JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
The Seven-Ups (1973) - Trailer Included
The Gritty NYC Streets go Boom and Broom with Prestigious Connections
The Seven Ups DVD
Director: Phillip D’Antonio
Writers: Alex Ruben & Alexander Jacobs
Starring: Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Larry Haines, Victor Arnold, Jerry Leon, Ken Kercheval
“Look at my hands. I've been here before, so do what you gotta do. I didn't talk then, and I won't talk now.” - Toredano
When the lists for best cop films come around this neglected scrap of bottled intensity is often wrongfully absent. Perhaps the distinction between The French Connection and this blur in the memory due to the presence of most of the same production team. Maybe it’s the similar cinematic style or because the Director channels the same procedural tone and complex plotting. It is after all based on a story by Sonny Grosso who was the inspiration for Roy Scheider’s character in the earlier film. Regardless, JD does not know for certain but is here to tell you this film warrants attention.
Roy uses some gentle persuasion.
Headed by the field hardened Buddy (Roy Scheider) this crew of ruthless blood hound detectives is made up of Baralli (Victor Arnold), Mingo (Jerry Leon) and Ansel. (Ken Kercheval)
As the film opens we witness them at work, staking out an antique store that could serve as a way station for treasured stolen merchandise. We see that they work with confidence, precision and an innate knowledge of the anatomy of the criminal mind.
The job is always risky for these underpaid tough guy enforcers and when one of their own is killed their violent nature means brutal vengeance will follow even if it means throwing down against the Mob.
“There's something going on the boys downtown never told us about. Have you heard rumors of Mob kidnappings?” – Inspector Gilson
What do you mean you have seen me somewhere before?
John Doe says:
As mentioned earlier The Seven-Ups is very similar to The French Connection in style and substance. It’s a gritty, disenchanting portrait of police life with all its painful ambiguities and long stretches of anticipation included. When the sporadic action comes it’s startling, swift and ugly.
One time Director Phillip D’Antonio obviously paid attention to the artists around him when he produced for others. He utilizes over lapping dialogue and ambient sounds from the urban background to illicit a feeling of realism.
The pace is always in the moment and the cinematography by Urs Furrer (Shaft) brings its own sense of impending urgency. Completing the immersion is another striking score from Don Ellis. (The French Connection)
Roy gets ready to film THAT chase
There is a feeling of improvisation with both the chase and the actor’s performances, which is testament to Alex Ruben (Kojak) and Alexander Jacobs (Hell in the Pacific, Point Plank) palpable script and the focused filmmaking.
All the cast resemble on location extras and benefit from the films dramatic pathos. Roy Scheider (Sorcerer, The French Connection, All That Jazz) is in fine form here, looking as at-home on the New York streets as John Doe is in a cinema. His chiseled physicality and mangled appearance belong in the violent, high tension environment which the film occupies.
Real Life tough guy and Golden Gloves boxing winner Tony Lo Bianco (Nixon, Serpico, The French Connection) is in his element too and brings a duplicity to the part of informant Vito Lucia.
Rather than single out one standout it is safe to say all the actors in the cast, even those with dialogue free moments inhabit their characters.
Rereading what JD wrote in the first paragraph it seems the answer to the question of this films being ignored is the inherit comparison’s to William Friedkin’s masterpiece. (How many times did he mention The French Connection in this review anyway?) When put side by side this may lack that indefinable something that makes it monumental cinema, but still contains so much brilliance that the pissing contest is unwarranted. The Seven-Ups is quality that should sit on the shelf right beside the best in the genre.
Watch the original trailer for The Seven-Ups
Here it is, the classic chase that can cross the finsih line with the best of the best
Horrorphile
Great review too, your style has been refined, less verbose, but no less insightful!
20/20 Filmsight
Film & TV on DVD
Yeah the bad guy was a staple of 70's and 80's villainy, I think he was also in the Dirty Harry film The Enforcer...can't recall his name right now though.
The chase is something very special.
Film & TV on DVD
I aim to please
Sorry about the delay in response I have been all over the place recently much like the cars in this films monumental chase...