{"id":36373,"date":"2016-03-21T16:25:19","date_gmt":"2016-03-21T23:25:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=36373"},"modified":"2021-01-31T17:28:28","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T00:28:28","slug":"prince-of-the-city-1981","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=36373","title":{"rendered":"Prince of the City (1981)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Everybody&#8217;s using everybody, right?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Prince-of-the-City-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Prince-of-the-City-Poster-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-36375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Prince-of-the-City-Poster-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Prince-of-the-City-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Prince-of-the-City-Poster.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA narcotics detective (Treat Williams) agrees to cooperate with the lead investigators (Norman Parker and Paul Roebling) of a special commission on corruption, but vows never to &#8220;turn&#8221; on his partners (Jerry Orbach, Richard Foronjy, Don Billett, and Kenny Marino).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Corruption<\/li>\n<li>Police<\/li>\n<li>Sidney Lumet Films<\/li>\n<li>Treat Williams Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nSidney Lumet&#8217;s follow-up to perhaps the most famous film about police corruption in New York City &#8212; <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=36447\"><em>Serpico<\/em> (1973)<\/a> &#8212; was this equally compelling film (based on a book by cop-turned-author <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Robert_Daley\">Robert Daley<\/a>) about NYPD detective <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Robert_Leuci\">Robert Leuci<\/a>, whose testimony and secret recordings helped to indict more than four dozen NYPD narcotics detectives. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jay_Presson_Allen\">Jay Presson Allen<\/a> &#8212; screenwriter for <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=10537\"><em>Marnie<\/em> (1964)<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=45497\"><em>The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie<\/em> (1969)<\/a>, and <em>Cabaret<\/em> (1972) &#8212; wrote the lengthy script after interviewing nearly everyone in Daley&#8217;s book and listening to Leuci&#8217;s recordings; the result is a smart, tension-filled, consistently absorbing character study about a man &#8212; like Frank Serpico &#8212; who feels he has no choice but to speak out against graft and corruption (his conscience won&#8217;t allow otherwise), yet whose life, family, friendships, integrity, and identity (&#8220;I sleep with my wife, but I live with my partners!&#8221;) are put at risk by this decision. Williams gives a nuanced performance in a highly complex role, and is surrounded by a fine supporting cast. This flick deserves wider recognition, and I&#8217;m slightly mystified why it&#8217;s not better known. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note: <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/nypost.com\/2015\/10\/14\/graft-fighting-nypd-cop-robert-leuci-dies-at-75\/\">Leuci died last year<\/a> at the age of 75.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Treat Williams as Danny Ciello (nominated as one of the Best Actors of the Year by Peary in his <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Williams.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Williams-1024x580.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Williams-1024x580.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Williams-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Williams-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Williams-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Williams-1536x870.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Williams.png 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jerry Orbach as Gus Levy<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Orbach.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Orbach-1024x566.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"354\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46732\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Orbach-1024x566.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Orbach-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Orbach-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Orbach-768x425.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Orbach-1536x849.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Orbach.png 1735w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Andrzej Bartkowiak&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Cinematography-1024x571.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"357\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46734\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Cinematography-1024x571.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Cinematography-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Cinematography-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Cinematography-768x428.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Cinematography-1536x856.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Prince-of-the-City-Cinematography.png 1721w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Paul Chihara&#8217;s atmospheric score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as an absorbing drama with a powerful lead performance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0082945\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=9813&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/reviews\/28189\/prince-of-the-city\/\">DVD Talk Review<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1981\/08\/19\/movies\/lumet-s-prince-of-the-city.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Everybody&#8217;s using everybody, right?&#8221; Synopsis: A narcotics detective (Treat Williams) agrees to cooperate with the lead investigators (Norman Parker and Paul Roebling) of a special commission on corruption, but vows never to &#8220;turn&#8221; on his partners (Jerry Orbach, Richard Foronjy, Don Billett, and Kenny Marino). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Corruption Police Sidney Lumet Films Treat Williams Films Review: Sidney Lumet&#8217;s follow-up to perhaps the most famous film about police corruption in New York City &#8212; Serpico (1973) &#8212; was&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=36373\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36373"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36373\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67512,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36373\/revisions\/67512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}