Serpico

Adapted by Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler from Peter Maas's book, Sidney Lumet's drama portrays the real-life struggle of an honest New York City cop against a corrupt system. Neophyte officer Frank Serpico (Al Pacino) is determined not to let his job get in the way of his individuality. Despite his ...more

The first of two Sidney Lumet movies to feature stellar performances from the kinetic Al Pacino, Serpico was released at a heated moment in American culture and touched a nerve with American audiences. Based on a series of real events, the film targeted institutional corruption in the New York City Police Department and fit in stylistically with the gritty cop dramas of the time, including The French Connection and the Dirty Harry movies. Thematically, it was one of the first pictures since the ...more