Fort Apache the Bronx (1981) User Reviews

Underrated, almost cinema vérité look at the "Bronx Zoo" of the 1970s

[valis666 · 7/10 · 17 October 2007]

I was a bit taken aback when reading through the external reviews and seeing notable critics like Roger Ebert generally panning this movie. Not that it's a high water mark of film making, but a stylish, gritty, well-constructed movie, certainly.

The one major distracting element is Paul Newman. His performance is not at fault by any standards, in fact he was very good, but in this dark look at inner city dwellers and how they're prisoners of the crime and poverty that surrounds them, one of Hollywood's most notable actors just sticks out like a sore thumb. Again, not through any misstep that Mr. Newman might have made, but just simply because he is who he is: Too big to fit into a movie about little people.

Regardless, the movie is highly recommended for anyone wanting a unique look at inner city blight, the people who live in this setting and the men and women who try to protect them. There is nothing quaint about this movie, it is real and rough.

"You'll do better walking the beat in Beirut than you will here."

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 7/10 · 18 June 2008]

In the war zone of the South Bronx, the police of the 41st Precinct have the worst absentee record in the city, the most disability record claims, the least conviction per arrests, and there's nobody doing anything and the men aren't motivated…

The first petition of the new captain Dennis Connolly (Ed Asner) was to make it clear that there is zero progress on the investigation on the murders of two policemen (killed on the opening of the film by an addicted hooker played nicely by Pam Grier). For the good officer the case must be cleared even if his men have to take extraordinary measures to clear it…

Murphy (Newman) comes from three generations of cops… All his friends are cops… He gets drunk every night… He is essentially honest and he doesn't trust anyone but his partner, Corelli (Ken Wahl). He is attracted to Isabella (Rachel Ticotin) who happens to be a heroin addict…

The film turns dramatic first when a body is discovered after a fire… Death was caused by injuries sustained in a fall… Murphy and his partner witnessed the officer Morgan (Danny Aiello) throwing an innocent kid off the roof… And second when narcotics dealers took a bunch of doctors, nurses and patients hostage…

Paul Newman's performance is vulnerable, masking his sensitivity with arrogance and showing a flash of charm and humor… It is a story of an ordinary cop finding the courage to stand up and be counted… As portrayed by Newman he is touchingly believable

overwhelmingly sorrowful tale of urban life.

[krondor12 · 8/10 · 17 November 2000]

I have just seen this film as a late night slot, a time when the occasional gem shines amidst a field of c**p. This film is most definitely a gem. The scale and variety of the issues and problems the film attempts to address are perhaps too great, meaning that there is a sense that the film leaves certain areas underdeveloped or tantalisingly unexplored. However the grit and atmosphere of the city, along with the tired pathos which defines Newman's character, are powerful enough to allow a viewer not to become disenchanted.

The film, like the cityscape in which it is set, gives an overwhelming sense of sorrow and despair, there are few bright events in the life of any character and as the film progresses it seems an endless sequence of progressively worse crises threaten to drown what humanity there is left in the character of Murphy and the Bronx as a whole. Ultimately the viewer is left with the impression that the cops and society as a whole are powerless in the face of entropic decline.

Definitely not for those needing to raise their spirits and less powerful than the brilliant "Taxi Driver," "Fort Apache, the Bronx" is still a tale capable of making the viewer think, about himself and his society, and ultimately that is a noble end to achieve.

Bleak but rewarding...

[Camera-Obscura · 19 December 2006]

Some movies can rely on atmosphere and acting skills alone. This is one of them. The plot is flimsy, and the setting and most characterizations a bit unlikely (but extremely well acted), and the film might recycle many cop-series clichés, but why carp? I expected little more than a gritty urban cop-flick, which it is, but it also proves to be very successful as a heart-felt human drama, thanks in large part to a prime cast with Paul Newman, Edward Asner, Ken Wahl, Rachel Ticotin, Danny Aiello and Pam Grier in a small but extremely creepy part as a deranged homicidal hooker.

Paul Newman is excellent as a tough tired Officer Murphy and his partner, Ken Wahl, at least 30 years his junior, is one of the very few characters in the film blessed with an almost unbendable optimism, but he is in no way naive. He has a strong sense of realism and pride and, in many ways, represents Newman's moral conscience and ratio.

