Prince of the City (1981)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Pierluigi P

  
  Prisons of the mind can be worse than the fisical ones. When you want atonement, to walk the right path, to come clean about your past dirty deeds, to tell the truth about the lawless world you're living into, where the only god is money; you won't come out fine. though some… More
  Prisons of the mind can be worse than the fisical ones. When you want atonement, to walk the right path, to come clean about your past dirty deeds, to tell the truth about the lawless world you're living into, where the only god is money; you won't come out fine. though some heads will roll, yours will roll too.

• jay n

  
  Fine performances are hindered by slow pace and the fact that the film is just too long. Original impact of story is muted by years of police proceduals.

• Ken S

  
  Sidney Lumet presents Law and Order: The Movie

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Prince of the City," detective Danny Ciello(Treat Williams) is the youngest member and leader of the Special Investigative Unit(SIU), an elite detective squad without supervision in New York City designated to fight the illegal drug trade. While… More
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Prince of the City," detective Danny Ciello(Treat Williams) is the youngest member and leader of the Special Investigative Unit(SIU), an elite detective squad without supervision in New York City designated to fight the illegal drug trade. While they make huge, newsworthy busts, it can also involve scrounging drugs for informants. In the midst of this, Danny is contacted by Rick Cappalino(Norman Parker) of the Chase Comission investigating police corruption. Danny agrees to go undercover on condition that none of his partners are targeted...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]From his first movie "Twelve Angry Men," director Sidney Lumet's favorite subject has been the criminal justice system and the flaws therein. "Prince of the City" is no exception as it is a gritty, complex and layered look at the day to day life of an undercover policeman, living almost entirely in the shadows. Danny has reason to fear not only from the criminal element but also his fellow policemen whose fraternal code he is in danger of breaking. Above him sit the district attorneys prosecuting the cases who are unfamiliar with the city and who view the streets in terms of black and white, making it much easier for them to sit in judgment. At the end of the day, who is truly left with their honor intact? [/font]

• Danny R

  
  A fascinating, emotionally powerful crime drama brilliantly directed by Sidney Lumet, scripted by Jay Presson Allen & Sidney Lumet based on a true story and starring Treat Williams in the performance of his career as undercover narcotics cop Daniel Ciello who decides to reveal the… More
  A fascinating, emotionally powerful crime drama brilliantly directed by Sidney Lumet, scripted by Jay Presson Allen & Sidney Lumet based on a true story and starring Treat Williams in the performance of his career as undercover narcotics cop Daniel Ciello who decides to reveal the corruption within his unit, this taut excellently crafted film constitutes a social drama about the law, the lawless and the raging forces at work in New York City. "Prince" is a complex detailed look at the process by which one man who starts out to redeem himself by reveling some truths, the moral dilemma that Ciello faces as a informant, who fines himself more a victim than a hero as he is drawn step-by-step into giving information about his police partners that would ultimately destroy them. Stupendous character portrayers by a game cast that includes Richard Foronyy, Don Billett, Kenny Marino, Carmine Caridi, Tony Page,Bob Balaban, James Tolkan, and Lindsay with the late Jerry Orbach a standout as Gus Levy a tough no-nonsense detective who was Ciello best friend before he turned into a informant. Painstakingly detailed, with excellent use of New York locations, beautifully photographed by Andrzej Bartkowiak with superb editing by Jack Fitzstephens. A complex, and engrossing motion picture by an American master filmmaker Lumet. Winner of the New York Film Circle Award, Best Director: Sidney Lumet. Golden Globe Awards nominations, Best Picture, Best Director: Sidney Lumet, Best Actor: Treat Williams. Academy Awards nomination: Best Adapted Screenplay: Jay Presson Allen and Sidney Lumet. Highly Recommended.

• Brian R

  
  Sidney Lumet's "Prince Of The City" is a sad, draining masterpiece. It's great because there are no heroes in this picture only those who rat on others. The main character of the film played by Treat Williams is going to have to rat on his partners since he is… More
  Sidney Lumet's "Prince Of The City" is a sad, draining masterpiece. It's great because there are no heroes in this picture only those who rat on others. The main character of the film played by Treat Williams is going to have to rat on his partners since he is living dangerously in guilt. "Prince Of The City" seems to have insipired many crime drama pictures like Scorsese's "The Departed". What I greatly admired is Lumet sees the corruption within the police system, judges and lawyers seem to be bought and paid since they, too is guilty of the system. In TV shows police organizations is usually seen as the patriots of crime, the princes of the cities. In Sidney Lumet's picture the realities of corruption within the police force (or any organization) is disgusting as any terrible narcotic. The pigs of the city.

• Sarah P

  
  This isn't any better than any other 70's movie that portrays police corruption. It was long and kind of hard to get into. I wouldn't watch it again.

• Anthony V

  
  Under appreciated cop drama from the early 80's is a tight piece of work.

• Christopher B

  
  Great film, one of Lumet's best. I guess it didn't do well at all, but a better story of police corruption than Lumet's own Serpico. Treat Williams gives a fantastic performance and the plot is very involving. Hopefully gets a third chance at finding an audience on… More
  Great film, one of Lumet's best. I guess it didn't do well at all, but a better story of police corruption than Lumet's own Serpico. Treat Williams gives a fantastic performance and the plot is very involving. Hopefully gets a third chance at finding an audience on DVD.

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