Line #20 Film/PrinceOfTheCity


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3	->''"I don't know why you people don't understand the system. You want a conviction, but you've got these stupid search and seizure laws. And wiretaps. Case one never got made without an illegal wiretap. And you're never gonna get a conviction if a cop don't commit perjury. What is it that you want? You want the big dealer out of business? The only way I know to push him out of business is to steal his cash. Otherwise somewhere down the line, he's gonna buy out. He'll buy himself a bondsman. A DA. A judge. The scumbag dealer's back on the streets before the arresting officer."''
4	-->-- '''Raf Alvarez'''
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7	''Prince of the City'' is a 1981 film directed by Creator/SidneyLumet, adapted from the [[TheFilmOfTheBook nonfiction book of the same name]] by Robert Daley. It has a large cast (126 speaking roles) led by Creator/TreatWilliams.
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9	Daniel Ciello (Williams) is a UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity narcotics detective who reluctantly agrees to cooperate with a special commission investigating police corruption. However, he soon discovers that he's in over his head, and nobody can be trusted.
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12	!! This movie provides examples of:
13	%%* AntiHero: Filled with them.
14	* AntiVillain: There are arguably no true "villains" in the film to speak of--everyone is oddly sympathetic in some way.
15	* BigRottenApple: New York City at its most corrupt.
16	* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: The crackdown is successful, and Daniel has a new career as an instructor for investigators. However, his part in the investigation led to the implication of many of his friends on the force -- which is specifically what he fought to ''prevent'' from happening. As such, he has to live with his image being tarnished in the eyes of most of the cops from the "old days".]]
17	* CrapsackWorld: A major theme in the film is how corruption is everywhere, and that even basically honest man will therefore dabble in it out of what they feel to be necessity.
18	* FilmNoir: The film is essentially a cop-film-meets-legal-drama channeled through a strong Noir "mood".
19	* HollywoodLaw: [[PlayingWithATrope Plays with this]] occasionally in mild ways--most notably in the Alvarez quote above.
20	* RomanAClef: The original book was a well-researched history of the case. The film moves the time period forward about five years, taking place between 1972 and the late 1970's, but other than that it hews ''very'' closely to the facts of the case.
21	* ShoutOut: The second half of the film makes constant references to ''Film/TheFrenchConnection'' case.
22	* WhamShot: At least two big ones. The film is divided into segments, each beginning with ID photos or mugshots of people that will play a part in Danny's life, accompanied by a quote from Danny. At first, it's Danny and his partners, then the Chase Commission lawyers, then mobsters that Danny has dealt with in the past... then an ID of Gino Mascone, a respected detective that mentored Danny, shows up, and the quote is, "But I never meant to hurt Gino." Danny is getting roped into turning on people he is close to.
23	** The second WhamShot is the last set of pictures: Danny and his partners. After spending so much time trying to avoid getting his partners involved, Danny will have to turn on them.
24	%%* YouAreWhatYouHate: Daniel's realization of this is what leads him to assist the investigation.

Context Film / PrinceOfTheCity