Review of The Laughing Policeman (1973) by Black S — 09 May 2008

Police procedural based on the Swedish novel reset to San Francisco. I have read the original book, from a series of Detective fiction by Maj Sjowali & Per Whaloo, and some details work others dont (in the book, it is explained easily how the bad guy obtained a machinegun: a leftover WW2 Suomi gun used by anti-Nazi resistance fighters, in the movie, the villian just happens to have one.

There is some mumbling about a Korean War era .45 Cal. "Grease Gun" but the one used is a 9mm Smith & Wesson copy of the Danish Madsen 9mm SMG). Some scenes are filmed in the actual real SFPD locations (In fact, the real SFPD SWAT team is used in one scene), such as the Homicide Bureau at the main Police HQ at 850 Bryaant St.

; In the film, it accurately, and creepily, refers to the shady still-then-shocking pre-AIDS underground Gay culture, including Male "Go-Go-Dancers" and Beautiful "Lipstick Lesbians', in San Francisco as part of the story, again, something not in the original novel.

Great second unit stuff showing location shots of 70's San Francisco (the no longer existing Embarko Freeway, Enrico's on Broadway which was also used in "Bullitt" for the scene with McQueen & "Rat Patrol" actor Justin Tarr; the Mission & 3rd St East Bay Terminal station with the cheap plastic pay mini-televisions and the old Green & white Muni Bus colors are memorable), and the story is interesting enough to make it worth some time with a jug of popcorn for fans of gritty Police Procedurals, just don't expect the action found in "Bullitt" or a "Dirty Harry" yarn, but this one ranks high up there with them as an SFPD set piece whodunnit'.

Solid cast, with vets like Anthony Zerbe, and then newcomer and future Oscar winner Louis Gossett. I have never understood the appeal of the nasal-talking Bruce Dern, but he dons the big moustached 70's sexist Cop persona and lets his acting skills take up the slack.

Matthau is as expected, excellent. The Babe Quotient is extremely high here, with drop dead-gorgeous bow to the Goddess auburn haired Joanna Cassidy flashing those high cheekbones & big baby blues and is still as fine as frog hairs, unlike the then Blonde beautiful & not well kept now skanishk Cathy Lee Crosby in the mix.

..The music holds up well also, not coming off as too dated...