Bad Lieutenant (1992)

While investigating a young nun's rape, a corrupt New York City police detective, with a serious drug and gambling addiction, tries to change his ways and find forgiveness and redemption.

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writers:

Zoë Lund (as Zoe Lund), Abel Ferrara

Stars:

Harvey Keitel, Brian McElroy, Frank Acciarito

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Harvey Keitel	...	LT
Brian McElroy	...	LT's Son (#1)
Frank Acciarito	...	LT's Son (#2) (as Frankie Acciarito)
Peggy Gormley	...	LT's Wife
Stella Keitel	...	LT's Daughter
Dana Dee	...	LT's Baby Girl
Victor Argo	...	Beat Cop
Paul Calderon	...	Cop #1 (as Paul Calderone)
Leonard L. Thomas	...	Cop #2 (as Leonard Thomas)
Anthony Ruggiero	...	Lite
Vincent Laresca	...	JC
Robin Burrows	...	Ariane
Victoria Bastel	...	Bowtay
G. Elvis Phillips	...	Young Cop
Stephen Chen	...	Korean Store Owner

Storyline

A police Lieutenant goes about his daily tasks of investigating homicides, but is more interested in pursuing his vices. He has accumulated a massive debt betting on baseball, and he keeps doubling to try to recover. His bookies are beginning to get agitated. The Lieutenant does copious amounts of drugs, cavorts with prostitutes, and uses his status to take advantage of teenage girls. While investigating a nun's rape, he begins to reflect on his lifestyle.

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Plot Keywords:

drugs | rape | police | gambling | detective | 

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Taglines:

Gambler. Thief. Junkie. Killer. Cop.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for sexual violence, strong sexual situations & dialogue, graphic drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

17 December 1992 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Teniente corrupto

Filming Locations:

1911 Hone Ave Bronx NY 10461

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$47,454, 22 November 1992, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,000,022

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,527,895

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bad Lt. Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 91 min (R-rated)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song, "Pledging My Love" by Johnny Ace, is in this movie, starring Harvey Keitel. This song is also in Mean Streets (1973), also starring Keitel.

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Goofs

When the Lieutenant goes out at night he wears a suit with a red shirt, this can be seen when he is chatting with the girls outside of their car. However, when he enters the church his red dress shirt changes to a red button sweater.

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Quotes

The Lieutenant: Show me how you suck a guy's cock.

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Connections

Spoofed in American Dad!: Cops & Roger (2010)

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Soundtracks

PLEDGING MY LOVE
Written by Don D. Robey (as Robey) / Fats Washington (as Washington)
(P) 1954 Music Corporation of America, Inc.
Performed by Johnny Ace
Used by permission of MCA Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Nothing bad about this movie

Gritty, raw, disturbing, and powerful. Just a few words that describe Abel Ferrara's provocative Bad Lieutenant. It chronicles the downward spiral of a drug addict cop investigating the rape of a nun. It contains one of the best performances ever captured on film by Harvey Keitel. Ferrara's masterpiece is a story of the evils of man and one mans quest for redemption. You'll never forget this movie.