The world here is without glamour. It's all very raw and real - not necessarily a realistic setting, but with believable characters - and that makes the whole thing work. It's not formulaic, and never seems to go where you expect it. The film has a downbeat neon-lit dark photography by John Alcott. Depressing, but perfectly matching the mood. It's simple, straightforward, unpretentious, and s basically a portrait of human tragedy. Don't expect flashy car chases or fast action. There's plenty of violence, but it seems to be a way of life, rather than serve as sensationalism, but proves to be a all the more effective. Worth seeing.

Camera Obscura --- 9/10

Newman & Wahl as cop partners in a war zone South Bronx

[DeuceWild_77 · 7/10 · 4 September 2017]

Almost forgotten nowadays, "Fort Apache, the Bronx" it's an interesting, but somewhat flawed, cop drama about a Police Precinct in the problematic South Bronx located right in the middle of a "war zone" where taking a life became gratuitous and cheap. Hordes of street gangs, hookers, pimps, drug dealers, heroin addicts, winos & bums roams the over-populated slums ready to explode by racial mixtures and a common war against the authority. When 2 rookie cops are killed at cold blood, the newcomer Commissioner demands results and drastic changes in the police procedures starts to appear, it clashes with the ideals of one of the veterans in the Precinct...

Released around the same time with the now legendary TV Show "Hill Street Blues", this Daniel Petrie directed movie, shares the same themes about the day-to-day life in a Police Precinct with several sub-plots related to the main one in a gritty, depressing atmosphere of a decadent South Bronx realistically photographed by the camera of John Alcott.

On a high note, even if the movie flows at a slow pace, it catch the viewer much because of Paul Newman's excellent performance as the veteran Irish-American cop, Murphy, himself an outsider in the Precinct, a loner who doesn't like to follow rules by the book, but with a sense of fairness & dignity which makes him a respected individual in the streets. Ken Wahl (the underrated star of Philip Kaufman's "The Wanderers") plays his loyal partner, a daring rookie full of freshness with a will to be promoted soon to start a life with his fiancée. The main plot follows, almost in a documentary style, the lives (in and out of service) of the two protagonists offering a character study of both worlds and their relation to the common values of justice, integrity and the healthy balance between authority and the civilians that lives upon the troubled streets.

On a lower note, there's too many subplots (some of them cliché-ridden ) that provides unnecessary loose ends & a certain restriction of a 'made for TV' makes this movie experience not at all satisfactory as a more ambitious (& serious) film on the subject matter (needed a Friedkin, Scorsese, De Palma or Cimino on the helm), but still a watchable piece of work for fans of late 70's / early 80's gritty / raw flicks with attitude & a 56 years old Paul Newman in top form.

Some trivia: Based on the real experiences of Thomas Mulhearn & Paul Tessitore

[moniquecalvarado · 7/10 · 20 February 2008]

For those who didn't know.... This movie was based on the real life experiences of Thomas Mulhearn and Paul Tessitore who are pictured in some of the stills. Murphy (Paul Newman's Character)was inspired by Tom Mulhearn, he is my sister's dad, and he's a pretty interesting guy. I've heard all kinds of funny stories from my mom whom we will refer to as "V", talking about how Rachel Ticotin stole her role (which she claims is based on her given the fact that she's Puerto Rican and that she was with Tom during the writing of the screenplay). Its true that the story behind the drama is always the most interesting.

The point of this is... to let you guys know.. that the stuff in that movie, isn't even half of what i've heard really happened, and that those guys it was based on deserve props for being some of New York's Finest. I've heard that, it was a pretty tough neighborhood back then. Tom (part of the inspiration) is alive and well with a beautiful family to speak of. I'm not sure what happened to paul.

Had some good elements but ultimately the story wasn't strong

[Killakai · 6/10 · 12 June 2007]

I enjoyed it, looking at the Bronx that i remember as a kid. But the characters are all 1 dimensional. The criminals are stupid as hell, Pam Grier is a serial killer for absolutely no reason at all. The heroin dealers are bumbling idiots.

There are 2 characters with any depth at all, Newman and his partner. They are developed characters and you root for them, but the story leads you no where.

Why is Pam Grier killing cops and everyone else? Just because shes high? The dope dealers take the gun that she used to kill the cops but we never see the cops figure that out.

