BADGE OF THE ASSASSIN

US, 1985, 100 minutes, Colour.
James Woods, Yaphet Kotto, Pam Grier, Rae Dawn Chong.
Directed by Mel Damski.

Badge of the Assassin is based on a book by district attorney Robert Tannenbaum, portrayed in this effective telemovie by James Wood. Wood draws on his repertoire of tough intensity and ironic humour. There is a strong supporting cast led by Yaphet Kotto and Alex Rocco.

The film deals with tensions between blacks and whites in the American cities in the early '70s, the difficulties of police investigations, the groups organised for attacks on the police and their ruthlessness in murdering police and seeing the dead police as trophies.

The film traces the long investigations, the detailed investigation and searching for clues, interrogations. It also shows the difficulties of sustaining cases in court. The film, from the perspective of the '80s and the many telemovies and series about police, offers a retrospective on racial tensions and the work of the police of the '70s.

1.Interesting police drama? Murders? Investigations? Court cases? Authentic - based on the true story, the perspective of Robert Tannenbaum?

2.The city locations, the cities of the '70s and their violence, Los Angeles and New York, New Orleans? The streets, homes, headquarters of gangs? Courts? Musical score?

3.The title and its irony, the dead police as the badge of the assassin? Indicating themes of attitudes towards police, clashes between black and white?

4.The initial murders? The killers, their alibis? The flashbacks indicating their celebration of their killings? The witnesses? The later investigations, the intimidation of the witnesses? The passing of time, line-ups and identification? The difficulties in building a case?

5.Bill Butler and his work, intensity, antagonism towards the accused? The long-time investigation? Handing over to Tannenbaum? His reluctance, being persuaded to collaborate? The dedication of his work, cross-examination in the court and the highlighting of his hostility?

6.Robert Tannenbaum, skills, age? Taking over the case? His investigations, prosecution? The widow of the dead policeman and her confronting him? His dealing with Butler, getting his collaboration? His recruiting of Cliff? Their working together, the interviews, prison, tactics? Lester and the leads in New Orleans? The cross-examinations, the information about the gun, going to the farm, Ulysses, the New Orleans authorities, finding the evidence? The first court case and losing it? The pressure on him to present a better case? The final success? His character and personality? Dedicated to his work?

7.Cliff, the black detective, his skills, standover tactics? Disguises? His skill in discovering whereabouts of criminals, his impersonation of a vagrant and the arrest? His courage? In court? The theme of black policemen and black criminals? The crossing of race barriers?

8.Lester, with the gang, the information? His fear, his knowledge about the whereabouts of the gun as self-protection? His change of heart? The final information, the digging up of the gun?

9.The witnesses, the young girls, the cross-examination, the skill of the defence lawyers? The intimidation by the prisoners in court? The pregnant witness - the identification, the line-ups, her testimony?

10.The girlfriends of the accused, antagonism, giving of information? The wives, their being taken, imprisoned for a long time without their children, antagonism, getting the truth? Using their children as a weapon?

11.The members of the gang, the brothers, Washington, Botton? The assassinations and their brutality, the number of shots fired? Their celebration afterwards? Hideouts, support? In prison, the interrogations? Clashes with Cliff? Intimidation in the court? The brothers and their freedom? The others being found guilty?

12.The background of groups with racial hatred, violence, the assassination of police? American society, the cities? A memoir of difficult times?