Madigan (1968)
“Damn that Madigan; he was bound to get caught in a wringer sooner or later.”
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Response to Peary’s Review: … and the other focusing on “the efforts of police commissioner Henry Fonda to deal with some minor police corruption involving his life-long friend James Whitmore.” The juxtaposition of these two narrative threads offers an opportunity for effectively contrasting “Widmark’s frantic world of killers, pimps, addicts, hookers, drunks, stoolies, midgets, and assorted lowlifes and outcasts”: … with “Fonda’s serene and secure world.” Peary notes that “Widmark gives a standout performance as a very believable cop, one of Siegel’s renegade heroes: he has no idea how to comfort his wife (Inger Stevens), who expects him to lead a normal home life”: … “and he acts like a nervous kid with his hand in the cookie jar in the presence of the commissioner”: … “but on the streets he is king, the number-one man at getting the job done” — he is “the man crooks fear and despise and outcasts trust.” Peary further adds that this “exciting, atmospheric film takes time to explore the characters so that by the end we know exactly what makes each tick and what they find most essential in their lives.” While I’m not quite as much a fan of this film as Peary is, I agree that it’s expertly crafted and offers up enjoyable entertainment. The action sequences alone merit close review given how skillfully they portray rapid-fire movements made on the spot, with potentially life-and-death consequences — from the opening scene in Ihnat’s apartment (which very quickly goes in an unexpected direction), to the tragic closing sequence. This one remains worth a look. Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:
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One thought on “Madigan (1968)”
Rewatch 11/5/21. Not must-see.
An ok (if at times sluggish) cop drama featuring a script that is uneven and occasionally needlessly verbose. Overall the cast does what it can. But it can also feel like they’re going through the paces. Stevens has a particularly disappointing and thankless role as Widmark’s demanding wife. Director Siegel only gets to shine in the penultimate showdown sequence.