The concept of a serial rapist being the only one who can identify a serial bomber is what drives this exploitation shocker towards B movie greatness. Neville Brand, despicable as he is, assaulting and killing to satisfy his twisted sexual fantasies, is easily eclipsed by Chuck Conners as the mad bomber, on a crusade to avenge his daughter's death. These two great evil performances are the core of this film. What prevents "The Police Connection" from being a flat out classic is head police investigator Vince Edwards, who sleep walks through the entire movie, providing zero charisma. He most definitely is no "Dirty Harry". If you can find an unedited version, get it. You will be amazed. - MERK
20 Reviews
Great trashy fun.
Hey_Sweden30 May 2014
William Dorn (Chuck Connors) is an angry and disturbed man. Frustrated over the drug overdose of his daughter, he decides to strike back at anyone whom he's imagined was responsible for her death. But what he really wants to do is punish society at large. He'll even leave bombs at feminist gatherings. Determined to nail this paranoid villain is grouchy, hard nosed detective Geronimo Minelli (!) (Vince Edwards), the kind of guy who does anything it takes to get his man. That includes working with the one man who can identify Dorn, and HE turns out to be a rapist! George Fromley (Neville Brand) is loathe to cooperate with Minelli until he realizes what the cop is capable of.
Producer / director / screenwriter / cinematographer Bert I. Gordon (a.k.a. Mr. B.I.G.) is better known for his "giant monster" flicks of the 1950s, but this endlessly amusing pile of garbage that he's created deserves to be just as well known. He brings the sleaze in a major way; his movie is slow at times and crude, but undeniably a real hoot. Fans of 1970s exploitation will be delighted to note the abundance of nudity (provided by Ilona Wilson as Fromley's wife) and the wonderfully graphic gore. Of course, it's the acting that really brings this one to life. Edwards is good as the unrelenting protagonist, and Brand is a very effective creep. Hank Brandt, Christina Hart, and Ted Gehring co-star, but it's Connors who will command most of your attention. With an array of truly priceless facial expressions, he's a hysterically nutty bad guy. The icing on the cake is a music score by Michel Mention that's sometimes entertaining but is also hilariously AWFUL at other times. The movie establishes Dorn in a great way right up front, as he chastises a stranger for littering on the sidewalk.
Well worth seeing if you like your cop thrillers to be on the trashy side.
Seven out of 10.
Producer / director / screenwriter / cinematographer Bert I. Gordon (a.k.a. Mr. B.I.G.) is better known for his "giant monster" flicks of the 1950s, but this endlessly amusing pile of garbage that he's created deserves to be just as well known. He brings the sleaze in a major way; his movie is slow at times and crude, but undeniably a real hoot. Fans of 1970s exploitation will be delighted to note the abundance of nudity (provided by Ilona Wilson as Fromley's wife) and the wonderfully graphic gore. Of course, it's the acting that really brings this one to life. Edwards is good as the unrelenting protagonist, and Brand is a very effective creep. Hank Brandt, Christina Hart, and Ted Gehring co-star, but it's Connors who will command most of your attention. With an array of truly priceless facial expressions, he's a hysterically nutty bad guy. The icing on the cake is a music score by Michel Mention that's sometimes entertaining but is also hilariously AWFUL at other times. The movie establishes Dorn in a great way right up front, as he chastises a stranger for littering on the sidewalk.
Well worth seeing if you like your cop thrillers to be on the trashy side.
Seven out of 10.
I am surprised this one didn't get the X rating back in 1973....
planktonrules14 February 2017
"The Mad Bomber" is a very adult suspense film....so adult I am surprised it didn't earn an X rating back when it debuted. After all, "Midnight Cowboy" was rated X and only had a tiny bit of nudity...and that came out only four years before this film. Yet, in "The Mad Bomber" you have some graphic rape scenes, tons of violence as well as full frontal nudity...all which shocked me as the film progressed. Even today I think you'd have a hard time getting an R for this one because of the rapes....something that did NOT need to be this graphic. So, please, please, please...be careful with this one. It's not for kids and perhaps you might wanna be sure you are looking at one of the edited versions (and they are apparently quite common).
The film is about a psychopath (Chuck Connors) who has a variety of gripes about the world. Tons of things tick him off and now he's going to show the world by planting a string of bombs as retribution. At the same time, a rapist is running amok...and the two might have seen each other. So, if you catch one, you might just be able to catch the other. Lt. Minneli (Vince Edwards) is the cop investigating these cases.
So is this any good? "The Detective" is a super-gritty X rated cop film...and I loved it...so there is a place for tough crime films. The film is very exciting and in some ways well made. However, one portion of the film made zero sense. The rapist (Neville Brand) is eventually caught in the act of raping a woman and later the Lieutenant's boss tells him to release the suspect...no charges...nothing!! On what planet would this make sense?! The Lieutenant later trumps up a traffic charge in order to bring him in for questioning. Shouldn't the fact that he gagged a woman and ripped her clothing off be enough to merit bringing him back in for questioning?!?! Another dopey moment was late in the film when the bomber was driving about on a motorcycle. He COULD he have possibly escaped?! Odd that the film was so sloppy here and there when it was otherwise exciting (though quite sleazy!).
