The Glass Shield (1994)

J.J. is a rookie in the Sheriff's Department and the first black officer at that station. Racial tensions run high in the department as some of J.J.'s fellow officers resent his presence. ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Burnett

Writers:

Charles Burnett, John Eddie Johnson (screenplay),

Stars:

Erich Anderson, Richard Anderson, Michael Boatman

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Erich Anderson	...	District Attorney Ira Kern
Richard Anderson	...	Watch Commander Clarence Massey
Thomas Babson	...	U.S. Marshall
Monty Bane	...	Coroner
Ernie Lee Banks	...	Mr. Woods
Michael Boatman	...	Deputy J.J. Johnson
Jean Hubbard-Boone	...	Mrs. Woods
James Boyce	...	Paramedic #1
Gaye Shannon-Burnett	...	Woman Driver
Bernie Casey	...	James Locket
Linden Chiles	...	Sergeant Berry Foster
Janet Claire	...	Juror
Victor Contreras	...	Mr. Cruz
Wanda De Jesus	...	Carmen Munoz
Bill Dearth	...	Guard

Storyline

J.J. is a rookie in the Sheriff's Department and the first black officer at that station. Racial tensions run high in the department as some of J.J.'s fellow officers resent his presence. His only real friend is the other new trooper, the first female officer to work there, who also suffers similar discrimination in the otherwise all-white-male work environment. When J.J. becomes increasingly aware of police corruption during the murder trial of Teddy Woods, who he helped to arrest, he faces difficult decisions and puts himself into grave personal danger in the service of justice.

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Plot Keywords:

corruption | murder | police | sheriff | african american | 

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Taglines:

In a world filled with violence... his only weapon is the truth!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense dramatic material

Details

Country:

France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 June 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Auf Ehre und Gewissen

Box Office

Gross:

$3,313,633 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

CiBy 2000, Miramax Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When the officers push Johnson down onto the desk and Baker shoves a revolver in his mouth, the gun is shown already cocked. Then in the next cut, Baker cocks the gun again.

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Connections

Referenced in Love and Death on Long Island (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Em Yeu Anh"
Performed by Mary Lou Taylor
Music and Lyrics by Stephen James Taylor, BMI

User Reviews

Remarkable Depiction of what has, and what can happen

The movie sends a good message. As clichéd as it sounds: Absolute power corrupts absolutely. As other viewers have noted, this movie is low budget and not overtly action packed. But it does showcase very well what can happen when trying to fit in: Loosing sight of what is right and wrong, then trying to do what is right and getting penalized for it from different directions. Many movies do an awesome job in telling a tale. This is one of them. The message of being drunk with power and corruption among peers is something that is not only seen in the law enforcement institutions, but in the corporate and higher education areas as well. It just appears that corruption is more harmful in law enforcement because there is the higher probability that people may become physically and psychologically damaged (on the deepest level) as a result of corrupt people misusing their guns, badges, and utmost authority). The movie is more likely to hit home for someone who is female and/or a minority who has had some in-depth exposure to law enforcement. While many police officers are, for the most part, decent and on the level, I would say that EVERY law enforcement agency has some level of corruption occurring. The corruption can be a lone officer or two belittling citizens unjustifiably (and getting away with it), or a group of them who systematically abuse power. Perhaps a film like this would be worth mandatory viewing for new police recruits. There is something in it for everyone. Not only is there the lesson of how wrong and nasty discrimination is (especially in groups), but there is also the lesson of your own well meaning, however wrong actions, coming back to haunt you. And finally there is the lesson of how harassment, alienation and adversity are often used as cruel weapons in attempts get others to conform to wrongdoing.