One of the best made for TV films out there containing one of star Darren McGavin's best performances. Law And Order not to be confused with the
popular TV franchise of series is a look at the systemic corruption that occurs in
a police department in this case the NYPD.
It's also about tribalism and the determination of the Irish who as the first wave of
immigrants to our shores grabbed a lot of the lower rung municipal jobs in police and fire departments and systematically advanced their own. The
O'Malleys of this film like the Reagans of Blue Bloods are our protagonist
family and we see what happens over the years in flashbacks to McGavin from
being a young patrolman to the present in 1976 as a chief.
I have to say that I have never seen the tribalism better displayed in a film than
in this one. The department stepped in and covered up a scandal in the manner of McGavin's father Scott Brady's death way back when. He's now expected to do his bit in a more recent bit of corruption involving a partner
of his son Art Hindle.
Some really fine performances are in this impeccably cast film besides McGavin
who has a wife Whitney Blake and a mistress TV reporter Suzanne Pleshette.
Others outstanding are Keir Dullea as a corrupt cop currently under the microscope with pull, Robert Reed the head of Internal Affairs wwho buries
more than he uncovers, Teri Garr as a tragic party girl, Will Geer as a most
corrupt mover and shaker who pushes Mc
Gavin's career, and James Flavin a captain who gets special consideration for
his rapist brother.
This film should be far better known and recognized. One of the best police
movies out there.
