I decided to finally do a list of the top 5 NYPD movies from “back in the day.” There movies were filmed when New York was going through some tough times. Bankruptcy, crime, unemployment, labor strikes, blackouts, and layoffs of New York’s Finest. This is the New York Bill de Blasio wants. The rankings were based on authenticity and how close they portray real cops. Lethal Weapon, Die Hard and Tango and Cash these are not.
- Badge 373 (1973): Robert Duvall portrays Detective “Eddie Ryan.” The movie was “based on the exploits of Eddie Egan. Egan was a retired NYPD Detective, technical adviser and actor in a few films, including this one. Duvall basically portrays Egan in the movie. Ryan gets suspended for going off the rails attempting to find his partners killer. Ryan also has to learn to shoot with his non dominant hand. This movie was a precursor to Speed. The best part of this movie is the beginning when Duvall dresses up in a ridiculous looking wig, fake sideburns and moustache trying to look Puerto Rican!
- Fort Apache The Bronx (1981): Paul Newman stars with Ken Wahl, Danny Aeillo, and Ed Asner as cops in the infamous 41 Precinct. What I liked about this movie is that the cops didn’t get into a gunfight every 5 minutes. And when the two CO’s of the 4-1 did their turnover, the exchange between the two bosses couldn’t been more true. They talked about the humps, losers, slobs, shitbags, and other problem children being sent to that house. Trust me, they don’t send problem children to good houses (Midtown North, Midtown South, Central Park, ect.). There was also talk about cops on the take, but the outgoing CO said so what if cops shake down numbers runners or pimps. Then they talked about the area. 70,000 people in a 40 block area packed in like sardines being able to smell each other’s farts with the highest rates of poverty, and unemployment and the largest number of Spanish speaking residents in the city with only 4% of the NYPD able to speak Spanish. The CO was told to recruit more people to join the NYPD from the ‘hood, but three generations of welfare recipients live in the 4-1. There was also other things they got right too that are relatable to The Seven Five.
- The Seven Ups (1973): This was called the unofficial sequel to The French Connection. Not only did it star Roy Scheider and Bill Hickman, but had some of the same people who worked on The French Connection work on this movie including stunt coordinator; Bill Hickman! It also had a car chase involving Hickman who also drove in the French Connection and drove the Charger in Bullitt! This movie was based on a true story.
- The Taking of Pelham 123 (1974): This is another movie that got everything right. Including the uptight people working the control center for the New York City Transit Authority, and the animosity between the New York Police Department and the New York City Transit Police. We see Robert Shaw hijack a subway car. Again, in this movie, the good guys and bad guys are not shooting it out like a Rambo movie.
- The French Connection (1971): Gene Hackman plays Detective James “Popeye” Doyle which was based on you guessed it, Eddie “Popeye” Egan! The French Connection was also based on a true story of French Nationals transporting a large shipment of heroin into New York. This movie has the iconic car chase of Hackman driving a Pontiac Le Mans chasing a subway train! This movie also stars Roy Scheider and Bill Hickman (again) who pulls double duty again as an actor and stunt driver as he drove the Pontiac 26 blocks at speeds reaching 90 miles an hour, without permission in normal traffic! Hackman and director William Friedkin won Oscars, including best picture.
Honorable Mention:
Jaws and Jaws 2: Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) goes from New York cop to resort town Chief of Police. When a killer shark terrorizes the people he swore to protect he goes all out, including discharging his service weapon on a crowded beach shooting a school of fish!
SEVEN FIVE RADIO 