Many of his fellow officers considered him the most dangerous man alive – An honest cop.|Dec. 05, 1973|Italy | United States|130 Min.|R
Genre: Crime;History
Description: Officer Frank Serpico of the NYPD is hospitalized after being shot in the face, leading Chief Sidney Green to suspect another officer may be responsible. The story flashes back to Serpico’s graduation from the police academy, where he grows disillusioned with the lenient attitudes of his colleagues. While on patrol, he intervenes in a rape incident, arresting one attacker and convincing him to reveal his accomplices. Serpico breaks protocol to make the arrest himself but is pressured not to claim credit for it.
Transferred to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, he moves to Greenwich Village and starts a relationship with Leslie, a classmate from his Spanish course. However, rumors about his sexuality surface due to his appearance, interests, and a misunderstanding in a public restroom. To clear his name, Serpico explains the situation to Captain McLain and requests a transfer.
In his new role as a plainclothes officer, Serpico narrowly escapes being shot by fellow officers who fail to recognize him during a pursuit. He befriends Bob Blair, who works in the Mayor’s Office of Investigations, while his relationship with Leslie ends as she moves to Texas to marry someone else.
When Serpico is offered a bribe, he reports it to Blair, who arranges a meeting with a high-ranking investigator. Serpico is told to either testify or ignore the corruption. He hands the bribe over to his sergeant and starts recording his phone calls for evidence. During this time, he begins a romance with his neighbor, Laurie.
Reassigned to the 7th Division, Serpico uncovers widespread corruption among his colleagues, who engage in violence, extortion, and payoffs. Refusing to take his share of the money, he informs McLain, who assures him the police commissioner is building a case and that Serpico will be contacted for further action.
Growing impatient and fearing for his safety, Serpico turns to Blair, and together they approach the mayor’s assistant, who promises a thorough investigation. However, political interference stalls their efforts. Despite Blair’s suggestion to escalate the issue to higher authorities or the media, Serpico remains hesitant, determined to fight corruption from within.
Cast director: Sidney Lumet
Cast actor: Al Pacino, John Randolph, Jack Kehoe, Biff McGuire, Barbara Eda-Young, Cornelia Sharpe, Tony Roberts, John Medici, Allan Rich, Norman Ornellas
Original name: Serpico