Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside

The Linden and Lo Bianco characters are partners on the NYPD. On a call that turns out to be to an embassy, they get separated, and in the mêlée Lo Bianco's arm is injured so badly that he eventually loses it and has to go on disability. He's obsessed with finding out who did this to him, but the perpetrators have diplomatic immunity, so the NYPD won't pursue it. Lo Bianco (Mr. Outside) works on his own with unofficial help from his former partner Linden (Mr. Inside) who remains on the force. In addition to the main plot of finding the culprits, there is a lot of interesting dialogue and interplay between Linden and Lo Bianco. The plot summary says the bad guys are drug smugglers, but I distinctly remember they were smuggling diamonds not drugs.

It's standard fare for 70s cop movies, but I like it, so I gave it a 7.

This made for tv film by the producer of The French Connection (Phil D'Antoni) is pretty good. Linden and Lo Bianco play NYPD detectives hot on the trail of a drug ring that is being run by foreign diplomats. Great use of New York City location. It is unusual to see Lo Bianco in a non criminal role as he was in the other D'Antoni productions (Seven-Ups, French Connection). All in all similar in story to the French Connection. Paul Benjamin who appeared in Across 110th Street, Friday Foster, Escape from Alcatraz is good as the boss to our dynamic duo. Not alot of action but good for fans (like me!!!) of seventies cop and thriller films.

Is this movie the one where Tony Lo Bianco's character is shot in the arm by a suspect and ends up losing it? If not, does anyone recall that movie? It would be from the same time frame, the early '70's, since NYC was still using the Step Van "bread wagon" ambulances and the green and white Plymouth Furys with that huge chrome mechanical siren on the roof.

I seem to recall Hal Linden's character and another detective called "Nunz" in this one. They go in on a raid and one of them takes a bullet in the arm. The partner tries to call for help on his portable radio, which does not work, and bedlam ensues as they try to get the shot cop to the hospital. The cop ends up waking up in the hospital minus his arm. The rest of the movie shows him trying to cope with the loss.

Thanks to anyone who can help!