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Beyond the Law

Play trailer Poster for Beyond the Law 1968 1h 50m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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This largely improvised film by writer and director Norman Mailer focuses on various conflicts and interactions at a New York City police station. Lieutenant Francis Xavier Pope (Norman Mailer) runs the facility with fitting toughness, wired to deal with any situation that may come through the doors. Among other things, Pope must contend with a surprise visit from the mayor (George Plimpton) and a quirky biker named Popcorn (Rip Torn), making for an eventful night.

Critics Reviews

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Margaret Hinxman Daily Telegraph (UK) 03/16/2020
A flashy Italian-German Western... with some ingenious touches. Go to Full Review
Michael McNay Guardian 01/23/2020
Reassuringly old-fashioned. Go to Full Review
Christopher Hudson The Spectator 10/19/2016
There is a perfectly sensible massacre at the end, with Lionel Stander, here a decayed preacher, giving one of his gruesome dying performances which anyone who saw Polanski's Cul-de-Sac will remember him for. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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delysid d 07/25/2018 this is a good but not exactly mindblowing example of italian western starring the great Lee Van Cleef who is one of my heros See more 12/25/2012 This is a really bad Italian western. See more 04/04/2012 This spaghetti western is not too bad.i though the story was interesting,and there are some good performances.Lee Van Cleef is the main star,and is quite good here.but he is overshadowed by a few others.Antonio Sabato(father of pseudo-actor Atonio Sabato Jr.)for one puts in a terrific performance,as does Lionel Stander(80'S TV show Hart to Hart.i also liked Bud Spencer(who acted in numerous spaghetti Westerns)though i wish his role had been bigger.but the real standout,in my mind,is Gordon Mitchell,for his "ice water in his veins' portrayal of Burton.the big negative for me though is the length of the film.i feel it is at least 30 minutes too long,and it moves fairly slow at times.but the performances overcome that weakness.for me, See more 01/30/2012 Gritty western with a nice edge to the story, but fairly long and unnecessarily drawn out. See more 09/30/2011 Lee Van Cleef is beyond the law but this film unfortunately does not go beyond expectations. Ordinary spaghetti western but still worth it for Van Cleef alone as a petty criminal turned lawman for small mining town. Redemption is always sweet. See more 01/27/2011 fun story , well acted .. some good twists and lee van cleef is always a pleasure to watch See more Read all reviews
Beyond the Law

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Movie Info

Synopsis This largely improvised film by writer and director Norman Mailer focuses on various conflicts and interactions at a New York City police station. Lieutenant Francis Xavier Pope (Norman Mailer) runs the facility with fitting toughness, wired to deal with any situation that may come through the doors. Among other things, Pope must contend with a surprise visit from the mayor (George Plimpton) and a quirky biker named Popcorn (Rip Torn), making for an eventful night.
Director
Norman Mailer
Producer
Buzz Farber, Norman Mailer
Screenwriter
Norman Mailer
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 28, 2012
Runtime
1h 50m