By the way, I noticed that one reviewer seemed surprised that director Bert I. Gordon would make a 'sick' film like this. Considering he made the god-awful "Food of the Gods", "Empire of the Ants" and "How to Succeed With Sex", I certainly am not surprised by this movie! It seems pretty much in keeping with his output at that time, though the quality is a tad better than usual.
The film is about a psychopath (Chuck Connors) who has a variety of gripes about the world. Tons of things tick him off and now he's going to show the world by planting a string of bombs as retribution. At the same time, a rapist is running amok...and the two might have seen each other. So, if you catch one, you might just be able to catch the other. Lt. Minneli (Vince Edwards) is the cop investigating these cases.
So is this any good? "The Detective" is a super-gritty X rated cop film...and I loved it...so there is a place for tough crime films. The film is very exciting and in some ways well made. However, one portion of the film made zero sense. The rapist (Neville Brand) is eventually caught in the act of raping a woman and later the Lieutenant's boss tells him to release the suspect...no charges...nothing!! On what planet would this make sense?! The Lieutenant later trumps up a traffic charge in order to bring him in for questioning. Shouldn't the fact that he gagged a woman and ripped her clothing off be enough to merit bringing him back in for questioning?!?! Another dopey moment was late in the film when the bomber was driving about on a motorcycle. He COULD he have possibly escaped?! Odd that the film was so sloppy here and there when it was otherwise exciting (though quite sleazy!).
By the way, I noticed that one reviewer seemed surprised that director Bert I. Gordon would make a 'sick' film like this. Considering he made the god-awful "Food of the Gods", "Empire of the Ants" and "How to Succeed With Sex", I certainly am not surprised by this movie! It seems pretty much in keeping with his output at that time, though the quality is a tad better than usual.
Violent film, suprised it got a "R" rating.
Serpent-521 October 1999
Released in most cities by Jerry Gross company Cinemation as POLICE CONNECTION in 1973, this violent action film centers a man (Chuck Connors) who's daughter overdosed on drugs. So he plants bombs on places that did him wrong and the only person who witness him is a psycho rapist/killer (Brand).
Vince Edwards play a mean cop who is on the trail of the bomber and the rapist. This film is on over 10 different video labels under the original title THE MAD BOMBER, but all of them are TV print. You are missing out on a gruesome human explosition, rape scene, nudity, and even Brand doing the nasty by himself!!! Very sick film, suprised Bert I. Gordon who made lots of classic Sci-fi made this.
Vince Edwards play a mean cop who is on the trail of the bomber and the rapist. This film is on over 10 different video labels under the original title THE MAD BOMBER, but all of them are TV print. You are missing out on a gruesome human explosition, rape scene, nudity, and even Brand doing the nasty by himself!!! Very sick film, suprised Bert I. Gordon who made lots of classic Sci-fi made this.
The Mad Bomber is an okay thriller by Bert I. Gordon
tavm12 January 2007
I've just seen on Google Video what-according to the other comments I've read-was the edited version of The Mad Bomber. Chuck Connors plays the title character who's trying to avenge his daughter's death from a drug overdose on the city of Los Angeles. Vince Edwards is the cop trying to stop him. And Neville Brand is the rapist who witnesses Connors at the mental hospital he sneaks into. Supposedly there were actual scenes of nudity, graphic rape, even more intense explosions. What I saw seemed sufficient. While there are some slow spots such as Brand's having to identify Connors through various face recreations with Edwards in the police headquarters, there is enough tension to keep things going. Writer, producer, director Bert I. Gordon does seem a bit heavy-handed in his approach and many of the minor characters are mostly stick figures for plot contrivances. Still, fairly good performances by Connors, Edwards, and Brand. Update:6/23/13-I just watched on YouTube one of the cut scenes from this movie, a scene when the Brand character is watching film of a nude woman doing flirty poses that he gets off on. The rating stays.
What do you want me to to take off until he kills a couple of hundred people!
sol12181 April 2012
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Vince Edwards who became famous playing the moody and no BS brain surgeon Benjamin or Ben for short Casey on TV plays the tough as nails Native Amerian/ Italian L.A police lieutenant Geronimo Minneli here who has his hands full in tracking down this mad bomber William Dorn played by blond blue eyed Chuck Conners, who ironically played Geronimo in a 1962 movie, who's terrorizing the entire city. Dorn has a number of issues that he refuses to deal with in getting help for. One is the death of his teenage daughter Ann, Nancy Honnold, who overdosed on drugs and the fact that he didn't get the compensation he expected to get from his job after injuring himself.
