Richard Fleischer is arguably one of the most underrated American directors.He tackled almost all the genres and almost always succeeded,except in his last years (roughly from "Ashanti" on).The detective movie was always one of his numerous specialties.It's a long way from the (often remarkable) first works ,such as "the clay pigeon" and "follow me quietly" to the psychological thrillers ("compulsion" ) to the stunning serial killer stories of the early seventies/late sixties "10 Rillington place" and "The Boston strangler".
"The new centurions" is something drastically different,which can't be compared to any of Fleischer's previous works in the field.Fleischer's pessimistic side which was in the latent state in "compulsion" or "10 Rillington Place" , surfaces here as ever.It depicts the life of a cop (although George C Scott's name comes first in the cast and credits,he is actually supporting )played by Stacy Keach (a far cry from Mike Hammer;it's curious to notice he sometimes wears a mustache).And it's a life nobody would like to live.Happiness seems to elude him ,his marriage is already on the rocks when the film begins (" a plumber makes more money than both of us ,a cop and a bilingual secretary" says his wife (Jane Alexander));his nights are a very sad routine in which he risks his neck at every corner of the street ;he wants to study law and to get back to college but his job leaves him no time and no energy and he soon gives up.
The documentary side and Fleischer's feeling for economy and sparseness precludes all forms of conventional sentimentality : it's sometimes so hard and the characters seem so resigned to their fate that the scene when Jane Alexander bursts into tears near the elevator seems almost like an anomaly;so does Scott's fit of rage when he learns that the owner charges 50 dollars a head for a bed in a slum.
The title hints at the Roman Empire when Keach explains to Scott that they are like them,men who are here to protect ,to mount guard and to get a bullet in their hide so the others can go on;and he adds "and it worked...at least for a time in the Empire".
SPOILERS There is at least a moment which will haunt you long after watching "the new centurions" :after a phone call to his former colleague,trying to sound casual ,Scott takes his gun and ...his life. You often wonder why ,when a person you know commit suicide ;Fleischer gives no explanation.The old cop seemed happy ,fishing and enjoying life with his grandsons.
"The new centurions" is something drastically different,which can't be compared to any of Fleischer's previous works in the field.Fleischer's pessimistic side which was in the latent state in "compulsion" or "10 Rillington Place" , surfaces here as ever.It depicts the life of a cop (although George C Scott's name comes first in the cast and credits,he is actually supporting )played by Stacy Keach (a far cry from Mike Hammer;it's curious to notice he sometimes wears a mustache).And it's a life nobody would like to live.Happiness seems to elude him ,his marriage is already on the rocks when the film begins (" a plumber makes more money than both of us ,a cop and a bilingual secretary" says his wife (Jane Alexander));his nights are a very sad routine in which he risks his neck at every corner of the street ;he wants to study law and to get back to college but his job leaves him no time and no energy and he soon gives up.
The documentary side and Fleischer's feeling for economy and sparseness precludes all forms of conventional sentimentality : it's sometimes so hard and the characters seem so resigned to their fate that the scene when Jane Alexander bursts into tears near the elevator seems almost like an anomaly;so does Scott's fit of rage when he learns that the owner charges 50 dollars a head for a bed in a slum.
The title hints at the Roman Empire when Keach explains to Scott that they are like them,men who are here to protect ,to mount guard and to get a bullet in their hide so the others can go on;and he adds "and it worked...at least for a time in the Empire".
SPOILERS There is at least a moment which will haunt you long after watching "the new centurions" :after a phone call to his former colleague,trying to sound casual ,Scott takes his gun and ...his life. You often wonder why ,when a person you know commit suicide ;Fleischer gives no explanation.The old cop seemed happy ,fishing and enjoying life with his grandsons.