FOSTER AND LAURIE
US, 1975, 90 minutes, Colour.
Perry King, Dorian Harewood, Talia Shire, Charles Haid, James Woods.
Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey.
A telemovie about a police couple. It is in the vein set by The French Connection and various other films in the early seventies like Serpico, The Seven Ups, The Super Cops. The seventies were prolific in films about the police as well as television series about them, both for and against. This is a very competent story, quite well done, moving in its way. It tells the story of two very ordinary policemen, one black, one white. They grow in friendship, achieve something in their contact with people on the street. are suddenly and brutally gunned down. The film is directed by John Llewellyn Moxey, a specialist in telemovies. The cast is quite good and includes Talia Shire before her more successful and better roles in the Rocky films and the telemovie on Caryl Chessman. An above average telemovie.
1. The popularity of films about the police in the seventies, television series? For and against? This film within this tradition? The authentic atmosphere of the police, their work, training, dangers? The pressures put on them by the public? An insightful film?
2. The indication that the film was based on a true story, the pathos of the men's deaths, the ending and the tribute?
3. The impact of the film as a telemovie? For home audiences? The building up of tension - and commercial interruption? Tribute to police - in comparison with so many police series?
4. The structure of the film and the use of flashbacks? The dramatic opening and its resumption at the end? The learning about the two policemen, their interaction, their work, their methods? Their victimisation? Audience interest, sympathy?
5. The look of the New York streets, the neighbourhoods, the people and their way of lift, shops, ordinary dwellers? The race population, black, Hispanic, white? The violence of the shoot-out? The transition to the hospital sequences? Their insertion throughout the flashback? The introduction of each wife, the breaking of the news to her, her reaction, the race to the hospital? The hospital sequences? The film's attention to detail of the home life of each character, relationship with wife, children? Each discussing the other man with his wife? The sad meeting of the wives?
6. The film's portrait of Foster and of Laurie? Their not wanting to be with each other at the beginning, race tensions? Their silence? Mutual antagonism? Criticism of the other at home? Their work in the car, in the streets? The slums?
7. The portrait of the men as men - at home, relaxing, wives, style and humour?
8. The revelation about the Marines? The growing bond between the two? Their beginning to talk together, work together? Their working on the streets and getting to know people? Playing basketball with the kids? The long sequence of the old man with the gun and their handling of the situation? The couple and their fighting? Their threats, calming the two?
9. The importance of the sequence with the drug addict, the chase on the roof, the deal? Their visit to the pusher? Their passing themselves off as buyers? Their success? Commendation from the Precinct?
10. The presentation of the Police Force, the difficulties of police work in New York, crime in the streets, hostility towards the police? The attitudes of the men amongst themselves? Towards authority?
11. The three blacks and their shooting the police? The film not explaining their grudge? Their bitterness, their training with guns? Their arguing with each other? Their decision to kill a black policeman and a white policeman? The resume of their shooting and audience reaction to them?.
12. The funeral of the policemen? The attitude of the public and the police towards police killers? The tribute to the police? The adequacy of the treatment of the way of life, the work, comradeship? Difficulties and dangers? Sadness for families and wives?
