Serpico (1973)

An honest New York cop named Frank Serpico blows the whistle on rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him.

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

Peter Maas (book), Waldo Salt (screenplay)

Stars:

Al Pacino, John Randolph, Jack Kehoe

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Al Pacino	...	Serpico
John Randolph	...	Sidney Green
Jack Kehoe	...	Tom Keough
Biff McGuire	...	Captain McClain
Barbara Eda-Young	...	Laurie (as Barbara eda-Young)
Cornelia Sharpe	...	Leslie
Tony Roberts	...	Bob Blair
John Medici	...	Pasquale
Allan Rich	...	D.A. Tauber
Norman Ornellas	...	Rubello
Edward Grover	...	Lombardo (as Ed Grover)
Albert Henderson	...	Peluce (as Al Henderson)
Hank Garrett	...	Malone
Damien Leake	...	Joey
Joseph Bova	...	Potts (as Joe Bova)

Storyline

Serpico is a cop in the 1960s-early 1970s. Unlike all his colleagues, he refuses a share of the money that the cops routinely extort from local criminals. Nobody wants to work with Serpico, and he's in constant danger of being placed in life threatening positions by his "partners". Nothing seems to get done even when he goes to the highest of authorities. Despite the dangers he finds himself in, he still refuses to 'go with the flow', in the hope that one day, the truth will be known.

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Plot Keywords:

police corruption | police | corruption | new york city | undercover cop | 

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Taglines:

Many of his fellow officers considered him the most dangerous man alive - An honest cop.

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Barbara Eda-Young.

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Goofs

Serpico was shot in his face and operated on. He subsequently wakes up after the operation with his beard intact. The Emergency Room personnel would have shaved it off to treat the injuries caused by his being shot in the cheek.

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Quotes

Leslie: [sitting naked, face to face, in a bathtub] Well, this is a good place to tell you, Paco. You know that guy in Texas I was telling you about?
Serpico: Yeah. What about him?
Leslie: I'm gonna marry him in two months - unless you marry me.
Serpico: What about the theater and your dancing?
Leslie: A girl has to get married sometime.
Serpico: Well, you're a long way from sometime, Leslie.

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Alternate Versions

There is one Australian VHS version released through RCA Columbia Pictures Hoyts Home Video in the 1980s which had all profanity overdubbed with tamer language, as well as some scenes of sexuality/nudity. Subsequent releases on DVD are uncensored.

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Connections

Referenced in Final Jeopardy (2001)

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Soundtracks

E Lucevan le Stelle
(uncredited)
from "Tosca"
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Performed by Giuseppe Di Stefano

User Reviews

The first real power-house performance by Pacino, thirty years down the line still one of his finest

Sidney Lumet proved himself to be a highly competent and effective director/storyteller for the true story of New York Officer Frank Serpico, who became famous after appearing to testify before the NAPA Commission about payoffs and corruption in the Police Department. At the time, it was unheard of, and it gained Peter Maars attention to write the book, which thus got transferred to the screen as so. But what makes Serpico such a riveting and eye catching picture today are the little things about it, little details in specific scenes and locations that help ring Serpico's emotions far more than true- it's just there. Even more amazing on the part of the actual filming of the movie is that it was at the time filmed backwards (started with the beard, then the mustache, then clean-shaven).

Al Pacino, right off of the first part of the Godfather trilogy, took this role with all the fire and compassion that he had in him. He sees in Serpico not just an honest cop wanting some balance and honor in his work, yet also a man, who can get as joyful and humorous as he can act subtle, furious, and thoughtful. This will always remain one of his stand-out roles after all the Scarfaces and Scent of a Woman pictures he can do because he, as well as Lumet, know how to approach such a saga. Plenty of great, compelling set pieces, and even sweet ones (like when he first buys the sheepdog as a puppy). A+

Details

Country:

Italy USA

Language:

English Italian Spanish

Release Date:

5 December 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Serpico

Filming Locations:

5-7 Minetta Street, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$29,800,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$29,829,963

Company Credits

Production Co:

Artists Entertainment Complex, Produzioni De Laurentiis International Manufacturing Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1