Now a full fledged psychotic Dorn is planning to get even with the world or the city of L.A by bombing it back into the stone age and taking hundreds of people along with it. During one of Dorn's bombing missions at a local mental hospital, where his daughter died, he's spotted by rapist George Fromley,Nevill Brand, as he's was raping one of the the patients, Christina Hart, there. With Let.Geronimo deducing that Fromley,who was later arrested, could identify the unknown mad bomber he tries to get the man to talk but with little or no success. That's until he puts a gun to his head and threatens to have it accidentally go off!
With a scared down to his socks Fromley giving an accurate description, it was so accurate that all he ad to do is give the police an 8 by 10 glossy of Chuck Conners, who who the bomber is that he in fact becomes Dorn's next victim. Dorn gets to Fromley, by throwing a bomb through his window, while he's home enjoying himself almost to the point of getting a heart attack watching porno flicks of his old lady, Bona Wilson, taking it all off. With his cover now blown Dron plans his next and final outrage by driving a van filled with explosive into the center of the L.A financial district and blowing himself together with hundreds of people up in a crazed kamikaze like 9/11 attack!
***SPOILERS*** Let.Geronimo who was told to stay away from Dorn and his van instead tracks him down and prevents Dorn for setting off his explosives before he reaches his final destination where he could kill the most people. What also momentarily prevents Dorn from pulling the switch,to his cache of explosives,is that he hallucinates seeing his dead daughter Anne walking down the street in front of his van! Explosive final with Dorn finally getting a chance to set off his explosives but with Let.Geronimo's help, by keeping Dorn away from the public, only blowing himself up and no one else by doing it!
Now a full fledged psychotic Dorn is planning to get even with the world or the city of L.A by bombing it back into the stone age and taking hundreds of people along with it. During one of Dorn's bombing missions at a local mental hospital, where his daughter died, he's spotted by rapist George Fromley,Nevill Brand, as he's was raping one of the the patients, Christina Hart, there. With Let.Geronimo deducing that Fromley,who was later arrested, could identify the unknown mad bomber he tries to get the man to talk but with little or no success. That's until he puts a gun to his head and threatens to have it accidentally go off!
With a scared down to his socks Fromley giving an accurate description, it was so accurate that all he ad to do is give the police an 8 by 10 glossy of Chuck Conners, who who the bomber is that he in fact becomes Dorn's next victim. Dorn gets to Fromley, by throwing a bomb through his window, while he's home enjoying himself almost to the point of getting a heart attack watching porno flicks of his old lady, Bona Wilson, taking it all off. With his cover now blown Dron plans his next and final outrage by driving a van filled with explosive into the center of the L.A financial district and blowing himself together with hundreds of people up in a crazed kamikaze like 9/11 attack!
***SPOILERS*** Let.Geronimo who was told to stay away from Dorn and his van instead tracks him down and prevents Dorn for setting off his explosives before he reaches his final destination where he could kill the most people. What also momentarily prevents Dorn from pulling the switch,to his cache of explosives,is that he hallucinates seeing his dead daughter Anne walking down the street in front of his van! Explosive final with Dorn finally getting a chance to set off his explosives but with Let.Geronimo's help, by keeping Dorn away from the public, only blowing himself up and no one else by doing it!
Some What Overdone Exploitation Film
Theo Robertson25 July 2013
This film called THE MAD BOMBER tells you all you have to now . The title sums it up . He's a bomber and he's mad and he ain't gonna take it anymore . It's rather sleazy exploitation which is something of a shame because one would have hoped for more along the lines of a DIRTY HARRY or a TAXI DRIVER type of film
This is a shame because you can empathise to an extent with Chuck Connors anti-hero who sees the world collapsing and become a strange place and sets about setting the world to rights via dynamite . Come on people we've all been there and some people don't listen to reasonable arguments unless they've been blown to bits . Let's not judge the anti-hero of Geronimo Minelli . Having a name like that couldn't have been easy and if not excuses his behaviour at least explains it
Or does it ? You can find yourself identifying very easily with Travis Bickle in TAXI DRIVER if you're honest but Scorsese's film was a journey through the alienated male psyche . Here it isn't the case because Heronimo is a sociopath played and written to the hilt . Just because Geronimo rants and raves then quickly changes his tone and asks for a cheese sandwich doesn't make him multi-layered it just makes him something of a cypher or plot device
Everything about THE MAD BOMBER is over done which isn't surprising . It isn't helped by the fact that there's two bad guys , one being the bomber and the other being a serial rapist and for a relatively mainstream film with a well known lead in the shape of Chuck Connors some of the violence is rather disturbing
This is a shame because you can empathise to an extent with Chuck Connors anti-hero who sees the world collapsing and become a strange place and sets about setting the world to rights via dynamite . Come on people we've all been there and some people don't listen to reasonable arguments unless they've been blown to bits . Let's not judge the anti-hero of Geronimo Minelli . Having a name like that couldn't have been easy and if not excuses his behaviour at least explains it
Or does it ? You can find yourself identifying very easily with Travis Bickle in TAXI DRIVER if you're honest but Scorsese's film was a journey through the alienated male psyche . Here it isn't the case because Heronimo is a sociopath played and written to the hilt . Just because Geronimo rants and raves then quickly changes his tone and asks for a cheese sandwich doesn't make him multi-layered it just makes him something of a cypher or plot device
Everything about THE MAD BOMBER is over done which isn't surprising . It isn't helped by the fact that there's two bad guys , one being the bomber and the other being a serial rapist and for a relatively mainstream film with a well known lead in the shape of Chuck Connors some of the violence is rather disturbing
Fear city
Chase_Witherspoon15 October 2016
Uptight ultra conservative (Connors) decides to get even with the world after it fails him, using his bomb making skills to put the city in the grip of fear. Only tired-looking detective Vince Edwards and suspected rapist Neville Brand can stop his murderous reign of terror in this reasonably taut time filler.
