Cop Hater

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Allan C Nov 27 Young Robert Loggia and Jerry Orbach! Cop Hater (1958) *** The first film adaptation of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct set of novels. There’s a cop killer on the loose during an NYC heatwave, and it’s up to Robert Loggia, in his first starring film role, to figure out who's the killer. This is a pretty low-budget of crime picture, even compared to similar RKO productions, but the meager budget also gives this film a grittiness that works in its favor. COP HATER reminded me of 1950s pulp novel covers, filled with leggy dames, tough guys with guns, cigarette smoke, and hard booze filling every glass. While the film has a lackluster, flat TV-style of lighting and some pretty corny dialogue, it has all of the hard-boiled crime story tropes that make it highly entertaining for fans of film noir. Also, besides getting to see a young Loggia, you get the film debut of Jerry Orbach playing a juvenile delinquent in one scene, who mouths off at Loggia.  COP HATER is hardly a classic, but it is well worth watching for fans of this genre.  AI CAPSULE REVIEW: Cop Hater (1958) is a low-budget but gritty early adaptation of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct novels, featuring Robert Loggia in his first starring role and a brief debut by Jerry Orbach. Despite flat lighting and corny dialogue, it delivers the hard-boiled tropes—tough cops, smoky bars, and pulp-novel energy—that make it an entertaining watch for crime-noir fans. See more 05/26/2012 1950's potboiler is alternately fun and unintentionally funny. See more 12/20/2011 Most of the air conditioners in the apartments and offices of New York City seem to be stressed to the limit in this movie. Or people don't have them. When they are in the comfort of their homes both men and women must cool off by lounging around in their underwear or swimsuits. Shirley Ballard is particularly sensual. This is pretty similar to the police procedurals we are used to seeing on tv otherwise. Loggia is the main calm and collected detective hero trying to catch a cop killer. His girlfriend is deaf, so the characterizations have a bit of uniqueness. See more 06/23/2011 This early adaptation of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct novel is not particularily good, but I definitely enjoyed the shockingly young Robert Loggia and his throttle carpet headbashing antics. The film is also notable for one of the best Punch-Outs in cinema, blink and you'll miss THWACK WHAM FLOOR. Other than that, Cop Hater is pretty ordinary. VF. See more 12/30/2010 An early Robert Loggia film. As late fifties police killer movies go, this one was fairly interesting. The acting is pretty rough, with the detectives all trying to be fast talking interrogators. All tough guys looking for the killer of a fellow cop, or policeman, if you will. Then, his parter is killed the next day. The crime scene gives the only clues. Written by Evan Hunter using the name Ed McBain, the book was inspired by a television show he greatly admired, Dragnet. Two patrolman parters are murdered from the same precinct a day apart. Tension runs pretty high as the police are clueless. In black and white, this movie is pretty average or worse for the era. William Berke Director John Bowman Assistant Director John Zane Assistant Director Cast Robert Loggia Detective [Steve] Carelli Gerald S. O'Loughlin Detective [Mike] Maguire Ellen Parker Carelli's girl--Teddy [Theodora Franklin] Shirley Ballard Maguire's wife--Alice Russell Hardie Detective Lt. Byrnes Hal Riddle Cop hater--killer [Mercer] William Neff Rookie cop--Kling Gene Miller Reporter [Hank] Miller Vince Gardenia Danny the Gimp John Gerstad Laboratory technician Ralph Stantley Detective Willis Glen Gannon Gang leader--Rip Alan Manson Newlywed Clark Sandra Stevens Newlywed wife Jan Kalionzes Officer Reardon's wife Jerry Orbach Gang leader--Mumzer Frank Dana Cinematography J. Burgi Contner Producer Morris Helprin Executive Producer Alfred Crown Executive Producer William Berke Producer Lee Gordon Everett Sutherland Supervising Film Editor Albert Glasser Music Composition and Conducting Jack Rabin Special Photography Effects Louis DeWitt Special Photography Effects See more 06/16/2010 Loose, but pacey Evan Hunter adaptation,(under the pen name Ed McBain) with a good degree of procedural grit for the time. Fun to see a young Loggia and O'Loughlin as his partner whose contrasting romantic relationship with the harridan Ballard lends a bit more interest for a buddy cop of the day. Parker plays Loggia's deaf-mute wife, Teddy, whose internal monologues are lost - she instead largely provides a foil for Loggia's engaging exposition. Also fun to see a very young Jerry Orbach as an ethnic thug, being given the business in the role opposite that which he would come to play more often. This has a nice edge with strong characterization, and the ending is well-paced and sleazy. The attention given to Parker's eyes reflects menace, but conveys an intellect which heightens the impact of Loggia's blind rage in her defense. The film can be seen on Hulu here: http://www.hulu.com/watch/88185/cop-hater See more Read all reviews

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