Cops and Robbers | | Cast : | Cliff Gorman, Joseph Bologna | | Director : | Aram Avakian | | Studio : | Lions Gate Home Entertainment | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned | | Released Date : | August 17, 1973 | | DVD Released Date : | June 17, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 05, 2005 | | Summary | A clever, entertaining film! | Content
 | I remember seeing this one on TV way back in the 80's. It was a film, that while not anywhere near the level of film making of say "The Godfather" or "Apocalypse Now", is one of my favorites from the 1970's.
Cops And Robbers is the story about two New York City cops: Joe and Tom, who are jaded, cynical, and tired on playing it straight, living paycheck to paycheck on their meager policeman's salaries. Joe and Tom talk about how things are tough and that how everybody is a crook. They want to live on "easy street". Live the good life. Now. In fact the film opens up with Joe (Joseph Bologna) robbing a liquor store.
Joe confesses to his partner and friend, Tom (Cliff Gorman) about the robbery, Tom feeling the same way about things as Joe, wants in on the next one. They want to do a big job, to do a fantastic score, to accomplish their goal of being wealthy and being able to provide for their families. But how to do this?
A mobster and "fence" Pasquale "Patsy" Aniello (John P. Ryan) is taken to the precinct (for questioning[?]) where both Tom and Joe work. Tom eavesdrops on the interview of Patsy by a police detective. He hears Patsy say that he is a "salesman", that he "buys" and "sells" things.
Tom then (with Joe outside in disguise) approaches Patsy with the idea to do a crime for a price of $2 million dollars. Patsy, a little suspicious, decides to do business with the two and tells them to steal securities, treasury bonds, bearer bonds with no name on them. To steal about $10 million dollars worth. Bring them back to him and they will get $2 million cash.
Will Joe and Tom be successful? Will the mob give them their ticket to the easy life - $2 million dollars. Or will the mob take both the bonds AND their lives instead?
This film was made back in 1973. And it shows. The fashions, the hairstyles, watch for Joe Spinell's (The Godfather I and II, Maniac) shirt and hairdo! You see the cops, using, not computers to take down information, but using typewriters! The buses, the cars, everything is a time capsule from those days. But this not a negative to me.
Grady Tate (Schoolhouse Rock) lends his voice and does a fine job with the song "Cops And Robbers". One thing I believe is unfortunate is that the film is shown in full screen, not widescreen. I personally would have enjoyed the film more if it had been shown in widescreen. The editing and the general quality of the film look good to me. There is a little color bleed in a scene where both Tom and Joe are in a supermarket and a florescent sign comes into the frame. But this is minor. The overall picture quality of this transfer is good. The sound, although mono, is good, too. As for extras, the original movie trailer is included with the DVD.
I have read the reviews on this site regarding the VHS version of Cops And Robbers. About the bad editing, speeded up film, etc. But I don't see it here. The editing seems correct, cohesive and tells the story properly. All the characters talk in a regular tone.
There is one question in my mind about this film's ending. Now, I don't want to spoil it for anyone looking to purchase this film, so I won't go into detail about the ending of the film, But I'll say if my memory serves me correctly, I remember a slightly different ending than the one shown on this DVD.
Oh well, maybe I have it wrong, I really don't remember (again, the last time I saw this movie was back in the 80's).
This is a very good 70's New York movie, though. The acting by Cliff Gorman and Joseph Bologna is good (as well as everyone else). There are some laughs, seeing Joe and Tom's interaction with people who are concerned only with themselves was funny. And there is suspense when they finally make their move and try and get the bonds. As well as when they deal with the mob also. John P. Ryan (Its Alive, Runaway Train) is also great as Pasquale "Patsy" Aniello.
If you are into 70's films, or films that take place in New York, I recommend this DVD.
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| Rating | | | Date | August 30, 2004 | | Summary | WARNING | Content
| This is NOT the movie based upon the wonderful Westlake novel "Cops and robbers". Indeed, the move that arrived was titled "Cops ARE robbers".
Oh, and it was a lousy film too.
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| Rating | | | Date | March 29, 2002 | | Summary | Insult to Injury | Content
| ON TOP of the 2 previous reviews about cut scenes,awkward edits ad nauseum of this classic movie, this VHS version is also SPED UP!! This is an outrage.Now the rocket scientists a UA feel that we should have a movie that we paid for shortened not only by edits but by speed.Cliff Gorman sounds like Mickey Mouse in some scenes.Even the ending was butchered.Why are these people in charge of production? I know the attention span of most Americans is about 5 minutes,however I want what I paid for! |
| Rating | | | Date | January 09, 2002 | | Summary | Such a Shame... | Content
| This is one of my all-time favorite films. I waited years and years for it to come out in video, only to find out that the VHS version was the same version that had been unmercifully edited for commercial TV. I agree with the disappointment expressed by a previous reviewer, and can only hope that the complete version (with its exquisite ending) will be included if and when it comes out on DVD. That would be worth five stars to me! |
| Rating | | | Date | December 05, 2001 | | Summary | Good Movie, Zilch Video | Content
| Two New York City cops have had enough of the 'system' and decide on a high level robbery. This theme is presented in a somewhat light hearted manner along with interesting photography of the work-a-day person life.
With the video (and current tv version) the story line is still there. But apparently the plodding nature of the film prompted cutting and editing by someone who had little sense of the feeling and flow of the movie. Many scenes have been awkwardly shortened, remixed or completely removed. Hopefully an original copy still exists on the premium cable channels. |
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