It's unusual to have dual plots/villains and the presence of Brand in such an understated yet critical characterisation cannot be diminished. His scenes are amongst the best and most gripping as he leverages a chance encounter with the mad bomber to his advantage (and much to Edward's chagrin).
Solid cast includes Hank Brandt, Royce Applegate and Jeff Burton in minor roles, whilst Ilona Wilson has a quirky cameo as Brand's defensive wife. Good momentum, special effects and committed acting elevate this minor movie to something more substantial - and check out the graphic ending for a shocking conclusion!
It's unusual to have dual plots/villains and the presence of Brand in such an understated yet critical characterisation cannot be diminished. His scenes are amongst the best and most gripping as he leverages a chance encounter with the mad bomber to his advantage (and much to Edward's chagrin).
Solid cast includes Hank Brandt, Royce Applegate and Jeff Burton in minor roles, whilst Ilona Wilson has a quirky cameo as Brand's defensive wife. Good momentum, special effects and committed acting elevate this minor movie to something more substantial - and check out the graphic ending for a shocking conclusion!
The naked city at its ugliest.
mark.waltz19 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
"I plead the fifth amendment."
"What's the fifth amendment?"
"I don't know."
With conversations like that, you know you're not dealing with some of the brightest books of society, and this exploitation films has a lot of them apples out in the big city. There are two criminals being sought after, want to see a real rapist and the other a mad bomber who walks calmly into a feminist meeting, plants a bomb in a chafing dish, and manages to just get out when the bomb goes out while he's in the elevator to go downstairs.
The rape scenes are truly horrifying, some of the most vicious I've ever seen in the movies, and obviously there's more than just one rapist out there. Cops dress in drag and catch a few, but there's one alleged victim who is saved in the nick of time by the cops, and she just stands there as if she's waiting for directions as to what to do next. I was surprised she didn't pull out a compact.
The character played by Chuck Connors is truly looney from the moment you meet him, going off on someone for littering, and creating scenes in every customer service situation he is in. He demands that a waitress look at him straight in the eye and then complains about a sale that end of the day before that he insists should still be going on. Characters like him are why many people refuse to do customer service.
In an odd plot development, the police are utilizing the rape suspects to catch the mad bomber, as if any of the rape crimes are connected to the terrorism going on. Police investigator Vince Edwards just takes the script as written and reads the lines in an unconvincing manner, thinking that if he doesn't give a performance then he can't be awarded worst performance of the year. Neville Brand is another stereotypical crazy man, one of the rape suspects, and the writing for his character isn't really developed as it is for Connors.
So how do you make it through a film like this without wanting to burn the disc afterwards? It is surprisingly watchable, but then again, a lot of exploited stuff is, and it's just another 70's expression of a society in decline. A lot of the moments between the crime scenes are unintentionally funny, especially Connors telling off beat cops just glancing up at him as he's mailing a letter. I have seen this plotline in many films before, even in TV films, but never as vile as the way this is done. It's an exercise in some writer's own distaste for society, and at certain points in the film, it appears that they are getting a kick out of blowing things up just to release their own frustrations. The only thing that this film has going for it is that once you start watching, it's difficult to force yourself to hit the stop button.
"What's the fifth amendment?"
"I don't know."
With conversations like that, you know you're not dealing with some of the brightest books of society, and this exploitation films has a lot of them apples out in the big city. There are two criminals being sought after, want to see a real rapist and the other a mad bomber who walks calmly into a feminist meeting, plants a bomb in a chafing dish, and manages to just get out when the bomb goes out while he's in the elevator to go downstairs.
The rape scenes are truly horrifying, some of the most vicious I've ever seen in the movies, and obviously there's more than just one rapist out there. Cops dress in drag and catch a few, but there's one alleged victim who is saved in the nick of time by the cops, and she just stands there as if she's waiting for directions as to what to do next. I was surprised she didn't pull out a compact.
