Saturday, 18 September 2021 19:04

Newman's Law






NEWMAN'S LAW

US, 1974, 99 minutes, Colour.
George Peppard, Roger Robinson, Eugene Roche, Gordon Pinsent, Abe Vigoda.
Directed by Richard Heffron.

Newman's Law is quite an efficient and effective George Peppard police thriller. He made several films like this in the late '60s e.g. P.J., House of Cards. He also made the popular television series Banacek. This film is neither
better nor worse. It illustrates the kind of police film so popular in the '70s.

1. A satisfying police thriller? The popularity of police films in the '70s on screen, television? Illustrating American attitudes, lifestyle, justice?

2. George Peppard and his police thrillers, television series? A vehicle for him? The title of the film, the focus on Newman as a tough individual, his relationship with the official law, his own investigations and administration of law and justice?

3. The American gangster film and its traditions? The '70s style of this film? The role of gangsters, violence, drug running? Politics? The police and corruption? The individual, his friend and ally?

4. The complications of the plot and audience interest? The initial killing, the framing of Newman, the dynamics of gangsters and corrupt police, politics and the district attorney? The characters within this world, their being involved, interaction, resolution?

5. Newman as a policeman: tough, sense of duty, his relationship with Falcone, his testimony? His private individual personal life? Iris relationship with his father and the visits to him? The result of being framed, drug plant, the bribes, the paying of his father's bills? Newman's refusal in the face of corruption? His relationship with the other police, comradeship with Gary, friendship with his wife and family? Eastman and his using of Newman? Newman becoming an outcast, his reaction at Eastman's dinner? The violence, his own personal detective work? His suspicion of Gary? Gary's coming to his aid and Newman's grief at his death? The shooting of Falcone, the final confrontation and violence? A character study, a man trying to do his work, integrity, friendship, the visit to Gary's wife after his death, a fighter, administrator of justice? The impact of his own death? (And his having watched Fred Mac Murray in Double Indemnity on the television?)

6. The picture of the American police., their hard work, detection work, violence, administration of the law? Gary as the ordinary policeman and his comments on taking bribes? Reardon and his administration, corruption, final violence and shooting?

7. Eastman and his assistant, power, using people? Status in society and the ousting of Newman?

8. Dellanzia and local drug-pushing, bribes? The comparison with Falcone and the rivalry? Falcone and his protection, his house?

9. Newman's investigations e.g. with the stripper? His buying the gun, the car chase and the violence on his life? His sniping at Falcone?

10. The atmosphere of violence, the shooting of the witness at the beginning and his death on arrival at hospital, the chase and the crash, the supermarket shootout, the siege of Falcone's house?

11. The build-up to the resolution? Newman taking justice. into his own hand, Newman's law? The confrontation with Falcone, his being shot? The ironies of violence and the parallel with Gary's death?

12. An attempt at a character sketch, portrait of a policeman, social issues?

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