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IMDbPro

The Laughing Policeman

  • 19731973
  • RR
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
The Laughing Policeman (1973)
In San Francisco, California, one victim in a mass murder is a police detective. His partner and a new partner investigate in the city's seamy side.
Play trailer3:36
1 Video
58 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller
In San Francisco, California, one victim in a mass murder is a police detective. His partner and a new partner investigate in the city's seamy side.In San Francisco, California, one victim in a mass murder is a police detective. His partner and a new partner investigate in the city's seamy side.In San Francisco, California, one victim in a mass murder is a police detective. His partner and a new partner investigate in the city's seamy side.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Stuart Rosenberg
  • Writers
    • Thomas Rickman(screenplay)
    • Per Wahlöö(novel "Den skrattande polisen")
    • Maj Sjöwall(novel "Den skrattande polisen")
  • Stars
    • Walter Matthau
    • Bruce Dern
    • Louis Gossett Jr.
Top credits
  • Director
    • Stuart Rosenberg
  • Writers
    • Thomas Rickman(screenplay)
    • Per Wahlöö(novel "Den skrattande polisen")
    • Maj Sjöwall(novel "Den skrattande polisen")
  • Stars
    • Walter Matthau
    • Bruce Dern
    • Louis Gossett Jr.
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 44User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:36
    Official Trailer

    Photos58

    Walter Matthau, Bruce Dern, Louis Gossett Jr., and Cathy Lee Crosby in The Laughing Policeman (1973)
    Anthony Zerbe in The Laughing Policeman (1973)
    Joanna Cassidy and Bruce Dern in The Laughing Policeman (1973)
    Walter Matthau, Bruce Dern, and Gregory Sierra in The Laughing Policeman (1973)
    Bruce Dern in The Laughing Policeman (1973)
    The Laughing Policeman (1973)
    Walter Matthau and Bruce Dern in The Laughing Policeman (1973)
    Walter Matthau, Bruce Dern, and Louis Gossett Jr. in The Laughing Policeman (1973)
    Walter Matthau and Bruce Dern in The Laughing Policeman (1973)
    Walter Matthau in The Laughing Policeman (1973)
    Louis Gossett Jr., Val Avery, and David Moody in The Laughing Policeman (1973)
    Walter Matthau and Bruce Dern in The Laughing Policeman (1973)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Walter Matthau
    Walter Matthau
    • Jake Martinas Jake Martin
    Bruce Dern
    Bruce Dern
    • Larsenas Larsen
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    • Larrimoreas Larrimore
    • (as Lou Gossett)
    Albert Paulsen
    Albert Paulsen
    • Camereroas Camerero
    Anthony Zerbe
    Anthony Zerbe
    • Steineras Steiner
    Val Avery
    Val Avery
    • Pappasas Pappas
    Cathy Lee Crosby
    Cathy Lee Crosby
    • Kayas Kay
    Mario Gallo
    Mario Gallo
    • Bobby Mowas Bobby Mow
    Joanna Cassidy
    Joanna Cassidy
    • Monicaas Monica
    Shirley Ballard
    • Graceas Grace
    William Hansen
    William Hansen
    • Schwermeras Schwermer
    Don Borisenko
    • Collinsas Collins
    • (as Jonas Wolfe)
    Paul Koslo
    Paul Koslo
    • Haygoodas Haygood
    Louis Guss
    • Gus Nilesas Gus Niles
    Frances Lee McCain
    Frances Lee McCain
    • Prostituteas Prostitute
    • (as Lee McCain)
    David Moody
    • Pimpas Pimp
    Ivan Bookman
    • Rodneyas Rodney
    Clifton James
    Clifton James
    • Maloneyas Maloney
    • Director
      • Stuart Rosenberg
    • Writers
      • Thomas Rickman(screenplay)
      • Per Wahlöö(novel "Den skrattande polisen")
      • Maj Sjöwall(novel "Den skrattande polisen")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Bruce Dern's autobiography, it was Walter Matthau's idea to have Dern, known mainly as a character actor, share top billing with him for this film, a gesture for which Dern was most grateful.
    • Goofs
      The actual gun used in the film is a Smith & Wesson M76 9mm machine gun without the barrel shroud and not an M3 .45 caliber "Grease Gun" made by GM Guide Lamp Division for WWII use. The omission of the barrel shroud gives the appearance of an M3. If one sticks to the story line, the M3 magazine held 30 rounds .45 ACP and cycled around 450 rpm. This is sufficient to inflict the damage and wounds shown in the film.
    • Quotes

      Insp. James Larrimore SFPD: [to pimp he has just pushed to the floor] What ever you're reaching for better be a sandwich coz you're gonna have to eat it!

    • Connections
      Edited into The Green Fog (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Give Me the Simple Life
      (uncredited)

      Music by Rube Bloom

      Played on the clock radio

    User reviews44

    Review
    Top review
    Unjustly obscure police depiction
    For some reason, this crime drama is almost completely overlooked. Even though it has it's faults, it is mostly a terrific examination of a police investigation. (In fact, in Australia, it was titled "Investigation of a Murder" which is far more apt a title than what it is here.) Matthau plays a police detective whose partner has been gunned down in a mass murder aboard a city bus. He is paired with Dern to find out if there's a connection between the massacre and the policeman's presence on the bus. They form an uneasy alliance (due to their clashing personalities and styles of working) and attempt to solve the baffling case. Gossett makes a strong impression as a fellow detective, though his character sort of drifts out of the picture at some point. Crosby and Cassidy have small, early roles as women who were affected by the murders. What's brilliant about the film is the wondrous verisimilitude and almost complete authenticity of the settings and performances. Only occasionally, can someone be caught "acting". Most of the time, the camera acts in an almost documentary fashion, eavesdropping on the various events and conversations. This type of gritty, realistic, matter-of-fact film is simply not made anymore today. The comparatively simple bus massacre is more striking and vivid than any of the overdone action scenes that litter all of today's films. There's a stark quality to the production that fits it well. Where the film strays is in it's endless cop vignettes which don't always have anything to do with the plot and which distract from, rather than enhance, the story. It's as if the writers tried to include too much from the source novel and wound up muddying the waters of the primary story. This also makes the film hard to follow at times. What's priceless is the display of the unmistakably tacky clothes and furnishings of the 1970's. There are also amusing glimpses into the San Francisco gay bar scene with real patrons displaying their faces (sometimes made up in drag) before the camera. Matthau says little in the film, but holds the attention with his various personal demons and conflicts. He chews gum incessantly and listens to standards on his radio to keep his emotions in check. Dern, as a more lively sort, is a great counterpoint and holds his own nicely. The mystery winds up being not all that big a mystery at all, but there's still a decent payoff with a "French Connection-esquire" car chase through San Francisco.
    helpful•32
    4
    • Poseidon-3
    • Nov 5, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 23, 1974 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tvrdoglavi policajac iz San Franciska
    • Filming locations
      • 156 Robinhood Drive, San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,280,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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