The Laughing Policeman
Eight people know who the killer is - and they're all dead.
It's tough beat for San Francisco police lieutenant Jake Martin (Walter Matthau) when he has to investigate a city bus massacre in which a madman opened machine gunfire on eight people. It's even worse when Martin discovers his former partner, Detective Dave Evans, is one of the victims. But as he investigates the grisly murders, Martin not only discovers unsavory things about Evans, but he finds that many of the victims had shady lives, which shrouds the killer's identity even more. Also starring Louis Gossett Jr. and Bruce Dern, The Laughing Policeman is filled with plot twists, suspense and fascinating fun.
Member Reviews
The Laughing Policeman - BIKO
Written by a Marxist husband-and-wife team in the 70's, The Laughing Policeman is one of ten terrific police-procedural novels featuring the Swedish detective Martin Beck: Walter Matthau was not a bad choice to play him and in any event is always a pleasure to watch. I liked the use of the word "gravitas" in the previous review- certainly applies to Beck's character in the books, and Matthau rightly brought it to this role. I can't stand Bruce
Dern and felt he was mis-cast- Lou Gossett is only there for the 70's racial aspect which was missing in the books.This is a seriously dated movie ( although Enrico's on Broadway still exists) and begs to be remade...Ordinary - MovieLover
Finally, an ordinary movie from Walter Matthau. Not a very happy development for us.
This movie has very little to recommend it; a silly almost non-existent plot, gratuitous violence, poor acting, and the major liability of Bruce Dern, one of the least appealing actors in the world.
Certainly one movie Walter could have done without.
Maybe he needed the money.Overlooked 70s Gem - Emmet
I had never even heard of The Laughing Policeman until I ran a search on Zip.ca for Walter Matthau. His role as Martin Beck in this film is a departure from his more familiar comedic roles, but he wears the gravitas of an overworked cop well.
The movie opens with a bloodbath on a transit bus in San Francisco. As the police arrive and begin their investigation, we learn that among the victims was a cop, Beck's partner.
With all the witnesses dead, and very few leads, Beck and his new partner, played by Bruce Dern launch a frustrating investigation full of dead ends and defeats.
The Laughing Policeman has all the hallmarks of classic 70s cop thrillers: Urban squallor, racial tension, domestic dysfunction, and, since it's set in San Francisco, a car chase.
Though I'm a big Matthau fan, I've got to admit I was most impressed by Bruce Dern's performance. Dern gives a measured, but naturalistic turn, and gets all the best lines.
Member Reviews
Read All...
The Laughing Policeman - BIKO
Written by a Marxist husband-and-wife team in the 70's, The Laughing Policeman is one of ten terrific police-procedural novels featuring the Swedish detective Martin Beck: Walter Matthau was not a bad choice to play him and in any event is always a pleasure ...Ordinary - MovieLover
Finally, an ordinary movie from Walter Matthau. Not a very happy development for us.
This movie has very little to recommend it; a silly almost non-existent plot, gratuitous violence, poor acting, and the major liability of Bruce Dern, one of the least ...Overlooked 70s Gem - Emmet
I had never even heard of The Laughing Policeman until I ran a search on Zip.ca for Walter Matthau. His role as Martin Beck in this film is a departure from his more familiar comedic roles, but he wears the gravitas of an overworked cop well.
The movie ...