Serpico main backdrop
Serpico main poster

7.5/10 • 2K

1973-12-182h 10m

CrimeDrama

Many of his fellow officers considered him the most dangerous man alive - An honest cop.

New York cop Frank Serpico blows the whistle on the rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him.

Directors
Sidney Lumet
Editors
Dede Allen

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Al Pacino

    Al Pacino

    Officer Frank Serpico

  2. John Randolph

    John Randolph

    Sidney Green

  3. Jack Kehoe

    Jack Kehoe

    Tom Keough

  4. Biff McGuire

    Biff McGuire

    Captain McClain

  5. Barbara Eda-Young

    Barbara Eda-Young

    Laurie

  6. Cornelia Sharpe

    Cornelia Sharpe

    Leslie Lane

  7. Tony Roberts

    Tony Roberts

    Bob Blair

  8. John Medici

    John Medici

    Pasquale

  9. Allan Rich

    Allan Rich

    D. A. Tauber

Reviews1

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Jan 27, 2014

9/10

An honest cop. Who would believe that? Serpico is directed by Sidney Lumet and adapted to screenplay by Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler from Peter Maas’ biography of NYPD officer Frank Serpico who stood up to expose rife corruption in the force. It stars Al Pacino, John Randolph, Jack Kehoe, Biff McGuire, Bernard Barrow, Nathan George and Tony Roberts. Music is by Mikis Theodorakis and Giacomo Puccini and cinematography by Arthur J. Ornitz.. Great story telling meets a first class acting performance in Lumet’s searing movie. Frank Serpico (Pacino), a legend to us mere mortals out on the street, but the most hated man on the NYPD, so much so he almost paid for his sense of what’s right and wrong with his life. Picture follows Frank through his integration on the force and onto the build up of corruption he comes across. All the time we are also getting an insight into the man himself, his life and loves outside of work, with Lumet and Pacino making sure Frank is not painted as a saintly perfectionist, there is no halo above his head, he has flaws like everybody else. New York is expertly painted as a raw and grubby place, the hustle and bustle a nuisance, and the seamy underside where crims and dirty coppers dwell makes you feel like taking a shower. It proves to be a riveting character study and a thought provoking expose at the same time, while ultimately it proves to be a touching experience come the culmination of the drama. Excellent. 9/10

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$3,000,000.00
Revenue
$29,800,000.00
Keywords
new york citycorruptionhippiepolicebiographyidealismbased on true storyidealistmoneyundercover copinternal affairspolice corruptionbitingsocial justicepolice vigilantismquestioningwhistleblowergrimseriouscopsfighting the systemtenseintensesinisterantagonisticarrogantcallousdisgustedenragedinformative