What is the point of the movie? We hear about police corruption but never see it? Why is there so much crime? How can the problem realistically be tackled?

I don't know, the movie just took me on a journey to nowhere. Murphy's girl is a dope fiend, but why? Where is her family? How do they react? The movie needed more than it gave me. but i was good enough for me to watch it to the end.

Great Gritty Urban NYC Cop Thriller

[ShootingShark · 6/10 · 22 May 2005]

When two cops are gunned down in a tough Bronx neighbourhood of New York and a new precinct captain arrives, the pressure is on to catch the killer.

This is the kind of movie which the big studios are now too scared to make; a great, gritty, cop action drama shot on the ghetto streets of the South Bronx, which combines its social commentary with an exciting and entertaining story. Newman holds the movie together with his quiet, dignified portrayal of an average Joe with liberal tendencies who can see the good in the hellhole he lives in until two separate tragedies hit too close to home. The rest of the cast are great too - Wahl is likeably goofy, Ticotin is both gorgeous and terrific, Asner and Aiello are scary as the Establishment cops, and my favourite Grier gives the ultimate stoned psycho hooker performance. I love the way the script mixes traditional cop story scenes (talking down a jumper, street chases) with unexpected twists and shocks (the opening murders are never solved, Grier and Ticotin's deaths). This movie upset a lot of people on its release, but it's an important picture - it presents the burnt-out, crime-filled New York City ghetto some people would rather ignore, but it's not judgemental and it's full of real people just trying to get by like everyone else. Featuring great location photography by John Alcott, this is my preferred alternative to all those romantic comedies set in Manhattan.

Cool Hand Cassidy in the Bronx

[jose-leonor · 7/10 · 7 February 2007]

This review contains declarations that some may view as Spoilers.

Fort Apache the Bronx is the sort of unique and rare film that succeeds in an attempt to transport the viewer to a certain time and place. Presenting a story that needs neither resolution nor explanation, Daniel Petrie and Heywood Gould invite viewers to indulge in the life of a Bronx neighborhood on the verge of spiraling further out of control. From dilapidated settings to gritty characters, the film paints a realistic picture and one cannot help but feel how much of an adventure it must have been to walk through the Bronx of the late 70s and early 80s. The filmmakers succeed in bringing that time and place to viewers everywhere and forever.

If for no other reason, watch this film to take in yet another of Paul Newman's organic performances. He demonstrates an incredible range as an actor in his portrayal of Murphy, a downtrodden and half-jaded divorcé police officer who remains apathetically at a loss for solutions to the community's (and its precinct's) problems. Enjoy this emotional pendulum of a film.

6/10

One of the Last 70's Era Cop Movies

[cottrellpj · 8/10 · 31 March 2002]

Fort Apache is flawed, but interesting and atmospheric. Newman's and Asner's accents are a bit dodgy, but the location shooting and moral ambiguity place this 1981 movie firmly in the camp of 1970's police/New Yawk flicks. Rachel Ticotin is a real stunner, in a very early role. A lot of fuss was made over the portrayal of minority groups and the South Bronx generally when Fort Apache was being made, though it seems standard movie fodder now.

Probably not endorsed by any of the New York toursist bureaus!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 8 March 2022]

New York City has changed a lot since 1981. But back in 1981, crime and urban decay were much worse in the city's burroughs....and how horrible this portion of the Bronx was isn't much of an exaggeration. It was pretty awful and it's hard imagining anyone living there. But New York, particularly the Bronx, didn't enjoy seeing the film depicting this area this badly and because of that, there's an unnecessary prologue on the movie...one that tried to appease some of the offended New Yorkers.

The story is set at a precinct in the South Bronx that apparently has the worst statistics in the city. Crimes go unpunished, there's general contempt for the police and in some cases, the cops are every bit as bad as the criminals. In this horrible environment, Murphy (Paul Newman) tries to do his job...and he's neither a 'bad cop' who exploits the people he's supposed to serve nor is a by the book sort and he's learned to overlook minor crimes. How all this comes to a head by the end of the film, you'll have to see for yourself.

So is the film any good? Yes. It's an enjoyable and well acted movie. But if you are looking for a story where everything works out perfectly and with a nice Hollywood ending, then you're bound to be disappointed. Worth seeing.

By the way, it's not mentioned among the goofs on IMDB, but the gun used in the opening scene appears to have been unloaded and has empty chambers. This is odd, as the person unloads all six chambers into the two victims!

