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Treat Williams, Jerry Orbach, Richard Foronjy, Don Billett, James Tolkan ... see more see more... , Kenny Marino , Carmine Caridi , Lance Henriksen , Norman Parker , Paul Roebling , Bob Balaban , Steve Inwood , Lindsay Crouse , Matthew Laurance , Tony Turco , Ronald Maccone , Ron Karabatsos , Tony di Benedetto , Tony Munafo , Robert Christian , Lee Richardson , Lane Smith , Cosmo Allegretti , Bobby Alto , Burton Collins , Peter Michael Goetz , Eddie Jones , Cynthia Nixon , Lionel Pina , Jose Santana , Harry Madsen , Conrad Fowkes , Carmine Foresta , Dana Lorge , Antony Page , Peter Friedman

Inspired by a true story, Prince of the City stars Treat Williams as a Manhattan detective who agrees to help the US Department of Justice weed out corruption in the NYPD. Williams agrees on the assur... read more read more...ance that he'll never have to turn in a close friend. Wired for sound, Williams almost immediately stumbles upon a police conspiracy to smuggle narcotics to street informants in order to insure cooperation. While this might be condonable in a stretch, the fact is that the many cops are using the drugs on their own, and are also highly susceptible to bribes. Williams gets the goods on the miscreants, but in so doing he breaks the "code" and becomes a pariah to his fellow officers. As we learn in the unsettling final scene, Williams will always be considered a "fink," even by honest cops. Prince of the City is too long for its own good, but its opening expository sequences and its final twenty minutes more than compensate for the duller stretches. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

83% liked it

982 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

17 critics

R, 2 hr. 47 min.

Directed by: Sidney Lumet

Release Date: August 19, 1981

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DVD Release Date: May 22, 2007

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Stats: 131 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (131)