The character played by Chuck Connors is truly looney from the moment you meet him, going off on someone for littering, and creating scenes in every customer service situation he is in. He demands that a waitress look at him straight in the eye and then complains about a sale that end of the day before that he insists should still be going on. Characters like him are why many people refuse to do customer service.
In an odd plot development, the police are utilizing the rape suspects to catch the mad bomber, as if any of the rape crimes are connected to the terrorism going on. Police investigator Vince Edwards just takes the script as written and reads the lines in an unconvincing manner, thinking that if he doesn't give a performance then he can't be awarded worst performance of the year. Neville Brand is another stereotypical crazy man, one of the rape suspects, and the writing for his character isn't really developed as it is for Connors.
So how do you make it through a film like this without wanting to burn the disc afterwards? It is surprisingly watchable, but then again, a lot of exploited stuff is, and it's just another 70's expression of a society in decline. A lot of the moments between the crime scenes are unintentionally funny, especially Connors telling off beat cops just glancing up at him as he's mailing a letter. I have seen this plotline in many films before, even in TV films, but never as vile as the way this is done. It's an exercise in some writer's own distaste for society, and at certain points in the film, it appears that they are getting a kick out of blowing things up just to release their own frustrations. The only thing that this film has going for it is that once you start watching, it's difficult to force yourself to hit the stop button.
Like hell i will
QueenoftheGoons24 August 2020
I can just hear Neville saying that. The Indian steals the show. Connors I could do without but hey the westerns are dead we gotta do something. Never cared for Edwards, but the movie is good until Neville meets an end.
Must See Sleaze from Mr. B.I.G.!!
lebong-215 February 2005
I don't know why I resisted seeing this movie for so long. I think it's because I thought that the plot description was too dull and pedantic for a great Bert I. Gordon experience. I thought that it sounded like a routine police actioner that Mr. BIG must have directed when he needed to make a car payment. Well, I was completely wrong. Maybe not about the car payment, but certainly about the movie. Gordon has delivered one of the most depraved, callous, stupefying images of Los Angeles ever committed to celluloid. And boy is it hilarious.
It pre-figures "Falling Down" and is a thousand times more satisfying. An almost unrecognizable Chuck Connors plays the most angry, righteous, and hateful in LA. His daughter has died of a drug overdose, and like most Angelenos, he chooses to blame the town for his bad luck. This performance is so brave, so unaffected and balls out, that I suspect Chuck Connors may be one of the most unappreciated actors of the 70s. That, or he was completely whacked out of his head during filming. This guy runs through Los Angeles looking exactly like the kind of guy who would plot the doom of society. Hell, his eyebrows look like they could jump off his head and eat a person. This is one intense looking dude.
Connors has been planting bombs around the city and at one target he's seen by a virulent rapist whose just trying to grab another victim. What Bert I. Gordon does with this outline is unexpected and wonderful. He shows the daily existence of these cretins. Connors goes around with a chip on his shoulder bigger than his actual shoulder. Only in a Mr. B.I.G. movie would you see a rampaging lunatic shop for his food before he flips out on a cashier at a Ralph's grocery store for not providing proper service. The rapist is also shown in his private places. Like when he masturbates to soft-core porn of his wife! And it's not like she's gone or dead or anything. This middle-aged, puffy housefrau just likes to keep her lovin' hubby happy.
Despite working with a restrictive budget, Gordon manages some oddly contrived but surprisingly effective explosion scenes. Especially wonderful is the first one at a high school with plenty of young victims. There's a hilarious scene where Connors infiltrates a meeting of feminists only to plant a bomb underneath the chicken they've ordered for the snack. As with most movies directed by the incomparable Gordon, this film lays on the sleaze in dollops not veneer. Vince Edwards, the cop pursuing Connors, finds his investigation leading to a strip club. As he interviews one stripper backstage, the one on stage is in the frame behind Edwards. Only Bert I. Gordon would remember to put the girl in that shot! To make clear his commitment to the case, Edwards says one of the most memorable lines in the movie. "Let me blanket the city with policewomen just begging to be raped!" If that makes you laugh, run to find the uncut version of this masterpiece. If such dialog has you wondering whatever happened to Paddy Chayefsky, then go nowhere near this or any other Bert I. Gordon work.
It pre-figures "Falling Down" and is a thousand times more satisfying. An almost unrecognizable Chuck Connors plays the most angry, righteous, and hateful in LA. His daughter has died of a drug overdose, and like most Angelenos, he chooses to blame the town for his bad luck. This performance is so brave, so unaffected and balls out, that I suspect Chuck Connors may be one of the most unappreciated actors of the 70s. That, or he was completely whacked out of his head during filming. This guy runs through Los Angeles looking exactly like the kind of guy who would plot the doom of society. Hell, his eyebrows look like they could jump off his head and eat a person. This is one intense looking dude.
