The Cops are Robbers (1973)

A true story based on the best selling book by Gerry Clemente detailing the largest robbery in banking history ($25,000,000). It took the Boston Police and the FBI four and a half years to uncover sufficient evidence to charge Clemente with the crime. He was subsequently convicted.

Re: altered version

Not to beat this topic to death, but here's a couple more comments. The present movie is far from being ruined. It's still enjoyable. The spirit and feel are still there. It's just that for those who have seen it and enjoyed it in its first form, the alterations are annoying and pointless and at the expense of the original total experience.

The original version was closer to 100 minutes in length. A few examples of the differences: the hospital scene was longer giving it more continuity; the interplay between the two cops in the supermarket was extended; there was a birthday party for the Bologna character's son, during which the cops discussed further their caper; classical violin music played during the entire bowling alley segment (which also had a few more scenes to it), almost to the point to where it was difficult to hear the dialogue; the final ending scene was the funeral for the Mafia chief, with a repeated slow camera pan of the faces of the mourners as the music played, not a still shot of the Bologna character floating in the pool.

Movies like this don't always appeal to a broad audience. However, once released, they shouldn't be tampered with for the sake of garnering a few more viewers. It's accepted practice (unfortunately) to heavily edit the content, format and length of movies for network television broadcast. But why would a studio release the television version on VHS and, especially, DVD? This is the format people buy to get the real McCoy - and hopefully more.
July 21, 2006

Back In the Day

For someone that has been a NYPD COP BUFF since I was twelve, this movie is the HOLY GRAIL. Not only is it funny, it is New York funny.Make that NYPD-pre-Goodfellas Italian-American funny.
The look and dialogue are priceless. As the bad guys get away, Police Officer Joe Bologna tells his young partner..."WHO CARES!"
RIP, costar Cliff Gorman...Many NYC based actors.
One major flaw? In the last scenes the green/white/black old color scheme NYPD RMP.."Radio Motor Patrol.." Police Car changes at least 3 times..Since you are looking at the color you don't notice the bad editing but who cares?
If you love the NYPD and the 1970's NYC, you will love this movie..
OK..Mr. Eastpool?
July 4, 2006

A clever, entertaining film!

I remember seeing this one on TV way back in the 1980's. It was a film, while not anywhere near the level of film making of say "The Godfather" or "Apocalypse Now", is still one of my favorite movies from the 1970's. But I'll admit that nostalgia also factors into this review (one extra star).

Cops And Robbers is the story about two New York City cops: Joe and Tom, who are jaded, cynical, and tired on playing it straight, living paycheck to paycheck on their meager policeman's salaries. Joe and Tom talk about how things are tough and that how everybody is a crook. They want to live on "easy street". Live the good life. Now. In fact the film opens up with Joe (Joseph Bologna) robbing a liquor store.

Joe confesses to his partner and friend, Tom (Cliff Gorman) about the robbery, Tom feeling the same way about things as Joe, wants in on the next one. They want to do a big job, to do a fantastic score, to accomplish their goal of being wealthy and being able to provide for their families. But how to do this?

A mobster and fence Pasquale "Patsy" Aniello (John P. Ryan) is taken to the precinct (for questioning[?]) where both Tom and Joe work. Tom eavesdrops on the interview of Patsy by a police detective. He hears Patsy say that he is a "salesman", that he "buys" and "sells" things.

Tom then (with Joe outside in disguise) approaches Patsy with the idea to do a crime for a price of $2 million dollars. Patsy, a little suspicious, decides to do business with the two and tells them to steal securities, treasury bonds, bearer bonds with no name on them. To steal about $10 million dollars worth. Bring them back to him and they will get $2 million cash.

Will Joe and Tom be successful? Will the mob give them their ticket to easy street - $2 million dollars? Or will the mob take both the bonds AND their lives instead?

This film was made back in 1973. And it shows. The fashions, the hairstyles, watch for Joe Spinell's (The Godfather I and II, Maniac) shirt and hairdo! You see the cops using not computers to take down information, but using typewriters! The buses, the cars, everything is a time capsule from those days.

Grady Tate (Schoolhouse Rock) lends his voice and does a fine job with the song "Cops And Robbers". One thing I believe is unfortunate is that the film is shown in full screen, not widescreen. I personally would have enjoyed the film more if it had been shown in widescreen. The editing and the general quality of the film look good to me. There is a little color bleed in a scene where both Tom and Joe are in a supermarket and a florescent sign comes into the frame. But this is minor. The overall picture quality of this transfer is good. The sound, although mono, is good, too. As for extras, the original movie trailer is included with the DVD.

I have read the reviews on this site regarding the VHS version of Cops And Robbers. About the bad editing, speeded up film, etc. But I don't see it here. The editing seems correct, cohesive and tells the story properly. All the characters talk in a regular tone.

There is one question in my mind about this film's ending. Now, I don't want to spoil it for anyone looking to purchase this film, so I won't go into detail about the ending of the film, But I'll say if my memory serves me correctly, I remember a slightly different ending than the one shown on this DVD.

Oh well, maybe I have it wrong, I really don't remember (again, the last time I saw this movie was back in the 80's).

This is a very good 70's New York movie, though. The acting by Cliff Gorman and Joseph Bologna is good (as well as everyone else). There are some laughs, seeing Joe and Tom's interaction with people who are concerned only with themselves was funny. And there is suspense when they finally make their move and try and get the bonds. As well as when they deal with the mob also. John P. Ryan (Its Alive, Runaway Train) is also great as Pasquale "Patsy" Aniello.

If you are into 70's films, or films that take place in New York City, I recommend this DVD. June 5, 2005

WARNING

Amazon has cross-linked two different films of similar name and year !

One is the 1973 film "Cops and robbers" (Starring: Cliff Gorman, Joseph Bologna; Director: Aram Avakian) and the other is the 1973 film "The Cops are Robbers" (starring: Steve Railsback, James Keach).

The first one is based upon Westlake's wonderful novel. The second is not.

Be careful which you order - the same reviews are linked to BOTH.
August 30, 2004

Such a Shame...

This is one of my all-time favorite films. I waited years and years for it to come out in video, only to find out that the VHS version was the same version that had been unmercifully edited for commercial TV. I agree with the disappointment expressed by a previous reviewer, and can only hope that the complete version (with its exquisite ending) will be included if and when it comes out on DVD. That would be worth five stars to me! January 9, 2002

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