Superbly gritty police drama with a first-rate Paul Newman performance

[Woodyanders · 9/10 · 16 July 2006]

The inestimable Paul Newman gives one of his finest, most powerful and convincing performances to date in this shamefully neglected and under-appreciated police crime drama doozy as the weary and sardonic, but still honest, adamant and dedicated Officer Murphy, who works a tough and hellish beat in a down-trodden South Bronx neighborhood. Murphy's seamy and exacting routine includes trying to find the killer of two rookie cops, nabbing a purse snatcher, stopping suicidal transvestites from jumping off buildings, and delivering babies in rundown tenement projects. Daniel Petrie's taut, astute, unshowy direction, working from an episodic, but sharp, colorful and eventful script by Heywood Gould (who also co-wrote "Rolling Thunder"), expertly creates a credibly bleak and sordid atmosphere while adeptly keeping the busy narrative on a steady and absorbing course from startling start to thrilling finish. The uniformly sterling acting from an exceptional cast qualifies as another considerable asset, with especially praiseworthy work by Ken Wahl of TV's "Wiseguy" fame as Newman's likable eager beaver partner, Ed Asner as the gruff, no-nonsense new police captain, Rachel Ticotin as Newman's younger heroin addict nurse girlfriend, Danny Aiello as a cynical racist patrolman, Miguel ("Short Eyes") Pinero as a smooth drug dealer, Kathleen Beller as Wahl's sweet fiancé, Sully Buyar as the burnt-out, ineffectual old retiring captain, and, most impressive of all, an unforgettably scary and pathetic Pam Grier as a zonked-out murderous junkie whore. John Alcott's grainy, yet polished cinematography and Jonathan Tunick's earthy, funky score further enhance the overall rough, gritty and totally unglamorous urban realism. A very gripping and hard-hitting little gem that's wholly undeserving of its current sadly obscure status.

Worthwhile drama

[brefane · 6/10 · 29 May 2010]

Based on the experiences of 2 police officers who worked in the South Bronx precinct known as "Fort Apache", the film begins with the disclaimer: "Because the story involves police work, it does not deal with the law-abiding members of the community nor does it dramatize the efforts of individuals and groups who are struggling to turn the Bronx around." What follows is a parade of pimps, prostitutes, junkies, welfare recipients, suicidal transvestites, racist cops and nurses who dabble in drugs. The film is framed by a strung out psycho(Pam Grier) who literally stumbles in and out of the proceedings. Back in the day this was considered gritty, but thanks to NYPD Blue, Law&Order... it now seems relatively mild. The film is a mixed bag of shock, sorrow, romance, drama of conscience, humor and ironic comment. The various subplots make it feel like several episodes of a TV show strung together. Nonetheless, it compels, the acting is fine though most of the characterizations are clichés, Pam Grier is memorable, but Ed Asner and Kathleen Beller feel expendable. Thanks to location shooting and Daniel Petrie's limber direction the Bronx itself becomes an antagonist.

The Blue Wall Of License

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 26 February 2009]

When Paul Newman says about one of the cops in Fort Apache The Bronx that 'he thinks I'm a liberal' he means liberal for the NYPD. I doubt if Paul Newman would have ever voted for Murphy the irreverent uniformed police officer if he ran for public office.

Still Newman has got some real issues to deal with assigned to the infamous Fort Apache or as it is known officially in the film and in real life the 41 Precinct of the South Bronx. That neighborhood came into the public consciousness during a trip through it by President Jimmy Carter in his administration. The lawlessness of the South Bronx area became well known as well.

Newman's been there and seen it all, he's even been a detective for a while, but his irreverent attitude got some guy with juice all bent out of shape with him and calls were made. He takes the neighborhood for what it is, his fellow officers for what they are, and people in general. It's really the right way to live. He respects the blue wall of silence about ratting out his fellow officers for infractions, minor and some major.

The blue wall of silence however isn't a license to murder and when to of his fellow officers throw a young Latino man off an apartment roof during a riot, that's where it has to stop. Still it's not easy to snitch on any fellow officer for any reason.

