The New Centurions

The New Centurions is a great 70s cop movie and has gone OOP in the US. This Indicator Blu is all region and looks and sounds great, with some decent extras. Recommended.

A bit dated but still relevant and entertaining

The New Centurions was a star vehicle for the early careers of Stacy Keach, Erik Estrada and several other up and coming actors of the time. George C Scott was it's headline draw and his performance was Oscar worthy. The best part about this film though is that it offers a very gritty, realistic portrayal of beat cops which you don't see anymore in the films and formulaic television that came later. (Perhaps Hill Street Blues came the closest to tapping the same vibe and energy.) Released in 1972 the film naturally has a dated look and the feel and ethos of that era, but it is very well scripted and acted and holds your attention throughout. Keach delivers an excellent performance in his own right and it was an important step in his career as an actor. If you like a good cop drama and enjoy films that are realistic and not glossed up with Hollywood production, The New Centurions is for you.

Joseph Wambaugh brings a unique perspective to the police movie in that he is a former cop relating personal experiences in his work. It was rare at the time of the film's release that you saw an up close and personal look at the happenings in the inner cities and barrios. I also found it refreshing that a film at this time portrays in a thoughtful way interracial romance. Despite all the positives here, alas, the film I think is slightly undone by the workmanlike direction of journeyman Richard Fleischer("Dr. Doolittle"). This film deserved to be helmed by someone like Sidney Lumet("Serpico"), William Friedkin ("The French Connection") or Don Siegel("Dirty Harry"). Fleisher's direction, at times, barely transcends an episode of "Adam-12". Regardless, this is a worthwhile film highlighted by sterling performances by George C. Scott as a grizzled cop and Stacey Keach as a rookie whose enthusiasm for the job slowly evolves into despair. Interesting to note the prescence of James B. Sikking("Hill Street Blues") and Erik Estrada "C.H.I.P.S."). Wambaugh would be done justice a few years later with a television version of "The Blue Knight" starring William Holden. Thankfully, "The Choirboys" isn't available on disc.

I've been waiting on this to be released on dvd for literally years! My vhs copy has gotten a lot of use. This is one of the BEST 70's/BEST all around cop films I've seen and I'm very particular. Ranks right up there along with Electraglide in Blue, Dirty Harry, The French Connection, Serpico, McQ and Seven-Ups. The book by ex-LA cop Joseph Wambaugh is one of his best and the film follows it rather closely. It starts out with Stacy Keach and his fellow officers going through the academy, he becomes a rookie cop and is partnered with veteran George C. Scott. I'll not give the excellent plot away, but the film is very accurate in its portrayal of late 60's, 70's police activities and their equipment. Shades of Adam-12 in that respect. Overall a truly excellent movie that will not disappoint you, especially if you are into cop movies...and if you like it, you should consider reading the fine book too (if you've read the book and like it, you MUST see the film)! A classic!

...but it really doesn't quite make it. I even suspect that the screenwriter understood that putting this amazing story into a movie was too tall of an order. So he purposefully narrowed his look into the lives of the three rookie cops and almost loses Officer Gus and the Watts Riots all together in the process.But that's okay. It is nevertheless a very good movie with George C. Scott very nearly stealing the show from the others. Stacy Keach portrays the rise and fall of a rookie to veteran in almost haunting fashion. This is very entertaining from start to finish.Bottom line is that Wambaugh's book "The New Centurions" was just really deep and well done. Only a mini series with a lot of production money could have captured it all. So this movie is an abbreviation, but a good one.

If you like police movies, you'll love this one. Stacy Keach and Erik Estrada (CHiPs, in one of his first movies) are graduates of the police academy as they begin their careers within the police department. Of special interest is the relationship between Keach and George C. Scott (a seasoned veteran looking forward to retirement).This is a true-to-life story of cops and their daily struggles as they balance their jobs with their personal life. George C. Scott is excellent in this movie and worth watching for his acting alone. Stacy Keach gives a great performance as a new cop juggling family and his quest to further his career beyond the police department.Plenty of action sequences and a true depiction of the struggles that our police force face on a daily basis. Watch Erik Estrada in one of his earliest roles.A must see movie for action, drama, and life on the streets. I own the VHS version and I am glad that this movie was finally released on DVD. A true classic.

As an active-duty police officer, I can appreciate the film version of LAPD veteran Joseph Wambaugh's first police novel, which I saw on its theatrical release in 1972. Like most films, its a Cliff's Notes-version of the novel on which its based. The classic, old-school policing depicted in the film -- particularly "Kilvinsky's Law" -- is mostly long-gone, replaced by decreased police authority and politically-correct kowtowing when dealing with an increasingly hostile public. A nice, early '70s nostalgia trip on the way it used to be.

Now something of a museum piece but it was groundbreaking in its day and still has much to recommend it. Fine performances from Scott and Keach. Concentrating on beat cops rather than the more glamorous detectives, it is authentic and honest, more character driven, though there is some action, and unexpectedly downbeat for a Hollywood production. Although not perhaps in the first rank it deserves an honorable mention in the roll call of American police films.

This is well worth a watch I saw it a long time ago it's a good story well acted and 1970's San Francisco looks good

fantastic film from my younger days.... and the Blu Ray is a great presentation with terrific bonus features and interviews... splendid first class job, buy the Blu Ray without reservations.

A brutal movie, that has it's calm moments of fun when the rookie officers aren't being shot at, or worse.I'll leave it at that to not spoil the movie.

Not available in BD in the states. Great quality.