Vice Squad (1982)

A Los Angeles businesswoman, known only by her street name of Princess, turns to prostitution to support herself and her young daughter when she's forced by Detective Tom Walsh and his vice... See full summary »

Director:

Gary Sherman (as Gary A. Sherman)

Writers:

Sandy Howard, Kenneth Peters

Stars:

Season Hubley, Gary Swanson, Wings Hauser

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Season Hubley	...	Princess
Gary Swanson	...	Tom Walsh
Wings Hauser	...	Ramrod
Pepe Serna	...	Pete Mendez
Beverly Todd	...	Louise Williams
Joseph Di Giroloma	...	Kowalski (as Joseph DiGiroloma)
Maurice Emanuel	...	Edwards
Wayne Hackett	...	Christian Sorenson
Nina Blackwood	...	Ginger
Sudana Bobatoon	...	Dixie
Lydia Lei	...	Coco
Kelly Piper	...	Blue Chip
Kristoffer Anders	...	Sergeant Brooks
Joseph Baroncini	...	Ted
Fred Berry	...	Sugar Pimp

Storyline

A Los Angeles businesswoman, known only by her street name of Princess, turns to prostitution to support herself and her young daughter when she's forced by Detective Tom Walsh and his vice squad to help them arrest a brutal pimp named Ramrod for the murder of a prostitute named Ginger. But when Ramrod learns that he was set up, he escapes from police custody and begins a long night of tracking down Princess while Walsh and his vice squad are always one step behind him.

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Plot Keywords:

prostitute | pimp | misogynist | wire hanger | cruelty | 

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Taglines:

On the street, the real trick is staying alive.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nachtratten

Filming Locations:

Tiffany Theatre, 8532 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, California , USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$237,811, 24 January 1982, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$13,253,583

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dynamic, Hemdale

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Season Hubley once said of her role in this movie that it was "the most emotionally harrowing experience of [her] career."

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Goofs

The scene where the two plain-clothes police officers are taking Ramrod to the precinct for the booking of Ginger's murder. Ramrod (Wings Hauser) manages to overpower them and causes police officer Pete Mendez (Pepe Serna) driving to crash. We see the car crash from a side vantage point, then we see it crash from a head-on position. It is the same crash filmed from two different angles using two cameras. In a little economizing, the filmmakers get two separate shots of the same crash so as not to have to set up twice for a matching crash shot.

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Quotes

Ramrod: Let me see a warrant right now, boy.
Pete Mendez: Warrants? We don't need no stinkin' warrants because we're holding them in our right hand, buffalo breath!

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Alternate Versions

The UK cinema version was heavily cut by over 6 minutes by the BBFC to edit scenes of violence and torture including Ramrod's torture of Ginger with the pimp stick (twisted wire coat-hangers) and shots of Princess being assaulted and beaten. The 1987 Embassy video release was the pre-edited U.S TV version which ran around 4 minutes shorter, removed most of the violent scenes, and was dubbed to delete nearly all the profanity.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Two of a Kind (2014)

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Soundtracks

Neon Slime
Lyrics by Simon Stokes
Music by Joe Renzetti
Performed by Wings Hauser

User Reviews

Walking the scene.

Gary Sherman's "Vice Squad" is all show, but powerfully biting and sordid exploitation of the seedy strip of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard when the sun finally goes down. For such luridly unpleasant context, the film manages to amuses with rousing suspense, sharply-witted (if foul) script and its authentically raw atmosphere. Even the performances figure prominently. Wing Hauser deservedly dominates the limelight as the frighteningly, aggressive pimp Ramrod. His turn is that of pure spontaneous and nightmarish intensity. Truly hard to forget. Gary Swanson's courageously humane performance as Detective Walsh, the leader of the 'Vice squad' is downright solid, and there's a confidently brassy and strong-willed go-it-alone portrayal by Season Hubley as the prostitute Princess that Ramrod is after for setting him up. The support cast racks up recognizable bit players (Pepa Serna, Beverly Todd, Maurice Emanuel, Nina Blackwood, Michael Ensign, Cheryl Smith, Fred Berry and the list goes on) of rich characterisations. Sherman's sensationally gripping direction doesn't let up or beat around the bush, as he cranks up the energy and brutality. Still there's a slickly professional manner about it, and cinematographer John Alcott shots it with great ticker, and stylish verve. The screeching rock title track "Neon Slime" sung by Hauser sets the tone, and the saucy score has a feverish pitch that enhances the downbeat atmosphere and daring intensity.