Tune In Tuesday: Fort Apache, The Bronx

Dealing with everyday police work in a notoriously difficult area of New York, the policeman struggles to preserve a sense of moral decency despite his colleagues more ruthless methods. When a boy dies in suspicious circumstances, the cop refuses to let it go unchallenged and faces the wrath of his fellow officers.

I remember the title of this one as a title on a bootleg VHS my Dad had. I never watched it because the title made me think it was a western.in actuality it is a one of a kind, VERY 1970s style movie despite it's 1981 release date, of a group of cops who act not like the gestapo Thugs we know and hate, but as working class people who want to serve and protect the people of there community.  

That is not to say this movie lacks the trademark cynicism of the era, it captures. The dirty, bombed out early 80's NYC that has passed into legend. But rather than a force of brute justice or outright evil, it shows the police force as an active part of the community, not everyone in the ranks are on the same page, but the characters we spend the most of our time with are refreshingly progressive in their pursuit. Watching this now, I can absolutely see this as a Dad movie, and as a MY dad movie, but this is that rare urban early 80's NYC film that avoids Stereotypes on all levels. 

For some reason this is a hard one to find, This is a DVD from the early years of the format, and as such, the picture is watchable but nothing world breaking. In any case, this is one everyone should see at least once. one of Paul Newman's

very best roles.