Prince of the City (1981)
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- R
- 2h 47min
- Crime, Drama
- 26 Aug 1981 (USA)
- Movie
A New York City narcotics detective reluctantly agrees to cooperate with a special commission investigating police corruption, and soon realises he's in over his head, and nobody can be trusted.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 14 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Treat Williams | ... |
Detective Daniel Ciello
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| Jerry Orbach | ... |
Detective Gus Levy
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| Richard Foronjy | ... |
Detective Joe Marinaro
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Don Billett | ... |
Detective Bill Mayo
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Kenny Marino | ... |
Dom Bando
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| Carmine Caridi | ... |
Detective Gino Mascone
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| Tony Page | ... |
Detective Raf Alvarez
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| Norman Parker | ... |
Assistant U.S. Atty. Rick Cappalino
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Paul Roebling | ... |
Assistant U.S. Atty. Brooks Paige
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| Bob Balaban | ... |
Santimassino
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| James Tolkan | ... |
Assistant U.S. Atty. George Polito
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Steve Inwood | ... |
Assistant U.S. Atty. Mario Vincente
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| Lindsay Crouse | ... |
Carla Ciello
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| Matthew Laurance | ... |
Ronnie Ciello
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Tony Turco | ... |
Socks Ciello
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Ronald Maccone | ... |
Nick Napoli
(as Ron Maccone)
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| Ron Karabatsos | ... |
Dave DeBennedeto
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Tony DiBenedetto | ... |
Officer Carl Alagretti
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Tony Munafo | ... |
Rocky Gazzo
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Robert Christian | ... |
The King
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| Lee Richardson | ... |
Sam Heinsdorff
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| Lane Smith | ... |
U.S. Marshal Tug Barnes
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| Cosmo Allegretti | ... |
Marcel Sardino
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Bobby Alto | ... |
Mr. Kanter
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| Michael Beckett | ... |
Michael Blomberg
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| Burton Collins | ... |
Monty - Young Virginia Guard
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Henry Ferrentino | ... |
Older Virginia Guard
(as Henry Ferrantino)
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Carmine Foresta | ... |
Officer Ernie Fallacci
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Conard Fowkes | ... |
Agent Elroy Pendleton
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| Peter Friedman | ... |
D.A. Goldman
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| Peter Michael Goetz | ... |
U.S. Attorney Charles Deluth
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| Lance Henriksen | ... |
D.A. Burano
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| Eddie Jones | ... |
U.S. Marshal Ned Chippy
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Don Leslie | ... |
D.A. Louis D'Amato
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Dana Lorge | ... |
Ann Mascone
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| Harry Madsen | ... |
Agent Bubba Harris
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E.D. Miller | ... |
Sergeant Sam Edelman
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| Cynthia Nixon | ... |
Jeannie
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| Ron Perkins | ... |
Virginia Trooper
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| Lionel Pina | ... |
Frank Sancho
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José Angel Santana | ... |
Jose
(as Jose Santana)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Walter Brooke | ... |
Judge (uncredited)
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Richard Costabile | ... |
Patrolman Ferguson (uncredited)
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Peter Costanza | ... |
Juror (uncredited)
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Sean Elliot | ... |
Cadet (uncredited)
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| Peter Gannon | ... |
Police Officer (uncredited)
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| Alan King | ... |
Alan King (uncredited)
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| Dennis O'Neill | ... |
Assistant D.A. (uncredited)
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Ilana Rapp | ... |
Beach Player (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Sidney Lumet | ||
Written by
| Jay Presson Allen | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Sidney Lumet | ... | (screenplay) |
| Robert Daley | ... | (book) |
Produced by
| Burtt Harris | ... | producer |
| Raymond Hartwick | ... | associate producer (as Ray Hartwick) |
| Jay Presson Allen | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Paul Chihara | ||
Cinematography by
| Andrzej Bartkowiak | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Jack Fitzstephens | ... | (as John J. Fitzstephens) |
Editorial Department
| Peggy Weiss | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Joy Todd | ||
