History Film / Serpico

%%* KnightInSourArmor
%%A trope name is not an example. How does this apply?

* GoodPolicingEvilPolicing: One of the classic examples of moral contrasts within law enforcement, and BasedOnATrueStory, to boot. The plot takes great pains to show that the New York Police in the late Sixties and early Seventies was crooked beyond belief and Frank Serpico eventually couldn't take it anymore and became a whistleblower, an act that [[HeKnowsTooMuch nearly got him killed]].

** The police department only launches a belated investigation into Serpico's allegations after he reveals that he's been to "outside agencies". The truth is those agencies are just as reluctant to investigate the matter as the NYCPD itself is.

* TreacheryCoverUp: Serpico is repeatedly told that the NYPD "cleans its own laundry"; instead corrupt officers are just transferred so they will be someone else's problem. Moreover corruption is so widespread the officers can simply join another corrupt network in the unit they've been transferred to.

* WideEyedIdealist: Serpico is an idealist cop. He soon realize that the vast majority of his colleagues are corrupt. He tries to fight corruption, but this puts his life at risk. Finally, he is shot in the face.

[[RecycledTheSeries Adapted]] into a short-lived 1976–77 series on Creator/{{NBC}}, starring David Birney as Serpico.

%%* BigApplesauce
%%A trope name is not an example. How does this apply?

* GoodPolicingEvilPolicing: One of the classic examples of moral contrasts within law enforcement, and BasedOnATrueStory, to boot. The plot takes great pains to show that the New York Police in the late Sixties and early Seventies was crooked beyond belief and Frank Serpico eventually couldn?t take it anymore and became a whistleblower, an act that [[HeKnowsTooMuch nearly got him killed]].

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: After years of superiors who regard him as an embarrassment, Serpico finally meets a precinct captain who genuinely admires him. The two [[TheyFightCrime team up to fight crime]], but find their own precinct also has a corrupt network and the brass are still reluctant to do anything.

* BeardnessProtectionProgram: Serpico wears a large mustache--and later the hippy beard made famous in the movie--at a time when so-called plainclothes cops are [[PaperThinDisguise wearing regulation haircuts and shoes]]. When attached to Vice however he adopts a long flowing beard that works too well -- word soon spreads among the hookers to beware of "The Beard", and Serpico has to shave again on seeing prostitutes fleeing a bearded man trying in vain to pick them up.

* TheSixties and TheSeventies

* BigApplesauce

* TheBigRottenApple

* KnightInSourArmor

* MononymousBiopicTitle

* ProtagonistTitle

* TreacheryCoverUp: Serpico is repeatedly told that the NYPD "cleans its own laundry"; instead corrupt officers are just transferred so they will be someone else's problem. Moreover corruption is so widespread the officers can simply join another corrupt network in the unit they've been transferred to.
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: In the end, a caption tells that Serpico has moved to Switzerland.

* ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'': ''Serpicool''. Serpico would later state that he found it ActuallyPrettyFunny.

* ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'': ''Serpicool''.

* ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'': ''Supercool''.

* BadassBeard: Serpico grows a very impressive one halfway through the movie, becoming a virtual trope setter for future undercover cops both in fiction and real life.

* DirtyCop: Both inverted and played straight.

* HandsomeLech: Played down in the movie; the real Serpico has been married four times, divorced three, and his fourth and last marriage was the only one ending in death.

* HandsomeLech: Played down in the movie; the real Serpico has been married four times, divorced three and his fourth and last marriage was the only one ending in death-"Marianne"s.

* GoodIsNotSoft: Serpico doesn't take bribes and is a lot nicer to criminals. The latter actually makes him [[GoodIsNotDumb more effective]] at getting names. He buys one of the rapists a snack, but he wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet in him if he tried to walk away. The former makes him bullied and menaced by other cops, but push him too far, like the guy with the knife, and he'll put you to the ground with the gun in your face.

* HandsomeLech: Played down in the movie; the real Serpico has been married and divorced four times.

** The police commissioner is informed of Serpico's allegations and promises action, then does nothing at all (when testifying at the Knapp Commision, he claimed to have just forgotten). When the precinct commanders bring the matter to his attention, rather than give it to Internal Affairs he just tells them to investigate the matter themselves.

** The police department only launches a belated investigation into Serpico's allegations after he reveals that he's been to "outside agencies". The truth is those agencies are just as reluctant to investigate the matter as the NYPD.

* The19Sixties and The19Seventies

* The1960s and The1970s

* TheSeventies

Frank Serpico (Creator/AlPacino) is an idealistic UsefulNotes/{{New York City Cop|s}} who dreams of becoming a detective. In order to qualify for the famous 'gold shield' he joins the Plainclothes Division, where Serpico's tendency to dress like a hippy -- and refusal to take bribes -- earn first the bewilderment, and later the active hostility, of his police colleagues. Equally disturbed by the corruption that surrounds him, Serpico keeps trying to inform his superiors of the situation, but all are reluctant to open a can of worms that could jeopardize their own careers or alienate their fellow officers. Eventually Serpico is forced to go public -- an action that puts his life in danger from those who are sworn to serve and protect.