Connors has been planting bombs around the city and at one target he's seen by a virulent rapist whose just trying to grab another victim. What Bert I. Gordon does with this outline is unexpected and wonderful. He shows the daily existence of these cretins. Connors goes around with a chip on his shoulder bigger than his actual shoulder. Only in a Mr. B.I.G. movie would you see a rampaging lunatic shop for his food before he flips out on a cashier at a Ralph's grocery store for not providing proper service. The rapist is also shown in his private places. Like when he masturbates to soft-core porn of his wife! And it's not like she's gone or dead or anything. This middle-aged, puffy housefrau just likes to keep her lovin' hubby happy.
Despite working with a restrictive budget, Gordon manages some oddly contrived but surprisingly effective explosion scenes. Especially wonderful is the first one at a high school with plenty of young victims. There's a hilarious scene where Connors infiltrates a meeting of feminists only to plant a bomb underneath the chicken they've ordered for the snack. As with most movies directed by the incomparable Gordon, this film lays on the sleaze in dollops not veneer. Vince Edwards, the cop pursuing Connors, finds his investigation leading to a strip club. As he interviews one stripper backstage, the one on stage is in the frame behind Edwards. Only Bert I. Gordon would remember to put the girl in that shot! To make clear his commitment to the case, Edwards says one of the most memorable lines in the movie. "Let me blanket the city with policewomen just begging to be raped!" If that makes you laugh, run to find the uncut version of this masterpiece. If such dialog has you wondering whatever happened to Paddy Chayefsky, then go nowhere near this or any other Bert I. Gordon work.
Good story to it, but doesn't make it to the success of other action films.
EraserheadDr6 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** I actually think the film has a good story to it, but it doesn't stand out to be the best action film ever or something. It stars Chuck Connors, Vince Edwards, and Neville Brand.
It's about a mad bomber(Chuck Connors) who bombs buildings and areas for revenge, the death of his daughter from drugs, and some other reasons. Since the police are looking for the bomber, the rapist(Neville Brand) seen one look at the bomber's face and was gone.
So a hard-nosed cop is looking for both of them. So he comes and arrests the rapist one night, and is asking him what the bomber looked like. So he then tells him, and they search him down. The bomber then drives a red van with explosives while the cop follows him to a trap and the bomber blows himself up.
So for me, I think the film is okay. It also has some good music in the film. The bomber listens to a tape that his daughter made for him, and it has some funky 70's cop music in some parts. So if you like what you read and you're interested, then I suppose check it out if it's at a fair price.
It's about a mad bomber(Chuck Connors) who bombs buildings and areas for revenge, the death of his daughter from drugs, and some other reasons. Since the police are looking for the bomber, the rapist(Neville Brand) seen one look at the bomber's face and was gone.
So a hard-nosed cop is looking for both of them. So he comes and arrests the rapist one night, and is asking him what the bomber looked like. So he then tells him, and they search him down. The bomber then drives a red van with explosives while the cop follows him to a trap and the bomber blows himself up.
So for me, I think the film is okay. It also has some good music in the film. The bomber listens to a tape that his daughter made for him, and it has some funky 70's cop music in some parts. So if you like what you read and you're interested, then I suppose check it out if it's at a fair price.
Dynamite sleaze.
EyeAskance20 August 2004
One of the more solid selections from the Bert I. Gordon roster, "The Mad Bomber" is the heartwarming tale of a man spiraling into insanity who decides that the sinful world needs to be punished through serial bombings. Chuck Connors plays this part well, but it's Neville Brand's show all the way as a pathetic scumbag rapist who holds the key to stopping the T.N.T maniac. Fairly terse low-budgeter is quite grueling at times, and deserves more substantial notoriety.
A flick likely to turn up on a local TV "Late, Late, Late Show", though possibly missing some of the more graphic moments. Still, worth a look and recommended.
5.5/10
A flick likely to turn up on a local TV "Late, Late, Late Show", though possibly missing some of the more graphic moments. Still, worth a look and recommended.
5.5/10
A must see!!
frankdaft11 May 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the most disturbing and haunting films i have ever seen!!!! Seriously go and watch it,you can get it for five bucks on DVD. It's about a bloke who goes around bombing schools,hospitals etc,etc.There's also a rapist on the loose who is the only one who knows what the mad bomber looks like as he was raping a mute chick in the hospital just before hand,there's also a tough as nails cop on the trail of them both.
