Prince of the City (1981)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

Robert Daley (book)
Jay Presson Allen (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 August 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A cop is turning. Nobody's safe.

Plot:

A New York City narcotics detective reluctantly agrees to cooperate with a special commission investigating police corruption. However, he soon discovers that he's in over his head, and nobody can be trusted.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Corruption | Fur Coat | Neo Noir | Suicide

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Treat Williams	...	Daniel Ciello
Jerry Orbach	...	Gus Levy
Richard Foronjy	...	Joe Marinaro
Don Billett	...	Bill Mayo
Kenny Marino	...	Dom Bando
Carmine Caridi	...	Gino Mascone
Tony Page	...	Raf Alvarez
Norman Parker	...	Rick Cappalino
Paul Roebling	...	Brooks Paige
Bob Balaban	...	Santimassino
James Tolkan	...	District Attorney Polito
Steve Inwood	...	Mario Vincente
Lindsay Crouse	...	Carla Ciello
Matthew Laurance	...	Ronnie Ciello
Tony Turco	...	Socks Ciello
Ronald Maccone	...	Nick Napoli (as Ron Maccone)
Ron Karabatsos	...	Dave DeBennedeto
Tony DiBenedetto	...	Carl Alagretti
Tony Munafo	...	Rocky Gazzo
Robert Christian	...	The King
Lee Richardson	...	Sam Heinsdorff
Lane Smith	...	Tug Barnes
Cosmo Allegretti	...	Marcel Sardino
Bobby Alto	...	Mr. Kanter
Michael Beckett	...	Michael Blomberg
Burton Collins	...	Monty
Henry Ferrentino	...	Older Virginia Guard
Carmine Foresta	...	Ernie Fallacci
Conard Fowkes	...	Elroy Pendleton
Peter Friedman	...	D.A. Goldman
Peter Michael Goetz	...	Attorney Charles Deluth
Lance Henriksen	...	D.A. Burano
Eddie Jones	...	Ned Chippy
Don Leslie	...	D.A. D'Amato
Dana Lorge	...	Ann Mascone
Harry Madsen	...	Bubba Harris
E.D. Miller	...	Sergeant Edelman
Cynthia Nixon	...	Jeannie
Ron Perkins	...	Virginia Trooper
Lionel Pina	...	Sancho
José Angel Santana	...	José (as José Santana)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Walter Brooke	...	Judge (uncredited)
Alan King	...	Himself (uncredited)
Ilana Rapp	...	Beach Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Sidney Lumet

Writing credits
Robert Daley		(book)
Jay Presson Allen		(screenplay) and
Sidney Lumet		(screenplay)

Produced by
Burtt Harris	....	producer
Raymond Hartwick	....	associate producer (as Ray Hartwick)
Jay Presson Allen	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Paul Chihara

Cinematography by
Andrzej Bartkowiak

Film Editing by
Jack Fitzstephens		(as John J. Fitzstephens)

Casting by
Joy Todd

Production Design by
Tony Walton

Costume Design by
Anna Hill Johnstone

Production Management
Barbara De Fina	....	unit manager
Raymond Hartwick	....	production manager (as Ray Hartwick)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan Hopkins	....	assistant director
Robert E. Warren	....	assistant director

Art Department
Gerald DeTitta	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Peter C. Frank	....	supervising sound editor
Stan Bochner	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Hal Levinsohn	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Dan Lieberstein	....	sound editor (uncredited)
James Sabat	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Louis Goldman	....	still photographer
Jim Hovey	....	first assistant camera (as James Hovey)
Michael Stone	....	camera operator
Garrett Brown	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Georges Delerue	....	conductor

Other crew
Lucille Cannon	....	auditor
June Rachel Guterman	....	assistant manager (as June Guterman)
Lilith Jacobs	....	assistant to director
Gabrielle Kelly	....	assistant: Mrs. Allen
Gaetano Lisi	....	location manager
Jennifer Ogden	....	production office coordinator
Martha Pinson	....	script supervisor
Michael Sporn	....	title designer

Production Companies

• Orion Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1984) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1982) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Fazer Musiikki Oy/Fazer Video (????) (Finland) (video)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1996) (Finland) (TV)
• TV3 (1990) (Finland) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)

Runtime:

168 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1982) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Canada:A

Filming Locations:

La Isla Restaurant - 1439 Myrtle Avenue, Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Sidney Lumet agreed to direct under two conditions: he wanted an unknown actor to play Leuci and he wanted the running time to be at least three hours long. Treat Williams was unknown at the time but the final cut was edited down to 2 hours and 47 minutes.

Goofs:

Continuity: Near the start of the film when Dan is pushing his brother Ronnie around, there's a large crack on the wall (probably from a previous shot). After he pushes Ronnie near the wall, another large crack appears but Ronnie is never shown hitting the wall.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Detective Stern: What did you say your name was?
Daniel Ciello: Ciello.
Detective Stern: Are you the Detective Ciello?
Daniel Ciello: I'm Detective Ciello.
Detective Stern: I don't think I have anything to learn from you.

Movie Connections:

References The French Connection (1971)

Soundtrack:

Love Will Keep Us Together

Fantastic Police Drama

Many people consider this movie to be one of the greatest police dramas ever made. It definitely looks and feels real. But many people have never even heard of this film. It's high time it was released on DVD with all the toppings because it was directed by Sidney Lumet, who is one of the greatest directors in modern day cinema. The film is based on a true story that happened throughout the 70's concerning a narc who out of the clear blue sky had a change of heart and decided to drop a dime on his entire squad. The story concerns him testifying not only against his former co-workers, but corrupt lawyers, bail bondsmen and the mob. Treat Williams, who plays the lead character is a dynamite actor who has never gotten the credit he deserves. Sure he's been around forever and has an impressive resume, but a lot of people have never even heard of this guy. As for the movie itself, even though it's about a special investigative unit in the New York City police department, there isn't much action here like you see in other police films. It's mostly dialogue that comes across as realistic and powerful. This is not a movie for children. The fact that it's based on a true story makes it look all the more real. If you liked Jerry Orbach on LAW & ORDER, then you'll like him here.

Score, 8 out of 10 Stars