Busting (1974)

Elliott Gould and Robert Blake are a splendid team as Michael Keneely and Patrick Farrel – Vice Squad detectives out to crack the underworld king Carl Rizzo (Allen Garfield).

Dedicated to their jobs, the two men seem to be fighting a lone battle not only against the hookers, drug pushers, gay bars, and massage parlours, but also against their own corrupt police bosses.

A telephone call from above puts pressure on them to deny charges against a hooker, and because they cannot obtain a warrant, the front man in a pornographic bookshop – who is also a drug supplier – goes free.

There is a superbly filmed chase sequence through an all-night food store where the two men pursue three drug pushers ducking in and out of shoppers behind counters.

All the evidence points to Rizzo as the power behind each racket, and even though his heavies beat up Keneely and Farrel, they track him down relentlessly.

Both Elliott Gould and Robert Blake give excellent performances, with just the right blend of comedy and cynicism, while Allen Garfield conveys the distasteful power of the underworld with great conviction.

Detective Michael Keneely
Elliott Gould
Detective Patrick Farrel
Robert Blake
Carl Rizzo
Allen Garfield
Stephen
Antonio Fargas
Marvin
Michael Lerner
Sergeant Kenefick
John Lawrence
Jackie Faraday
Cornelia Sharpe
Rizzo’s Bouncer
Sid Haig
Judge Fred R. Simpson
Ivor Francis
Mr Weldman
William Sylvester
Dr Berman
Logan Ramsey
Desk Sergeant
Richard X. Slattery
Mrs Rizzo
Margo Winkler
Rizzo’s Connection
Frank Farmer
Doris
Erin O’Reilly
Mr Crosby
Danny Goldman
Harold Connors
Nick St. Nicholas
Philip Lampson
Ibycus
Carletti
Howard Platt
Hyatt
Jack Knight
Mrs Rosen
Mimi Doyle
Rizzo’s Butler
Napoleon Whiting
Anthony (Rizzo’s Son)
Andy Stone
Rizzo’s Daughter
Dominique Pinassi
Keneely’s New Partner
Ron Cummins
Duty Nurse
Elaine Partnow

Director
Peter Hyams