  • pier007
    February 16, 2011
    pier007
    Prisons of the mind can be worse than the fisical ones. When you want atonement, to walk the right path, to come clean about your past dirty deeds, to tell the truth about the lawless world you're living into, where the only god is money; you won't come out fine. though some head... read mores will roll, yours will roll too.
  • jjnxn
    October 9, 2009
    jjnxn
    Fine performances are hindered by slow pace and the fact that the film is just too long. Original impact of story is muted by years of police proceduals.
  • kenstachnik
    February 7, 2008
    kenstachnik
    Sidney Lumet presents
    Law and Order: The Movie
  • gator681
    December 26, 2008
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]In "Prince of the City," detective Danny Ciello(Treat Williams) is the youngest member and leader of the Special Investigative Unit(SIU), an elite detective squad without supervision in New York City designated to fight the illegal drug trade. While they mak... read moree huge, newsworthy busts, it can also involve scrounging drugs for informants. In the midst of this, Danny is contacted by Rick Cappalino(Norman Parker) of the Chase Comission investigating police corruption. Danny agrees to go undercover on condition that none of his partners are targeted...[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]From his first movie "Twelve Angry Men," director Sidney Lumet's favorite subject has been the criminal justice system and the flaws therein. "Prince of the City" is no exception as it is a gritty, complex and layered look at the day to day life of an undercover policeman, living almost entirely in the shadows. Danny has reason to fear not only from the criminal element but also his fellow policemen whose fraternal code he is in danger of breaking. Above him sit the district attorneys prosecuting the cases who are unfamiliar with the city and who view the streets in terms of black and white, making it much easier for them to sit in judgment. At the end of the day, who is truly left with their honor intact? [/font]
  • Dannyrovira
    December 3, 2011
    Dannyrovira
    A fascinating, emotionally powerful crime drama brilliantly directed by Sidney Lumet, scripted by Jay Presson Allen & Sidney Lumet based on a true story and starring Treat Williams in the performance of his career as undercover narcotics cop Daniel Ciello who decides to reveal th... read moree corruption within his unit, this taut excellently crafted film constitutes a social drama about the law, the lawless and the raging forces at work in New York City. "Prince" is a complex detailed look at the process by which one man who starts out to redeem himself by reveling some truths, the moral dilemma that Ciello faces as a informant, who fines himself more a victim than a hero as he is drawn step-by-step into giving information about his police partners that would ultimately destroy them. Stupendous character portrayers by a game cast that includes Richard Foronyy, Don Billett, Kenny Marino, Carmine Caridi, Tony Page,Bob Balaban, James Tolkan, and Lindsay with the late Jerry Orbach a standout as Gus Levy a tough no-nonsense detective who was Ciello best friend before he turned into a informant. Painstakingly detailed, with excellent use of New York locations, beautifully photographed by Andrzej Bartkowiak with superb editing by Jack Fitzstephens. A complex, and engrossing motion picture by an American master filmmaker Lumet. Winner of the New York Film Circle Award, Best Director: Sidney Lumet. Golden Globe Awards nominations, Best Picture, Best Director: Sidney Lumet, Best Actor: Treat Williams. Academy Awards nomination: Best Adapted Screenplay: Jay Presson Allen and Sidney Lumet. Highly Recommended.
  • thirdway821
    April 11, 2011
    thirdway821
    Sidney Lumet's "Prince Of The City" is a sad, draining masterpiece. It's great because there are no heroes in this picture only those who rat on others. The main character of the film played by Treat Williams is going to have to rat on his partners since he is living dangerously ... read morein guilt. "Prince Of The City" seems to have insipired many crime drama pictures like Scorsese's "The Departed". What I greatly admired is Lumet sees the corruption within the police system, judges and lawyers seem to be bought and paid since they, too is guilty of the system. In TV shows police organizations is usually seen as the patriots of crime, the princes of the cities. In Sidney Lumet's picture the realities of corruption within the police force (or any organization) is disgusting as any terrible narcotic. The pigs of the city.
  • trisarahtops22
    October 25, 2009
    trisarahtops22
    This isn't any better than any other 70's movie that portrays police corruption. It was long and kind of hard to get into. I wouldn't watch it again.
  • threefolddado
    July 17, 2008
    threefolddado
    Under appreciated cop drama from the early 80's is a tight piece of work.
  • cacutshaw
    September 9, 2007
    cacutshaw
    Great film, one of Lumet's best. I guess it didn't do well at all, but a better story of police corruption than Lumet's own Serpico.
    Treat Williams gives a fantastic performance and the plot is very involving. Hopefully gets a third chance at finding an audience on DVD.
  • GabrielKnight
    March 19, 2012
    GabrielKnight
    A gritty story of a conflicted NYC cop who wanted to cooperate with DA to expose "bad" cops while protecting his friends... little did he know he made a deal with the devil. The movie is quite long, but never boring - Sidney Lumet is a master story teller and this story will suck... read more you in. One of the strengths of this movie is that it passes no judgement on the characters' actions, just as in real life, sometimes the line between right and wrong is blurry.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
August 12, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

One of Sidney Lumet's most complex and detailed New York City dramas about the dark, dirty side of police work, boasting a splendid performance from Treat Williams in the lead. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
May 21, 2011
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Directs another Serpico, but with improvements. Full Review

Clint Morris
August 17, 2008
Clint Morris, Moviehole

The movie that should've turned Treat Williams into a huge star. This is one of Sidney Lumet's finest hours.

John J. Puccio
May 20, 2007
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

While there is still much to like in the film...it's a long, winding haul to the finish. Full Review

Steve Crum
May 31, 2005
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Treat Williams courageously fights police corruption.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
January 30, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

One of 1980's most value-laden and riveting films offers a compelling portrait of crime and punishment and all the stops in between. Full Review

Dragan Antulov
January 29, 2002
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews

Prince of the City features a whole variety of different acting talents, each of them shining in small, but effective roles.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
August 30, 2004
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

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  • Box Office of ____. Sex and the City ($152.6M) Gran Torino ($148.1M) Mamma Mia! ($144.1M) Marley and Me ($143.1M) The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ($141.6M)  Answer »
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