The Glass Shield (1994)

Two cops become compelled to act against corruption and discrimination within their police precinct.

Director:

Charles Burnett

Writers:

Charles Burnett, John Eddie Johnson (screenplay "One of Us")

Stars:

Michael Boatman, Lori Petty, Erich Anderson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Erich Anderson	...	District Attorney Ira Kern
Richard Anderson	...	Watch Commander Clarence Massey
Thomas Babson	...	U.S. Marshall
Monty Bane	...	Coroner
Ernie Lee Banks	...	Mr. Woods
Michael Boatman	...	Deputy J.J. Johnson
Jean Hubbard-Boone	...	Mrs. Woods
James Boyce	...	Paramedic #1
Gaye Shannon-Burnett	...	Woman Driver
Bernie Casey	...	James Locket
Linden Chiles	...	Sergeant Berry Foster
Janet Claire	...	Juror
Victor Contreras	...	Mr. Cruz
Wanda De Jesus	...	Carmen Munoz
Bill Dearth	...	Guard

Storyline

J.J. is a rookie in the Sheriff's Department and the first black officer at that station. Racial tensions run high in the department as some of J.J.'s fellow officers resent his presence. His only real friend is the other new trooper, the first female officer to work there, who also suffers similar discrimination in the otherwise all-white-male work environment. When J.J. becomes increasingly aware of police corruption during the murder trial of Teddy Woods, who he helped to arrest, he faces difficult decisions and puts himself into great personal danger in the service of justice.

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Plot Keywords:

police corruption | rookie | sheriff | murder | police | 

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Taglines:

In a world filled with violence... his only weapon is the truth!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense dramatic material

Did You Know?

Trivia

Teddy Woods (Ice Cube) says. "Like the song says, 'My skin is my sin,'" which is the title of one of Cube's B-sides.

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Goofs

At the beginning of the film Johnson's training officer, Chuck Gilmore, gets upset with him for not ticketing the woman in the red convertible for speeding and Gilmore decides to take over the wheel himself. Immediately after that we see their car chasing the red convertible again with a brief shot during the chase of Gilmore sitting in the passenger seat.

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Quotes

Detective Gene Baker: Save your judgements for when you make detective. In the meantime, just keep the traffic flowing.

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Connections

Referenced in Love and Death on Long Island (1997)

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Soundtracks

Black Man Sings the Blues
Performed by Lance Eaton and Ernie Lee Banks (as Ernie Banks)
Music and Lyrics by Stephen James Taylor, BMI

User Reviews

Terrible movie

This movie has got to be one of the worst, most leftist, racially biased movie ever made about cops and non-black people. It feeds into the racial tensions and further perpetuates the myth that all cops and people in office are evil and corrupt. I was watching this movie thinking it should be taking place in Mexico or Russia. However I can't imagine the corruption being that bad even in those countries. This movie had absolutely no technical advisors, no realism, no factuality and was poorly written. On one scene, I saw one of the main character wearing his police uniform with white sneakers. I've never seen that before. The list goes on and on but I wont waste anymore our my time or yours. This is something I would totally expect though from rapper Ice Cube. I'm surprised Snoop Dog didn't make an appearance in this movie. Don't waste your time on this trash.

Details

Country:

France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 June 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Auf Ehre und Gewissen

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,146,748, 4 June 1995

Gross USA:

$3,291,163

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,291,163

Company Credits

Production Co:

CiBy 2000, Miramax

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1