Police connection

In the early 70s, and for a brief period, it was a popular trend in US action cinema to bring real-life and middle-class American heroes to the podium. These everyday heroes were usually actual policeman that wrote their life experiences down in a novel or into a screenplay and were then hired as technical consults for the film adaptations. The best-known example is probably Buford Pusser and the "Walking Tall" films, but also a couple of highly acclaimed blockbusters are based on observations of real street cops. There's "The New Centurions" by former LAPD Officer Joseph Wambaugh, and even the legendary Popeye Doyle character from "The French Connection" is inspired by an authentic rogue copper named Eddie Egan.

"Badge 373" can be included in the same list. Robert Duvall's character is based on this same Eddie Egan, the entire film is promoted as "based on the exploits of Eddie Egan", and the man himself appears in a supportive role and worked as technical advisor. And yet, it's plain obvious to see when the films mentioned in the first paragraph are considered great classics, whereas hardly anyone has ever heard of "Badge 373".

Apart from another stellar performance by the always-reliable Duvall, this is a dull and derivative New York action/thriller, badly suffering from all the dreadful clichés in the book (suspended cop, avenging the dead partner, corruption in the department, wife killed, politics involved, etc.) and showcasing a very racist attitude towards the Hispanic - notably Puerto Rican - community living in NY. Allegedly, Robert Duval accepted the role as a statement against racism, but it's very well possible that he played the role to finally get the first top-billing of his career.

"Badge 373" is too long, too predictable, and too full of pointless and overlong sequences, like when Eddie takes his wife to a cabin outside of New York for a retreat. The few action and spectacle sequences, like the bus chase footage, are okay - I guess - but at the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in Italy, they handled this sort of stunt work a lot better and more exciting.

"When a man's partner is killed...You're supposed to do something about it"...Sam Spade..."The Maltese Falcon"

Do Something Duvall Does.

It Takes the Defrocked Cop to the Underbelly of the Puerto Rican Community in New York City that is Rife with Talk of Revolution in the Homeland.

Robert Duvall, in His First Starring Role, is a Powerhouse of Politically Incorrect Racist Rants and Fearless Behavior as He Bulldozes through Crime Gangs and Crime Lords.

It's a Dour Movie that Strips Away any Pretension of Police Hero-Worship.

A Movie so Bleak and Uncomfortable that it was Pummeled even on its Release-Date as so Offensive, in 1973, that Few Found it anything but Deplorable.

Viewed Today, it is Curious bit of Moviedom that Marks its Territory with Brutal, Unlikeable Human-Beings.

Be it Cop or Thug.

That Makes the Movie a Cringe-Fest of Unfettered, Unpleasant , Post-Code "New Hollywood".

There is a Second-Act Chase Scene, Featuring a Public Transit Bus, Full of Terrified Passengers.

The Ex-Cop Exploits it for Personal Satisfaction with No Regard for the Innocent Lives.

He, seemingly, is so UN-Aware that He Giggles with Glee.

This Makes the Movie more of a Cartoon than a Gritty Neo-Noir.

There are Other Things that are Over-the-Top.

Like the Comic-Book Villain with a Huge In-Your-Face Mustache and Sunglasses.

This is a Guilty-Pleasure at Best.

Watching Duvall and All Taking the Zeitgeist of the Crime Film Renaissance and Going So Far as to be Ridiculous.

At some stage during the movie, all cop "on the edge" dramas have to have the obligatory 'give me your badge and your gun' scene. - When Badge 373 started with this, I just knew I was in for a good time. Duvall is magnificent as Eddie Ryan - cop on a mission - and from the "Chocolate covered speedway" remark to the bus chase - he is simply the epitome of "TOUGH COP".

This is nowhere near as good as "The French Connection" by a long, long way. "Badge 373" is just business as usual, with nothing to commend it. Robert Duvall is given the lead for a change in his thinly-veiled portrayal of real life cop, Eddie Egan. Gene Hackman brought a great deal of depth and personality to his character of Popeye Doyle. Duvall wasn't able to do the same here. The plot is dull and predictable.

Useless to say that this crime drama is a pure product of the seventies, any idiot and not even a movie buff, could confirm. Everything here, everything is connected to the seventies style: dialogues, music, haircuts, subject, violence, everything. Robert Duvall, as in THE OUTFIT, is excellent in this role inspired by DIRTY HARRY and also FRENCH CONNECTION. I often confound this film with SEVEN UPS, I don't know why.... It is fast paced, gritty, violent, how could it be else? I like this film very much and am very happy to see it once more. I read the novelization written by Mike Roote, the same guy who did the same with SCORPIO.