Vice Squad (1982)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Gary Sherman

Writers:

Sandy Howard (writer)
Robert Vincent O'Neill (writer)

Release Date:

29 July 1982 (Australia)

Genre:

Action | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

...The Real Story.

Plot:

A Los Angeles businesswoman, known only by her street name of Princess, turns to prostitution to support...

Plot Keywords:

Police | Escape | Pimp | Prostitution | Sadism

Cast

Season Hubley	...	Princess
Gary Swanson	...	Tom Walsh
Wings Hauser	...	Ramrod
Pepe Serna	...	Pete Mendez
Beverly Todd	...	Louise Williams
Joseph Di Giroloma	...	Kowalski
Maurice Emanuel	...	Edwards
Wayne Hackett	...	Christian Sorinson
Nina Blackwood	...	Ginger
Sudana Bobatoon	...	Dixie
Lydia Lei	...	Coco
Kelly Piper	...	Blue Chip
Kristoffer Anders	...	Sgt. Brooks
Joseph Baroncini	...	Ted
Fred Berry	...	Sugar Pimp

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | USA:R | Norway:18 (video premiere) (1984) (cut) | Norway:(Banned) (1982-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Dynamic

Trivia:

First film to use "Go ahead... make my day". Swanson says it to Hauser early in the film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: As Season moves past the candles and flowers in the wedding scene with the old man in the mansion, a cameraman and camera are clearly visible on the right side of the scene.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Terror in the Aisles (1984)

Soundtrack:

Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes

One of the grittiest, toughest, police stories ever made.

In theory, "Vice Squad" is nothing more than good guy versus bad guy. However, it is done with such raw energy and flawless execution it remains one of the most intelligent and dramatic police films of the past two decades.

The story is about a hooker with a heart of gold named "Princess," who ends up on the run from her pimp named "Ramrod," (played brilliantly by the underrated Wings Hauser). After she agrees to bait him for the cops after he violently murders a fellow prostitute, he escapes police custedy and is hell-bent on one thing: finding Princess, torturing her, and killing her. It's that simple. A cop named "Walsh" (also played wonderfully by Gary Swanson) has the responsibility of finding either her or him, before Ramrod succeeds in his mission.

The film takes place in one night throughout the streets of Hollywood, and never lets up for a second. The plot is thick with suspense, the characters are three dimensionally layered, and the action is non stop. It's influence can be seen in many of todays films such as "Training Day," and even "Seven" just to name a few. However, its greatest testament may be from a better known movie tough guy named "Dirty Harry." At one point, when Walsh catches up with Ramrod he sticks his gun in his mouth and mutters "Make a move, and make my day!" Sound familiar? It should, because the famous line was uttered some five years later, even though the phrase was coined here, and in much better fashion I might add.

To sum it up, "Vice Squad" is a hard hitting, no nonsense, throw back to when quality films could be made on shoe-string budgets, and without millions in special effects. It walks the walk, and talks the talk without making excuses for its realistic subject matter. Unfortunately, the film is hard to find, so if you get the opportunity to see it, do not pass it up. For it will no doubt become one of your favorite "Vices," I garantee it.