SERPICO

''For other uses, see Serpico (disambiguation).
'''Serpico''' is a 1973 American crime film based on the true story of New York City policeman Frank Serpico. Serpico eventually went undercover to expose the corruption of his fellow officers, after being pushed to the brink at first by their distrust and later by the threats and intimidation they leveled against him. It stars Al Pacino, John Randolph and Tony Roberts.

Contents
Summary
Production
Cast and Crew
See also
External links

Summary


The film opens with Frank Serpico (Al Pacino) slumped in the backseat of a police car, covered in blood as it races to a hospital with lights and sirens blaring. He has just been shot. The rest of the movie is essentially a flashback. It follows Serpico as he becomes a police officer in 1960. He is very idealistic and believes in non-brutal methods to catch criminals. Serpico also refuses to join in on police corruption, specifically that which involves shaking down and taking payoffs from gambling and drug dealing organizations. His refusal to take bribes earns him the suspicion of his fellow officers throughout the majority of the precincts he is assigned to. Additionally, Serpico finds trouble fitting in due to his embracement of the Counterculture of the 1960s: He moves to Greenwich Village, grows his hair and beard long to the point where he must maintain a plainclothes appearance, and associates with a more left winged crowd that is distrusting of the NYPD.
Serpico begins to appeal to his bosses about the corruption, but gets nowhere. He enlists a fellow officer, Bob Blair (Tony Roberts) in his fight against corruption, but still faces it. His campaign takes a toll on him and the tensions take a toll on his relationship with Laurie (Barbara Eda-Young), who ultimately ends up leaving him. After a transfer, Serpico is shot in a drug bust and is seriously injured, because his bitter colleagues did not come to his rescue.
At the end of the film, Serpico testifies to the Knapp Commission on police corruption.
Al Pacino as the eponymous Frank Serpico

Production


The real-life Frank Serpico wished to be present during the filming of the movie based on his life. Initially he was permitted to stay but was eventually dismissed from the filming as director Sidney Lumet was worried that his presence would make the actors (particularly lead actor Al Pacino) self-conscious.
The story was filmed in the streets of New York City. Frank Serpico's former residence at 5-7 Minetta St. between Perry and Greenwich in Manhattan's Greenwich Village was used in the movie. A total of 105 different locations in four of the five boroughs of New York City were used. No filming took place in Staten Island.
Prior to any work on the movie, producer Martin Bregman had lunch with biographical book author Peter Maas to discuss a film adaptation. Waldo Salt, a screenwriter, began to write the script which director Sidney Lumet deemed to be too long. Another screenwriter, Norman Wexler , did the structural work followed by play lines. Screenwriter Sidney Kingsley also wrote and did structural work on the script.
Director John G. Avildsen was originally slated to direct the movie, but was demoted to assistant director due to differences with producer Bregman. Sidney Lumet took the helm as director just before filming.
Woodie King Jr., originally cast as a hoodlum, was replaced after suffering a broken leg while filming a chase scene for this movie. He returned to the set two months later to play Leslie's friend Larry in the party scene.
The movie was adapted by Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler from the biographical book of the same title written by Peter Maas. It was directed by Sidney Lumet. The original music theme has been composed by Mikis Theodorakis and its Greek name is ''Dromoi Palaioi''.
It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Al Pacino) and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.
Serpico is considered by many to be a classic film. Pacino's performance in the movie is widely considered as one of his best. His role as Frank Serpico is ranked at #40 on the American Film Institutes "100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains" list. The film is also ranked at #84 on the American Film Institutes "100 Years... 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies" list.
''Serpico'' was made into a 1976 television series starring David Birney. There was also a movie made in the same year, called ''Serpico The Deadly Game'' also starring Birney.

Cast and Crew



Al Pacino .... Officer Frank Serpico

John Randolph .... Chief Sidney Green

Jack Kehoe .... Tom Keough

Biff McGuire .... Capt. Insp. McClain

Barbara Eda-Young .... Laurie

Cornelia Sharpe .... Leslie Lane

Tony Roberts .... Bob Blair

John Medici .... Pasquale

Allan Rich .... Dist. Atty. Herman Tauber

Norman Ornellas .... Don Rubello

Edward Grover .... Insp. Lombardo (as Ed Grover)

Albert Henderson .... Peluce (as Al Henderson)

Hank Garrett .... Malone

Damien Leake .... Joey

Joseph Bova .... Potts (as Joe Bova)

Gene Gross .... Capt. Tolkin

★ John Stewart .... Waterman

Woodie King Jr. .... Larry (as Woodie King)

James Tolkan .... Lt. Steiger (as James Tolkin)

Ed Crowley .... Barto

Bernard Barrow .... Insp. Roy Palmer

Sal Carollo .... Mr. Serpico

Mildred Clinton .... Mrs. Serpico

Nathan George .... Lt. Nate Smith

Gus Fleming .... Dr. Metz

Richard Foronjy .... Rudy Corsaro

Alan North .... Brown

Lewis J. Stadlen .... Jerry Berman

John McQuade .... Insp. Kellogg

Ted Beniades .... Al Sarno

John Lehne .... Insp. Gilbert

M. Emmet Walsh .... Chief Gallagher

George Ede .... Deputy Chief Insp. Daley

Charles White .... Commissioner Delaney

F. Murray Abraham .... Detective partner

Don Billett .... Detective threatening Serpico

Raleigh Bond .... Detective partner

John Brandon .... Police lieutenant

James Bulleit .... Det. Styles

Roy Cheverie .... Cop

Sam Coppola .... Cop

Marjorie Eliot .... Rape Victim

René Enríquez .... Cervantes teacher

Frank Gio .... Police lieutenant

Trent Gough .... Cop

Paul E. Guskin .... Police Academy classmate

Judd Hirsch .... Cop

Richard Kuss .... Detective

Tony Lo Bianco .... Cop

George Loros .... Det. Glover

Kenneth McMillan .... Charlie

Stephen Pearlman .... Desk sergeant

Tim Pelt .... Black hood

William Pelt .... Black hood

Jaime Sánchez .... Cop

Franklin Scott .... Black prisoner

Tom Signorelli .... Bookmaker

Tracey Walter .... Street Urchin

Mary Louise Weller .... Girl

See also



John Jovino Gun Shop

External links





An appreciation of the man and film

Frank Serpico's website

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