Number One with a Bullet (1987)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Jack Smight

Writers:

Gail Morgan Hickman (story)
Gail Morgan Hickman (writer) ...

Release Date:

February 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller | Crime

Plot:

A pair of detectives is assigned to investigate a murder, and discover a trail of corruption and criminal activity that leads right back to their own police department.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Corruption | Murder | Detective | City

Cast

Robert Carradine	...	Det. Barzak
Billy Dee Williams	...	Det. Hazeltine
Valerie Bertinelli	...	Teresa Barzak
Peter Graves	...	Capt. Ferris
Doris Roberts	...	Mrs. Barzak
Bobby Di Cicco	...	Malcolm
Ray Girardin	...	Lt. Kaminski
Barry Sattels	...	DeCosta
Mykelti Williamson	...	Casey (as Mykel T. Williamson)
Jon Gries	...	Bobby Sweet (as Jonathan Gries)
Richard Minchenberg	...	Lepidus
Michael Goodwin	...	Pogue
LaGena Hart	...	Blonde
Alex Rebar	...	Boudreau
Artie Ripp	...	Rotweiler

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Golan-Globus Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When Nick and Frank pull up to ATC, the red Corvette is parked diagonally beside the blue car. But when Frank gets out, it's parked straight.

Quotes:

Mrs. Barzak: Now, I get to see that sweet face! I'm gonna give you a 'niner'.
Mrs. Barzak: [She kisses him on the cheek nine times in quick succession] Ooh, that was fun.
Det. Barzak: Yeah.
[Wipes face]
Det. Barzak: Frank sends his love.
Mrs. Barzak: He's a sweetheart. I bet he saves your life.
Det. Barzak: Not that often.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Kidnapped: Number One with a Bullet (#1.4)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Canyon Blues

Nuthin' I like better than a good 'MOM' joke.

No one will ever say this was a "great film", but it's still got plenty of redeeming qualities that place it far above most of the tripe Hollywierd is pumping out these days. An endless stream of subtle but hilarious one-liners ("Man, I was just on the toilet thinking' about you. Ain't life a bitch?" and "I guess he shoulda froze." "Well, it's not like we didn't tell him."), scene setups that have been copied to death for their comic potential (like the drying-out scene), and the cliché but still fresh presentation of a classic buddy-movie. Even the annoying characters (like Mom) are somehow entertaining in their own way. It doesn't surprise me that this title is conspicuously absent from rental shelves, but I, for one, will be glad when it's finally available on DVD.

PS I still find myself quoting this movie at least once a week: "No, thanks. I'm on a low-mucous diet." :-D