A big part of the problem is caused by the simultaneous murder of two uniformed officers at the same of an arrival of a new captain in the 41 played by Ed Asner. Asner's one hardnosed by the book type of cop who causes more problems than he cures. It's during a riot that his policies spark that the murder of the young man occurs. A key scene in the film is with Asner and Sully Boyar the captain he's replacing. Reminds me very much of when Humphrey Bogart took over the Caine from Tom Tully.

Newman and Ken Wahl have a nice easy chemistry as the older and younger cops in the squad cars. Their scenes are little more earthy than what you might see on Dragnet or Adam-12, still they make for good viewing. Wahl's a decent young kid as well, sadly mindful of what snitching on fellow officers could do to his career and he's not as far along as Newman towards that pension.

One major flaw of the film is that it doesn't show any of the decent citizens in the area. The bad guys and the rioters are all you see in the area. Even the one somewhat decent character, a Puerto Rican nurse played by Rachel Ticotin who gets involved with Newman, has a heroin habit. The film was rightly criticized by Hispanic groups, something that probably the very liberal Mr. Newman was taken aback with.

A more balanced portrayal of the citizenry of the South Bronx could have made this film a classic.

Under-rated

[RussianPantyHog · 13 August 2004]

I'm surprised at all the negative reviews of this movie. yes, it's dark and depressing and certainly 'un-even', but I was glued to the screen. New York is the most fascinating city I've ever visited. Beautiful, cosmopolitan, fantastically wealthy and it sure never sleeps. But there's a dark side to "the big apple" and I honestly think this film captures that perfectly. It shows the poverty and despair of all those who haven't managed to live the dream and the siege mentality of the guys trying to maintain law and order. It's an utterly believable picture of day-to-day police work in a huge city. Much better than Cagney & Lacey & Kojak. Paul Newman plays a veteran patrol officer who's been on the streets too long and finds it hard to take anything seriously any more, until. You'll have to watch the movie to find out what lights his fire again. Ken Wahl (convincingly) plays his much younger partner and Ed Asner is superb as their hard-nosed Captain, struggling to be a cop, manager, politician, budget-holder and father-figure all at once. In fact, I would say Asner deserved an Oscar nomination. It was easily his best role. Fort Apache truly shows the real nature of a war against crime. Cops are under-funded and battling daily against impossible odds. All they have is each other. On the DOWN side, this movie does have 2 major flaws. First, it is horribly jolty and un-even. There's no plot at all and (to me) it felt throughout like a 'pilot' for a police soap opera that never made it to series. And second, the romance between Paul Newman and Rachel Ticotin is frankly ridiculous. They're both excellent actors and I'm one of the many millions who envy Newman his good looks, but, Ticotin is THIRTY THREE years younger than Newman. He could (almost) be her Grandfather! Fort Apache is a good movie though and I would say it paved the way for many current shows (such as Law & Order) which show law enforcement, warts and all. It's well worth seeing.

Great Paul Newman performance!

[HotToastyRag · 7/10 · 10 July 2017]

The beginning of this movie is pretty long. To be honest, until Paul Newman hits on Rachel Ticotin, it's pretty boring. Cops work hard, the streets are riddled with crime, and for the first thirty minutes, that message is drummed into our heads. Then it gets good.

Fort Apache, the Bronx isn't a buddy cop movie, and it isn't a romance, and it isn't really a "people are mean" movie. It follows Paul Newman, who's been a cop in the same neighborhood for fourteen years, as he works, struggles, and falls in love. By day, he deals with cop-killers, hookers, pimps, and junkies, and problems in the bureau. He's not the classiest guy in the world, so when he fills his nights with romance, he doesn't exactly pick the classiest girl in the world.

I don't normally like older Paul Newman movies, since a lot of them focus on his age rather than anything else. In this film, Newman gives a surprisingly good performance, and a very different one than he usually gives. He lays the accent and commonness of his character on pretty thick, but it works, because pretty soon, you've forgotten that it's Paul Newman. He really becomes the beat cop, not the stereotypical bad boy with an attitude problem that Newman usually plays. I won't spoil anything, but there's one scene towards the end when his character finally "loses it", and it's truly heartbreaking. Newman famously said in real life that "acting is like letting your pants down; you're exposed", and in that scene, you really understand what he means. He's stripped of any acting gimmicks and shows the audience his raw emotions.

Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to some violence and disturbing scenes, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.

