted.

The film, like the cityscape in which it is set, gives an overwhelming sense of sorrow and despair, there are few bright events in the life of any character and as the film progresses it seems an endless sequence of progressively worse crises threaten to drown what humanity there is left in the character of Murphy and the Bronx as a whole. Ultimately the viewer is left with the impression that the cops and society as a whole are powerless in the face of entropic decline.

Definitely not for those needing to raise their spirits and less powerful than the brilliant "Taxi Driver," "Fort Apache, the Bronx" is still a tale capable of making the viewer think, about himself and his society, and ultimately that is a noble end to achieve.