Newman’s Law *** (1974, George Peppard, Roger Robinson, Eugene Roche, Gordon Pinsent, Louis Zorich, Abe Vigoda) = Classic Movie Review 12,373

The hard-boiled 1974 crime thriller film Newman’s Law stars George Peppard as innocent, no-nonsense cop Vince Newman, who is fired from the police force for being connected with a drug smuggling ring.

Peppard plays innocent Los Angeles cop Vince Newman, who is fired from the police force for being connected with a drug smuggling ring, falsely accused of extortion. So he decides to investigate the real bad guys himself, following up an organised crime case he was working on, after being tipped off that police department colleagues are involved.

Newman’s Law is a stuck-in-the-rut action thriller that offers no real surprises and too few action thrills. But a stalwart turn from Peppard holds it firm and steady, Roger Robinson has a good role as his partner Garry, there is reasonable plotting and dialogue by Anthony Wilson, and there is capable handling by Heffron.

Also notable in the cast are Eugene Roche, Gordon Pinsent, Louis Zorich, Abe Vigoda, and Michael Lerner.

Newman’s Law is directed by Richard T Heffron, runs 98 minutes, is made by Universal Pictures, is released by Universal Pictures, is written by Anthony Wilson, is produced by Richard Irving, is shot in Technicolor by Vilis Lapenieks, and is scored by Robert Prince.

Release date August 21, 1974.

George Peppard stars in another hard-boiled thriller in 1969, Pendulum.

Richard T Heffron (October 6, 1930 – August 27, 2007) directed several interesting movies, including Futureworld (1976), Outlaw Blues (1977), Foolin’ Around (1980), and the 1982 Mike Hammer film I, the Jury. But his main career was on television, an he worked on many TV films and series such as The Rockford Files, and notably directed the six-episode miniseries North and South.

The cast are George Peppard as Vince Newman, Roger Robinson as Garry, Eugene Roche as Reardon, Gordon Pinsent as Jack Eastman, Abe Vigoda as John Dellanzia, Louis Zorich as Frank Lo Falcone, Michael Lerner as Frank Acker, Victor Campos as Pete Jimenez, Mel Stewart as Quist, Jack Murdoch as Beutel, David Spielberg as Hinney, Teddy Wilson as Jaycee, Pat Anderson as Sharon, Regis Cordic as Clement, Marlene Clark as Edie, Kip Niven as Assistant Coroner, Richard Bull as Immigration Man, Howard Platt as Spink, Dick Balduzzi as Conrad, Penelope Gillette as Matron, Kirk Mee as First Assistant, Don Hanmer as Real Estate Agent, Antony Carbone as Policeman Gino, Jude Farese as Cop #1, Stack Pierce as Baines, Jac Emel as Dashiki, Don Newsome as Ginger, Titos Vandis as Grainie, Wilbert Gowdy as Black Boy, Louis J. DiFonzo as Pants, and Dea St Lamont as Hooker.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,373

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