A naïve rookie detective (Michael Moriarty) becomes a pawn in the accidental shooting of an undercover woman cop (Susan Blakely), a tragic incident that could bring down some of the top brass in the NYPD.

CRITIQUE

Report to the Commissioner is one of several excellent gritty New York cop movies that played theaters during the 1970s.

Adapted by Abby Mann and Ernest Tidyman from James Mills’ best-selling novel, the film is told in a Citizen Kane-like flashback method (i.e. through the eyes of several interviewees), as the NY Police Commissioner’s investigator tries to learn the truth about how the Susan Blakely character came to be killed.

Michael Moriarty is quite convincing as the sensitive young detective who should never have been a cop in the first place, and Ms. Blakely is effective as the “gung ho” undercover lady cop who, with the approval of her superiors, volunteers to become the mistress of a major drug dealer (Tony King) in order to bring him down.  Also memorable are Yaphet Kotto and Hector Elizondo as seasoned detectives and, in one of his early movie roles, Richard Gere as a pimp.

Director Milton Katselas’ presentation of New York City is stark and unsentimental, certainly not a pretty picture that would attract the tourist trade.  His climatic sequence is a lengthy, sensational foot chase, in which Moriarty’s cop chases drug dealer King (clad only in boxer shorts) through the Times Square area, winding up as a standoff in a department store elevator.

Although the script does provide “explanations,” I do have a couple issues with its logic.

As previously mentioned, Michael Moriarty’s character is so sensitive and fragile, one wonders how he ever passed the psychological exam to become a cop.

Would the superiors of Susan Blakely’s character really allow her to sleep with the drug dealer that she’s hoping to get evidence against?  Wouldn’t there be legal ramifications should such a case ever be brought to trial?

Those reservations aside, if you enjoy films like The French Connection and Serpico, then Report to the Commissioner will not disappoint.

THE VIDEO

As part of MGM’s “Limited Edition Collection,” this is a “burned,” as opposed to a “pressed” DVD, and is manufactured from the best elements available, when you order it from Amazon.com.

The widescreen color picture has no significant problems.

THE AUDIO

The Dolby Digital Sound is crisp and clear.

EXTRAS

Featuring the film’s theatrical trailer.

FINAL THOUGHT

This is a tight, gritty cop movie, enhanced by some good performances and a spectacular foot chase sequence through the streets of New York.