Production Design by
| Tony Walton | ||
Art Direction by
| Edward Pisoni | ||
Set Decoration by
| George DeTitta Sr. | ... | (as George DeTitta) |
Costume Design by
| Anna Hill Johnstone | ||
Makeup Department
| Robert Jiras | ... | makeup artist (as Bob Jiras) |
| Philip Leto | ... | hair stylist (as Phil Leto) |
Production Management
| Barbara De Fina | ... | unit manager (as Barbara DeFina) |
| Raymond Hartwick | ... | production manager (as Ray Hartwick) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Alan Hopkins | ... | assistant director |
| Robert E. Warren | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Joseph M. Caracciolo | ... | property master (as Joseph Caracciolo) |
| Harold McConnell | ... | set dresser |
| William Sohmer | ... | standby scenic |
| Richard A. Ventre | ... | scenic artist (as Dick Ventre) |
| Gerald DeTitta | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Stan Bochner | ... | sound editor |
| Peter C. Frank | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Vito L. Ilardi | ... | boom man (as Vito Ilardi) |
| Hal Levinsohn | ... | sound editor |
| Dan Lieberstein | ... | sound editor |
| James Sabat | ... | sound mixer (as James J. Sabat) |
| Dick Vorisek | ... | re-recording mixer |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Garrett Brown | ... | steadicam operator |
| John Finnerty | ... | rigging grip |
| Louis Goldman | ... | still photographer |
| Jim Hovey | ... | first assistant camera (as James Hovey) |
| Dave McClean | ... | rigging gaffer |
| Billy Miller | ... | key grip |
| Michael Stone | ... | camera operator |
| Dusty Wallace | ... | gaffer |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Yvonne David | ... | wardrobe (as Yvonne M.C. David) |
| Marilyn Putnam | ... | wardrobe |
| Max Soloman | ... | wardrobe (as Max Solomon) |
Location Management
| June Rachel Guterman | ... | assistant location manager (as June Guterman) |
| Gaetano Lisi | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Georges Delerue | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Martha Pinson | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Edward Iacobelli | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
| Lilith Jacobs | ... | assistant to director |
| Gabrielle Kelly | ... | assistant: Mrs. Allen |
| Jennifer Ogden | ... | production office coordinator |
| Phillip Schopper | ... | title designer |
| Lucille Masone Smith | ... | auditor (as Lucille Cannon) |
| Michael Sporn | ... | title designer |
| Deborah Guardian | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Orion Pictures (1981) (United States) (theatrical) (as Orion Pictures Company)
- Warner Bros. (1981) (United States) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros) (a Warner Communications company)
- Columbia-EMI-Warner (1981) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1982) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1982) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1982) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1982) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1982) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1982) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Concorde Filmverleih (1983) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1984) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- Audio Visual Enterprises (1986) (Greece) (VHS)
- Taurus Video (West Germany) (VHS)
- Veronica Omroep Organisatie (1988) (Netherlands) (tv)
- Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (1988) (West Germany) (tv)
- TV3 (1990) (Finland) (tv)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1996) (Finland) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (1996) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Süddeutsche Zeitung (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (Switzerland) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2021) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Plaion Pictures (2024) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Fazer Musiikki Oy/Fazer Video (Finland) (video)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Michael Sporn Animation (title design)
- Panavision (lenses and Panaflex camera)
- Varèse Sarabande (soundtrack)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
NYPD officer Daniel Ciello is involved in some questionable police practices. He's approached by IAB, and in exchange for him potentially being let off he's instructed to begin looking at the inner workings of police corruption. Danny agrees as long as he doesn't have to turn on his partners but he soon learns he cannot trust anyone. He must decide whose side he's on and who's on his.
Written by Josh Pasnak |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | He broke the one law no cop could violate. He betrayed his partners. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $8,600,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $64,713, 23 Aug 1981 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Akira Kurosawa complimented director Sidney Lumet on the beauty of the camerawork and the whole movie. By this he meant that there is an elemental connection between the story and the techniques used. For example, background lighting is gradually phased out to make the characters stand out more towards the end of the film. See more » |
| Goofs | During the Blomberg appeal, the judge calls Detective Ciello "Lieutenant Ciello". See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Best of 1981 (1982). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Love Will Keep Us Together See more » |
| Quotes |
Daniel Ciello:
I know the law. The law doesn't know the streets. See more » |