Film Snail

7.5

Serpico

R·1973·130m

Crime

Drama

Crime

Drama

Summary

New York cop Frank Serpico blows the whistle on the rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him.

Cast

Al Pacino

Officer Frank Serpico

John Randolph

Sidney Green

Jack Kehoe

Tom Keough

Biff McGuire

Captain McClain

Barbara Eda-Young

Laurie

Cornelia Sharpe

Leslie Lane

Tony Roberts

Bob Blair

John Medici

Pasquale

Allan Rich

D. A. Tauber

Norman Ornellas

Rubello

Edward Grover

Lombardo

Albert Henderson

Peluce

Hank Garrett

Malone

Damien Leake

Joey

Joseph Bova

Potts

Gene Gross

Captain Tolkin

John Stewart

Waterman

Woodie King Jr.

Larry

James Tolkan

Steiger

Ed Crowley

Barto

Bernard Barrow

Palmer

Sal Carollo

Mr. Serpico

Mildred Clinton

Mrs. Serpico

Nathan George

Smith

Gus Fleming

Dr. Metz

Richard Foronjy

Corsaro

Alan North

Brown

Lewis J. Stadlen

Berman

John McQuade

Kellogg

Ted Beniades

Sarno

John Lehne

Gilbert

M. Emmet Walsh

Gallagher

George Ede

Daley

Charles White

Delaney

F. Murray Abraham

Detective Partner (uncredited)

P.J. Benjamin

Man (uncredited)

Don Billett

Detective Threatening Serpico (uncredited)

Val Bisoglio

Weapons Storage Officer (uncredited)

John Brandon

Police Lieutenant (uncredited)

James Bulleit

Det. Styles (uncredited)

Roy Cheverie

Cop (uncredited)

Sam Coppola

Cop (uncredited)

Marjorie Eliot

Rape Victim (uncredited)

René Enríquez

Cervantes Teacher (uncredited)

Conard Fowkes

Cop - Narcotics Raid (uncredited)

Frank Gio

Police Lieutenant (uncredited)

Trent Gough

Cop (uncredited)

Paul E. Guskin

Police Academy Classmate (uncredited)

Nick Hardin

Television Cameraman (uncredited)

Judd Hirsch

Cop (uncredited)

Richard Kuss

Detective (uncredited)

Tony Lo Bianco

Cop (uncredited)

George Loros

Det. Glover (uncredited)

Kenneth McMillan

Charlie (uncredited)

Stephen Pearlman

Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

Tim Pelt

Black Hood (uncredited)

William Pelt

Black Hood (uncredited)

Jay Rasumny

Television Cameraman (uncredited)

Franklin Scott

Black Prisoner (uncredited)

Tom Signorelli

Bookmaker (uncredited)

Ben Slack

Detective Sitting At Desk (uncredited)

Jaime Sánchez

Cop (uncredited)

Tracey Walter

Street Urchin (uncredited)

Mary Louise Weller

Sally - Girl at Party (uncredited)

Judd Omen

Doctor

Crew

Director

Sidney Lumet

Book

Peter Maas

Screenplay

Waldo Salt

Screenplay

Norman Wexler

Reviews

John Chard

January 27, 2014

An honest cop. Who would believe that? Serpico is directed by Sidney Lumet and adapted to screenplay by Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler from Peter Maas’ biography of NYPD officer Frank Serpico who stood up to expose rife corruption in the force. It stars Al Pacino, John Randolph, Jack Kehoe, Biff McGuire, Bernard Barrow, Nathan George and Tony Roberts. Music is by Mikis Theodorakis and Giacomo Puccini and cinematography by Arthur J. Ornitz.. Great story telling meets a first class acting performance in Lumet’s searing movie. Frank Serpico (Pacino), a legend to us mere mortals out on the street, but the most hated man on the NYPD, so much so he almost paid for his sense of what’s right and wrong with his life. Picture follows Frank through his integration on the force and onto the build up of corruption he comes across. All the time we are also getting an insight into the man himself, his life and loves outside of work, with Lumet and Pacino making sure Frank is not painted as a saintly perfectionist, there is no halo above his head, he has flaws like everybody else. New York is expertly painted as a raw and grubby place, the hustle and bustle a nuisance, and the seamy underside where crims and dirty coppers dwell makes you feel like taking a shower. It proves to be a riveting character study and a thought provoking expose at the same time, while ultimately it proves to be a touching experience come the culmination of the drama. Excellent. 9/10