Number One with a Bullet (1987)

A pair of detectives is assigned to investigate a murder, and discover a trail of corruption and criminal activity that leads right back to their own police department.

Director:

Jack Smight

Writers:

Gail Morgan Hickman (story), Gail Morgan Hickman (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Carradine, Billy Dee Williams, Valerie Bertinelli

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Carradine	...	Det. Barzak
Billy Dee Williams	...	Det. Hazeltine
Valerie Bertinelli	...	Teresa Barzak
Peter Graves	...	Capt. Ferris
Doris Roberts	...	Mrs. Barzak
Bobby Di Cicco	...	Malcolm
Ray Girardin	...	Lt. Kaminski
Barry Sattels	...	DeCosta
Mykelti Williamson	...	Casey (as Mykel T. Williamson)
Jon Gries	...	Bobby Sweet (as Jonathan Gries)
Richard Minchenberg	...	Lepidus
Michael Goodwin	...	Pogue
LaGena Hart	...	Blonde
Alex Rebar	...	Boudreau
Artie Ripp	...	Rotweiler

Storyline

After a string of bad luck with their undercover operations, a duo of narcotics cops realizes that there must be a mole in their department, and their suspicion falls on their own captain, who never gives them a break. Nick, the hothead who's still in love with his ex-wife, is determined to prove that a local respected businessman is the head of the organization. But his pragmatic & debonair partner, Frank, agrees with the entire rest of the police force: Nick is crazy. After a forced vacation, they go a little beyond the law to bust the crime boss & find the mole.

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Plot Keywords:

homosexual subtext | police officer | police officer killed | police officer shot | police officer killed in hospital | 

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alvos Humanos

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$410,952

Company Credits

Production Co:

Golan-Globus Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Belsuhi was originally cast as Detective Nicholas Barzak. Belushi even worked on the screenplay, but other commitments got in the way and he was replaced by Robert Carradine. Belushi received a "screenplay by" on the film.

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Goofs

When the airplane stops, Nick lurches forward in his seat, and the left wing is visible out the window. The angle immediately reverses to outside the plane, and both wings are totally buried in hay.

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Quotes

Boudreau: I killed a LOTTA guys with a shotgun. I always wondered what it felt like... It SUCKS!
[Dies]

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Connections

Referenced in Best of the Worst: Supergirl, Captain America (1990), and Roger Corman's Fantastic Four (2014)

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Soundtracks

Canyon Blues
Words and Music by Martin J. Bram

User Reviews

"NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET"... more bang for the buck.

Here we have an enjoyable buddy cop film, fresh from the buddy cop hey-day of the mid '80's. Robert Carradine plays Nick Berzak (dubbed "Berzerk" by the perps who know him best), a rough and tough cop who always seems to be down on his luck. His partner, Hazeltine (played by the original "Ladies Man", Billy Dee Williams), is the one who keeps him in line. A perfect combination of good cop, bad cop.

They're hot on the trail, with their gut instinct that the local mayor, DeCosta, is behind some elaborate drug smuggling connection. Naturally, no one else on the police force believes either one of them, and it becomes clear throughout that there is a "rat" among them, who may be in on the scheme.

Like I said, I found this enjoyable. It's merely a "paint-by-numbers" action film, that is salvaged by the likeable charms of Carradine and Williams, with a good supporting cast headed by Peter Graves and Valerie Bertinelli. If you are a fan of the Cannon Group and their "canon" of '80's action flicks, you should enjoy this.

Story by Gail Morgan Hickman, who also wrote the Cannon/Charles Bronson films, "MURPHY'S LAW" and "DEATH WISH 4: THE CRACKDOWN". The script recieved a polish by James Belushi, to whom this film was initially intended as a starring vehicle.

* For added fun, one could develop a drinking game based on every time Carradine spouts the name "DeCosta".