Average cop thriller, a star vehicle for Angie Dickinson who portrays a Sergeant detective assigned the case of a series of killings towards women and how this might tie in with cops on the take. This difficult case coincides with a city wide furlough causing a dissension between male and female cops(..good male cops laid off while women officers continue working). David Soul is Dickinson's superior, the City Commissioner working with Yaphet Kotto of Internal Affairs, wanting to weed out the bad cops, especially those which might be killing female officers. Dickinson's life is endangered by those whose job is to protect and serve, encountering cops, under disguises, making hostile threats if she doesn't back away.
Really, this is merely an okay "Television Movie of the Week", with no profanity or violence(..nothing is shown on screen, just horrified reactions)with Dickinson a tough old bird who doesn't take too kindly to death threats..it does seem like a pilot for a television series. Charles Durning stops by as Dickinson's brother(..their mother is at the brink of death;it's basically a glorified cameo, but it's always nice seeing Durning pop up under any circumstances). The film, like others before it, makes a judgmental stance towards dirty cops taking "merchandise" from criminals. Always a benefit is the use of authentic city locations to add color and texture to the story. It was nice seeing Dickinson returning to her "policewoman" roots, even if the film itself doesn't exactly blow you away. I think the major problem of the film is you are never convinced that Dickinson will come under any harm, a fatal problem for a thriller such as this..she stares danger down and doesn't quiver at those who could potentially harm her. While this quality is admirable, when you are talking about cops wanting to keep their identities(..and jobs)secure, snubbing your nose at their threats towards her life should, at the very least, provoke caution for Dickinson's detective.
Really, this is merely an okay "Television Movie of the Week", with no profanity or violence(..nothing is shown on screen, just horrified reactions)with Dickinson a tough old bird who doesn't take too kindly to death threats..it does seem like a pilot for a television series. Charles Durning stops by as Dickinson's brother(..their mother is at the brink of death;it's basically a glorified cameo, but it's always nice seeing Durning pop up under any circumstances). The film, like others before it, makes a judgmental stance towards dirty cops taking "merchandise" from criminals. Always a benefit is the use of authentic city locations to add color and texture to the story. It was nice seeing Dickinson returning to her "policewoman" roots, even if the film itself doesn't exactly blow you away. I think the major problem of the film is you are never convinced that Dickinson will come under any harm, a fatal problem for a thriller such as this..she stares danger down and doesn't quiver at those who could potentially harm her. While this quality is admirable, when you are talking about cops wanting to keep their identities(..and jobs)secure, snubbing your nose at their threats towards her life should, at the very least, provoke caution for Dickinson's detective.