This film is WAY MORE than just typical sleazy exploitation,the scene where the mute girl uses sign language to describe how ashamed she feels and wants to die is harrowing,as is the mad bombers photographic flashbacks of his daughters death by over dosing(this scene uses really beautiful music,which also plays over the end credits) There's no happy ending in this film for anyone(except for the rest of the people in LA who don't die)
One of the best movies i have ever seen EVER,if you like flicks like Henry:portrait of a serial killer then watch The Mad Bomber. I GAURANTEE YOU WONT BE Disappointed :!: :!: :!:
This film is WAY MORE than just typical sleazy exploitation,the scene where the mute girl uses sign language to describe how ashamed she feels and wants to die is harrowing,as is the mad bombers photographic flashbacks of his daughters death by over dosing(this scene uses really beautiful music,which also plays over the end credits) There's no happy ending in this film for anyone(except for the rest of the people in LA who don't die)
One of the best movies i have ever seen EVER,if you like flicks like Henry:portrait of a serial killer then watch The Mad Bomber. I GAURANTEE YOU WONT BE Disappointed :!: :!: :!:
A Bert Gordon Film Without a B.I.G. Monster
Sargebri20 June 2005
This is probably the only decent film that Bert I. Gordon ever did in his career. The story film is full of tension as we see the protagonist, Geronimo Minelli, not only hunting down the bomber, but he must also try to save the life of the creepy rapist who witnessed his second bombing. Vince Edwards does a pretty good job playing Minelli and Chuck Connors is good as Dorn, the title bomber. Connors really shows how much he really wants to get back at the people he feels has wronged him, and goes about his "work" with such cold, unemotional efficiency. However, Neville Brand steals the film as the rapist. Brand showed why he was one of the more popular villains in film with his disturbing performance. Its a shame that this picture isn't shown on television anymore.
Surprise movie for Bert I Gordon but maybe his ever best.
searchanddestroy-121 July 2022
I am amazed by this picture which I would have never bet a dime on Bert Gordon as the film maker; especially regarding the usual Gordon's topics: science fiction stuff about monsters and gigantism, lousy pictures actually, cheap, with no support from Ray Harryhausen's special effects. Chuck Connors has an important role here, not only Vince Edwards, and Connors gives his very best performance in this suspense urban thriller. I still scratch my head about Bert Gordon making this film, as if George Sidney or John Ford had made an horror film. But the biggest interest here is the question: who is the real bad guy? Chuck Connors or Neville Brand?
A choice chunk of 70's exploitation schlock
Woodyanders6 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Bitter and hard-nosed Lt. Geronimo Minelli (a terrifically tough performance by Vince Edwards) requires the assistance of scuzzy no-count rapist George Fromley (gruffly essayed with growly gusto by Neville Brand) in order to identify and arrest vengeful mad bomber William Dorn (a marvelously cantankerous portrayal by Chuck Connors). Writer/director Bert I. Gordon keeps the entertaining story moving along at a brisk pace, maintains a resolutely gritty, sordid, and cynical tone throughout, and delivers several scenes of gruesome violence as well as a pleasing plethora of tasty gratuitous female nudity (special props to Ilona Wilson as Fromley's eager to please wife for happily letting it all hang out in her creepy hubby's skeevy home stag movies). Moreover, the three leads all have a field day playing their colorfully wacky characters, with Connor's furious tirades against obnoxious folks who make him angry in particular providing the film's most hysterically campy moments. Michel Menton's right-on funky score hits the get-down groovy spot. A real trashy treat.
Mr B.I.G hits B.I.G
thecynictheratandthefist4 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Far and away the best film Bert I Gordon ever put his name to, THE MAD BOMBER is, on the surface, a routine police thriller that's uninspired as far as music, photography, etc goes. Where it's made much better than it had any right to be is with three great performances by the main leads - none of whom are . In an even better twist, it's the rapist who's probably the most 'sane' of the three! Vince Edwards is a bitter, almost Hitler-ish detective who routinely abuses his authority - where it be threatening witnesses at gunpoint, breaking and entering, or beating them half to death. He's out to catch a broken-down madman (Connors) who starts blowing buildings up out of revenge. And the only person who can provide any clues to finding the bomber is a rapist (Brand).
Edwards is great as the unhinged cop who falls slightly to the right of Judge Dredd. Brand - well-versed in dealing with gruff, sleazy characters - gives another memorable turn as a gruff and sleazy rapist. But it's Connors that steals the show (this is definitely his best performance!), and every scene he's in are the highlights of the movie. His villain is actually quite sympathetic, even though for a criminal, his behaviour isn't exactly low-profile - he can't even leave the house without attacking or arguing with somebody.
Gordon keeps things nice and fast-moving, and there are very few slow spots in the movie. And there's a good deal of suspense to be had in the last 15-20 minutes, where the bomber hopes to right the wrongs done to him, and he's going make the whole of L.A listen! How come movies like this don't get made now?
Though it's well worth seeing even in its cut version, THE MAD BOMBER is much more effective in its entirety and actually emerges as one of the more violent and sleazy thrillers to come out of the 1970s. As one reviewer has already pointed out, it has more gore, more nudity and more profanity (there's about five minutes extra footage) than most releases. For those who are curious to seek it out, the versions to get are either the American 'Program Hunters' tape or the Canadian 'Marquis' tape (which has quite a dark print) under the title THE POLICE CONNECTION. Every other video release - Stateside or no - and ALL DVD releases are the cut version.