New York borough is a war zone

[NewEnglandPat · 6/10 · 12 March 2003]

This film is a downbeat story of jaded police officers who sally forth every day from their besieged stockade to patrol the mean streets and to enforce of law and order. The borough's finest come in daily contact with the dregs of humankind who are involved in every kind of illegal and immoral activity without care or conscience. Cops are murdered on patrol, hookers and drug dealers openly ply their trades, and cops in turn administer their own brand of criminal justice. Even a nurse trained to save lives turns out to be a hopeless junkie. The picture succeeds grandly in capturing graffiti-sprayed elevated trains, the blight of occupied and abandoned tenements, and all that's unpleasant in the Bronx. The movie is gritty with realism but not very entertaining.

A Portrait Of Police Under Siege

[sddavis63 · 7/10 · 21 May 2008]

I think of this movie as something of a portrait. It paints a picture of life in the 41st Precinct of the NYPD, in the centre of a run down 40 block neighbourhood in the South Bronx, full of drug addicts and prostitutes and pimps and various and sundry other undesirable elements, mixed together with poverty and racial prejudice. In that sense it paints a pretty good picture, although I have to concede that I've never been in the South Bronx, and certainly not in 1981, when this movie was made, so I can't vouch for the accuracy of the portrait, but the movie has a gritty, hard edged realistic feel to it that certainly pulls the viewer in. Saying that this is a portrait, however, points also to the inherent weakness of the movie: it lacks a consistent narrative structure; there really isn't any particular "story" being told. To the extent that there's a plot holding this together it revolves around the killing of two rookie cops, and the desire of the police to track down the killer. That lacks suspense for the viewer, though, because we know from the beginning who the murderer is. It's not a secret. There are other "stories" - but again they have a "portrait" feel to them. There are stories of corrupt cops, the story of Murphy's girlfriend, the killing of the kid who got thrown off the top of the building, the story of Captain Connolly trying to establish some order as the 41st's new commander. The movie sometimes seemed jumpy; it lacked flow.

What it did have were good performances from Paul Newman as Murphy and Edward Asner as Connolly, and memorable performances as well from Rachel Ticotin as Murphy's girlfriend Isabella, and Pam Grier as the cop killing prostitute. I remember seeing this movie many years ago when it first was released, and enjoying it very much, and then only recently coming across it again quite by accident (even though I had looked for it from time to time) in a bargain DVD bin at Wal-Mart! It must have done something right to hold my interest for so long, and the strong performances and realistic feel really more than make up for the lack of a consistent storyline. 7/10

A Fort in Hostile Territory

[Uriah43 · 7/10 · 29 November 2012]

Set in the South Bronx, the 41st Police Precinct goes by the nickname of "Fort Apache" because the police feel like they are in a fort in hostile territory. The story revolves around two police officers, "Murphy" (Paul Newman) and his partner "Corelli" (Ken Wahl) as they patrol the area from day to day. At the same time, a new police commander named "Connolly" arrives from headquarters to take over the precinct. Unfortunately, rather than listen to anybody at the precinct he decides to make decisions that have disastrous consequences for everyone. At any rate, rather than divulge the entire story I would just like to add that this film captures the despair and dismal atmosphere that people in places like the South Bronx have to live in. Illegal drugs, prostitution and violent crime are everywhere. And while this may sound depressing to watch, this movie is still interesting in its own right. Paul Newman performs in an excellent manner as does Rachel Ticotin as the nurse named "Isabella" who works at the local hospital. And be sure to keep an eye out for the prostitute named "Charlotte" (Pam Grier) as she definitely adds her own brand of drama to this volatile environment.

Over acted and stereotyped,but decent enough cop film

[angelsunchained · 6/10 · 28 February 2021]

I like Paul Newman and Ed Asher, so I tolerated this film. No chemistry at all between Newman and his love interest; he is 34 years older then her, but hey, he's Paul Newman. Everyone is overly stereotyped and seemed cardboardish. Anyhow, the whole thing is passable, but you see see Serpico or The French Connection if you want to see great films about New York cops.

Pretty good police drama.

[mhasheider · 9/10 · 13 July 2002]

Pretty good police drama that has Paul Newman as a restless yet devoted veteran patrolman who has to put up with the everyday ordeals in the very bleak, rough urban South Bronx neighborhood as he, his young, self-confident partner (Ken Wahl), and the rest of the unit deal with their new captain (Ed Anser), who is absolutely determined to crack down on crime in the area and winds up igniting a riot with infuriated residents.

