Fort Apache the Bronx **** (1981, Paul Newman, Edward Asner, Ken Wahl, Danny Aiello, Rachel Ticotin, Pam Grier) – Classic Movie Review 7213

Director Daniel Petrie’s 1981 Fort Apache the Bronx is an urgent Eighties police report from deep in New York’s South Bronx area with its derelict tenements, hookers, pimps, wailing police cars, rain-swept streets and murderous assaults with guns and razors.

Striding through the debris and the flotsam and jetsam comes Paul Newman, tough and laconic, as Officer Murphy, the cop who can do no wrong at Fort Apache, as the cops call their police station.

Director Petrie and his screenwriter Heywood Gould perhaps pile on a few too many clichés. But vigorous handling, incisive writing and bright star charisma easily pull the film through to success. Edward Asner, Ken Wahl, Danny Aiello, Rachel Ticotin and Pam Grier are all strong acting assets.

Fort Apache the Bronx is one of Newman’s best and most underrated Eighties films. It is suggested by the true-life cop Thomas Mulhearn’s experiences at a real police station. Newman spent time with Mulhearn, developing his character as Officer Murphy.

Also in the cast are Kathleen Beller, Tito Goya, Miguel Pinero, Jaime Tirelli, Ronnie Clanton, Clifford David, Sully Boyar and Michael Higgins.

It did quite well at the box office, taking $65,200,000 worldwide on a budget of $29,200,000.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7213

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