Edwards is great as the unhinged cop who falls slightly to the right of Judge Dredd. Brand - well-versed in dealing with gruff, sleazy characters - gives another memorable turn as a gruff and sleazy rapist. But it's Connors that steals the show (this is definitely his best performance!), and every scene he's in are the highlights of the movie. His villain is actually quite sympathetic, even though for a criminal, his behaviour isn't exactly low-profile - he can't even leave the house without attacking or arguing with somebody.
Gordon keeps things nice and fast-moving, and there are very few slow spots in the movie. And there's a good deal of suspense to be had in the last 15-20 minutes, where the bomber hopes to right the wrongs done to him, and he's going make the whole of L.A listen! How come movies like this don't get made now?
Though it's well worth seeing even in its cut version, THE MAD BOMBER is much more effective in its entirety and actually emerges as one of the more violent and sleazy thrillers to come out of the 1970s. As one reviewer has already pointed out, it has more gore, more nudity and more profanity (there's about five minutes extra footage) than most releases. For those who are curious to seek it out, the versions to get are either the American 'Program Hunters' tape or the Canadian 'Marquis' tape (which has quite a dark print) under the title THE POLICE CONNECTION. Every other video release - Stateside or no - and ALL DVD releases are the cut version.
Highly Entertaining Mix of Action and Sleaze
Michael_Elliott27 February 2018
The Police Connection (1973)
*** (out of 4)
A Los Angeles cop (Vince Edwards) is trying to track down a mad bomber (Chuck Connors) but he hasn't any witness or evidence. This all changes when the bomber attacks a hospital at the same time a rapist (Neville Brand) attacks a woman. The cop figures if he can catch the rapist he can then find out who the bomber is.
Bert I. Gordon will always be remembered for his "big" movies like THE AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN, VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS and THE CYCLOPS but this film here is very far from them. In fact, I must say that this here is the best movie I've seen from Gordon and it's a real shame that he didn't continue making movies like this. If you know the director then you know he followed this up returning to his "big" roots with THE FOOD OF THE GODS and EMPIRE OF THE ANTS.
I was really shocked at how entertaining this film was and especially in its uncut form. Gordon made a career out of "safe" movies but that's certainly not the case here as it earns its R-rating. The violence is quite graphic at times but what really stands out is the sleaze factor. You've got all sorts of full frontal nudity as well as some kinky moments dealing with a subplot of the rapist. Not only do you have some great explosions that shows off the action but the rape scenes are also filmed quite well for this period.
The performances here are another major plus. Edwards is extremely good and believable as the cop who will stop at nothing to bring down the bomber. Brand gets the sleazy role as the rapist and he does an extremely effective job with it. His character is certainly lower than dirt and Brand's performance just makes you feel how dirty this guy is. I was also very impressed with Connors who was flawless in the role as the bomber. This guy has several mental issues and I thought the actor perfectly captured all of this.
The film, also known as THE MAD BOMBER, was apparently really cut down for its television and video release so you certainly want to make sure that you're watching the uncut version. The sleaze and action factor are quite high and that makes this Gordon's best picture.
*** (out of 4)
A Los Angeles cop (Vince Edwards) is trying to track down a mad bomber (Chuck Connors) but he hasn't any witness or evidence. This all changes when the bomber attacks a hospital at the same time a rapist (Neville Brand) attacks a woman. The cop figures if he can catch the rapist he can then find out who the bomber is.
Bert I. Gordon will always be remembered for his "big" movies like THE AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN, VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS and THE CYCLOPS but this film here is very far from them. In fact, I must say that this here is the best movie I've seen from Gordon and it's a real shame that he didn't continue making movies like this. If you know the director then you know he followed this up returning to his "big" roots with THE FOOD OF THE GODS and EMPIRE OF THE ANTS.
I was really shocked at how entertaining this film was and especially in its uncut form. Gordon made a career out of "safe" movies but that's certainly not the case here as it earns its R-rating. The violence is quite graphic at times but what really stands out is the sleaze factor. You've got all sorts of full frontal nudity as well as some kinky moments dealing with a subplot of the rapist. Not only do you have some great explosions that shows off the action but the rape scenes are also filmed quite well for this period.
The performances here are another major plus. Edwards is extremely good and believable as the cop who will stop at nothing to bring down the bomber. Brand gets the sleazy role as the rapist and he does an extremely effective job with it. His character is certainly lower than dirt and Brand's performance just makes you feel how dirty this guy is. I was also very impressed with Connors who was flawless in the role as the bomber. This guy has several mental issues and I thought the actor perfectly captured all of this.
The film, also known as THE MAD BOMBER, was apparently really cut down for its television and video release so you certainly want to make sure that you're watching the uncut version. The sleaze and action factor are quite high and that makes this Gordon's best picture.
Very Excellent I own this movie
DJKerr15 June 2002
Very Excellent movie I own This movie and could watch it over and over again what more could be said. Hank Brandt and Chuck Connors were very good. But with all the terrorism in the world and after the September 11 attacks I am not to sure it is a good idea to make any more of this type of movie. David J Kerr Minneapolis Minnesota
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