The Seven-Ups (1973)

A tough detective who is part of an elite New York City unit is trying to find out who killed his partner, but uncovers a plot to kidnap mobsters for money.

Director:

Philip D'Antoni

Writers:

Albert Ruben (screenplay), Alexander Jacobs (screenplay)

Stars:

Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Victor Arnold

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roy Scheider	...	Buddy - Seven-Up
Victor Arnold	...	Barilli - Seven-Up
Jerry Leon	...	Mingo - Seven-Up
Ken Kercheval	...	Ansel - Seven-Up
Tony Lo Bianco	...	Vito Lucia
Larry Haines	...	Max Kalish
Richard Lynch	...	Moon
Bill Hickman	...	Bo
Lou Polan	...	Carmine Coltello
Matt Russo	...	Festa
Joe Spinell	...	Toredano
Robert Burr	...	Lt. Hanes
Rex Everhart	...	Inspector Gilson
David Wilson	...	Bobby
Ed Jordan	...	Bruno

Storyline

Buddy, Barilli, Mingo and Ansel, detectives with the NYPD, comprise a secret investigative unit called the Seven-Ups, who, largely undercover, focus on cases leading to felony convictions with prison sentences of seven years or more for the criminals in question. Many within the NYPD who know about the unit don't support the idea of it because of the often unethical way they work on the cases, but their superior, Inspector Gilson, defends the unit solely because of the results. On the sly, Buddy, who is the head of the team, gets much of the information for the cases from Vito Lucia, a childhood friend who still lives and works in the old neighborhood where much of the crime is based. Vito knows that his life could be in danger if the mob finds out that he acts as a snitch for the police. After Buddy starts looking into the loan sharking business of some local mob members, unknown to him some of those mob members are shaken down for a minimum $100,000 apiece, one by one kidnapped for ...

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Plot Keywords:

bagman | fingerman | poliziottesco | north american poliziottesco | ransom | 

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Taglines:

When they're after you, you're gonna hope for a nice stretch in prison. Seven years...and up!

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Reunites Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Bill Hickman, Benny Marino, Randy Jurdensen and Sonny Grosso from The French Connection (all playing different characters, even Scheider, who is still playing a cop based on Grosso).

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Goofs

Near the end of the chase scene when Buddy is approaching the Greyhound bus looking for the hidden Pontiac Grandville, they cross a few sections of road with blacktop repairs. These identical repaired sections are seen multiple times during the edited sequence, making it apparent that the same section of road was used repeatedly.

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Quotes

Buddy Manucci: [looking at the river] You believe we used to swim in that shit?
Vito Lucia the Undertaker: Ehhh, nobody cares anymore.

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Crazy Credits

The 20th Century Fox logo does not appear at the beginning. Instead we get a credit saying "Twentieth Century-Fox Presents".

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Connections

Spoofed in The Big Sleaze (2010)

User Reviews

One of the best police stories

The Seven Ups from a reality standpoint is by far the best produced police drama ever to hit the screen. The story encompasses all the pitfalls and dangers of police undercover work and the alliances between partners as well as the relationships and betrayals of informers. The cast is superb and what made it real and gritty is none of the actors at the time were big stars. The best scene undoubtedly is the ending when Tony Lobianco is pleading with Roy Schieder The music steadily increases and Roy Schieder keeps walking away. The story line is timeless and can be translated every 20 to 25 years in modern remake form. I have been waiting for this movie to be produced on DVD

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

14 December 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Seven-Ups

Filming Locations:

Weehawken Port Imperial, Port Imperial Boulevard, Weehawken, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,425,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Philip D'Antoni Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1