Besides the acting which is respectable to say the least, the cinematography marvelous shot by the late John Alcott and Jonathan Tunick's sharp, quirky musical score gives the film much more appeal.

Above average cop drama about the grim reality of the streets for a patrol cop.

[Vivekmaru45 · 6/10 · 23 January 2024]

I've a lot of respect for actor Paul Newman. His performances in the films Hud(1963), Torn Curtain(1966), The Sting(1973) and The Drowning Pool(1975), have cemented my affection for him. He was an incredibly handsome actor with a warm and kind heart.

However one area he was never exploited was in action-films as an action hero, like Arnold Schwarzenegger did in Commando(1985), Bruce Willis did in Die Hard(1988) and Sylvester Stallone in the Rambo series of movies. This was a shame since I have seen him brawl in action scenes quite well and deliver a great intensity in performance. So as a main action hero and also roles in murder suspense and horror, especially in horror, he has done no work. Only The Drowning Pool is an exception as the only murder mystery Newman had starred in.

This film is a crime drama about day to day violence on the streets of the Bronx, brought on by delinquency due lack of educational institutions and welfare services. The movie also shows the effects of negligence and corruption within the law force.

This is an adult themed film I believe and not meant for younger viewers. We have cameo appearances by the beautiful and sexy actresses Pam Grier and Rachel Ticotin. Ed Asner and Ken Wahl(The Gladiator 1986) have larger roles withing the film.

Verdict: above average cop drama with decent acting by all involved and worth a watch if you've got time to spare.

More cop drama films: Dirty Harry(1971), Serpico(1973), Copkiller(1983), Cop(1988), One Good Cop(1991), Heat(1995).

Thanks for reading this review and as Mister Spock always says, "live lone and prosper".

It Will Strike A Serious Nerve.

[jmcgee321 · 10/10 · 23 April 2005]

This is a movie not made for anyone, just for someone who is willing to listen. It's just like human life, it breathes, it walks, it laughs, and it dies. Paul Newman is a great actor, but this is his finest film to me. He plays Officer Murphy, an funny, serious and tired man. He's trying to stop this case of murders going around his town. He's sick of the racism in his precinct ,but never shows it. His partner(Ken Wahl) is getting married at a young age. And He is falling love with a Latino woman(Rachel Ticotin), who has deep skeletons in her closet. This movie plays like short stories involving Murphy, yet it never stays off plot. In a way our life works, the plot is ourself and the stories that inter-vein with us are people we know. Now this is a depressing movie, but it's great as hell and it will strike a serious nerve. How come some movies that are not based on true story, are sometimes the realist story you'll see in your lifetime?

a collection of police stories

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 14 April 2015]

Two street cops get killed when crazy streetwalker Charlotte (Pam Grier) simply shoots them point blank. The 41st precinct nicknamed Fort Apache covers the wild untamed South Bronx. Murphy (Paul Newman) and Corelli (Ken Wahl) are partners struggling with the unruly masses. Captain Connolly (Edward Asner) takes over the ineffective precinct.

This is not a plot as much as a collection of police stories. It is disjointed and staggers from one section to the next. Their personal lives are pretty weak as well although Newman is pretty good and Wahl holds his own. It just doesn't have the overarching story to keep the movie together other than Charlotte sporadically coming into the picture.

A "Bronx" cheer....

[Mister-6 · 2/10 · 15 September 1999]

Paul Newman is the best thing in "Fort Apache, the Bronx".

Most of you probably already knew that, but I wanted to get that out of the way before going on.

As for the rest of this movie, it's mostly a series of half-finished stories all lumped together without any feeling for the movie as a whole. Police corruption, drug addiction, urban drama...it's all thrown right and left and let the chips fall where they may. There are some good individual spots but none of them make the movie itself any richer or brighter.

Wahl is pretty much useless as Newman's partner, Asner is basically Lou Grant in a uniform and Grier again is a good actress in a nothing part.

All to look forward to here is Newman and he's small consolation where all about you is bleak desperation. And I don't mean the Bronx....

I mean the screenplay.

Two stars. For Newman's scant contributions and a bit part by Aiello. Oh, and nice "screaming-like-a-woman", Wahl.