Internal Affairs was a two part mini series, broadcast as two separate two hour movies, in Nov 1988 by CBS. The 2nd of 7 made for TV Movies based on the works of William Bayer and his fictional NYPD Det Frank Janek (follow up to 1985's Double Take). Emmy Winner Richard Crenna is back as Janek, who once again finds himself in the middle of a police corruption case while tracking down a potential serial killer (occupational hazard for Janek in these films).
By now Janek, by virtue of exposing the corrupt Police Chief in "Double Take", is head of Internal Affairs for NYPD. His now imprisoned ex boss (played again by Lee Richardson, reprising his role from "Double Take") contacts him with a lead on local cops dealing guns, ostensibly to get a deal regarding his sentence. Meanwhile IA gets involved in a murder investigation where the victim (a local prostitute) is tied to a NYPD detective who served in Saigaon at the end of the Vietnam War (when killings with a similar MO occurred). Is the cop (played by Dennis Boutsikaris) a serial killer, or does he harbor secrets that while clearing him could implicate another ? Along the way Janek crosses paths with Art Gallery Owner Joanna Gates (Kate Capshaw) who claims to have been victimized by the dirty cops dealing guns. It doesn't take long for Janek to fall for Joanna, but she too looks to be hiding secrets directly involving one of Janek's investigations.
Janek is aided by his own IA team, including Cliff Gorman, a regular of these films, as best friend and partner Aaron Greenberg, who's sarcastic, skirt chasing character allows for some levity and comic relief to lighten up the serious, straight laced demeanor of Janek. Caroline Kava plays IA team member Jean Harp, who's romantic crush on her boss seems obvious to everyone but Janek himself.
Several twists and turns mark both investigations, including false leads in the serial killer case including a local restaurant owner (himself tied to an earlier victim) and the gun running cops double cross of Janek's sting operation that nearly gets the whole team killed (one team member does go down trying to save Janek in a deadly gun fight). As a two part mini series the film drags at times due to its length, the first part is paced well, the second part slower, although the climax is entertaining and satisfying. Overall, a well written procedural that manages to entertain and hold interest fairly well despite it's near 3 hours of film time. One of the better films in the Janek series.
By now Janek, by virtue of exposing the corrupt Police Chief in "Double Take", is head of Internal Affairs for NYPD. His now imprisoned ex boss (played again by Lee Richardson, reprising his role from "Double Take") contacts him with a lead on local cops dealing guns, ostensibly to get a deal regarding his sentence. Meanwhile IA gets involved in a murder investigation where the victim (a local prostitute) is tied to a NYPD detective who served in Saigaon at the end of the Vietnam War (when killings with a similar MO occurred). Is the cop (played by Dennis Boutsikaris) a serial killer, or does he harbor secrets that while clearing him could implicate another ? Along the way Janek crosses paths with Art Gallery Owner Joanna Gates (Kate Capshaw) who claims to have been victimized by the dirty cops dealing guns. It doesn't take long for Janek to fall for Joanna, but she too looks to be hiding secrets directly involving one of Janek's investigations.
Janek is aided by his own IA team, including Cliff Gorman, a regular of these films, as best friend and partner Aaron Greenberg, who's sarcastic, skirt chasing character allows for some levity and comic relief to lighten up the serious, straight laced demeanor of Janek. Caroline Kava plays IA team member Jean Harp, who's romantic crush on her boss seems obvious to everyone but Janek himself.
Several twists and turns mark both investigations, including false leads in the serial killer case including a local restaurant owner (himself tied to an earlier victim) and the gun running cops double cross of Janek's sting operation that nearly gets the whole team killed (one team member does go down trying to save Janek in a deadly gun fight). As a two part mini series the film drags at times due to its length, the first part is paced well, the second part slower, although the climax is entertaining and satisfying. Overall, a well written procedural that manages to entertain and hold interest fairly well despite it's near 3 hours of film time. One of the better films in the Janek series.
