Prince of the City (1981)

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Inspired by a true story, Prince of the City stars Treat Williams as a Manhattan detective who agrees to help the US Department of Justice weed out corruption in the NYPD. Williams agrees on the assurance that he'll never have to turn in a close friend. Wired for sound, Williams almost immediately stumbles upon a police conspiracy to smuggle narcotics to street informants in order to insure cooperation. While this might be condonable in a stretch, the fact is that the many cops are using the drugs on their own, and are also highly susceptible to bribes. Williams gets the goods on the miscreants, but in so doing he breaks the "code" and becomes a pariah to his fellow officers. As we learn in the unsettling final scene, Williams will always be considered a "fink," even by honest cops. Prince of the City is too long for its own good, but its opening expository sequences and its final twenty minutes more than compensate for the duller stretches. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

Theatrical Feature Running Time:

167 mins

Complete Cast:

Director(s):

Sidney Lumet

Writer(s):

Sidney Lumet, Jay Presson Allen

Producer(s):

Burtt Harris, Ray Hartwick, Jay Presson Allen

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

R(Not For Children, Adult Situations, Violence, Profanity, Adult Language)

Categories:

Drama

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• 1981 - Prince of the City - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Director