Madigan [DVD]

Madigan is directed by Don Siegel and adapted to screenplay by Abraham Polonsky and Howard Rodman from the novel The Commissioner written by Richard Dougherty. It stars Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, Inger Stevens, Susan Clark, Harry Guardino and James Whitmore. Music is scored by Don Costa and cinematography by Russell Metty.

Plot finds Widmark as Detective Daniel Madigan, who along with his partner Rocco Bonaro (Guardino), loses a suspected murderer who also makes off with their guns. Causing embarrassment to Police Commissioner Anthony Russell (Fonda), who is hardly a fan of Madigan's methods, they are given 72 hours in which to locate the escapee and bring him in. But as the two men go in search of the crim, Commissioner Russell has various other problems to address, both at work and with matters of the heart. Last thing he needs is a volatile Madigan screwing things up......

Based on a book called The Commissioner, a film originally titled the same, and the most interesting story thread in the picture is that of Henry Fonda's Commissioner! Then why is the film called Madigan, who is an interesting character that really is only second fiddle in this particular Don Siegel orchestra? It is one of the odd and frustrating things about the piece, the story is complex enough without being unsure who to focus on, a shame because Widmark, Clark, Fonda and Whitmore are doing sterling work for their under pressure director (Siegel was constantly fighting with producer Frank P. Rosenberg).

The themes at play are deliciously enticing, infidelity, police corruption, family strife, friendship, loneliness and identity etc etc, threads are dangled and given thoughtful dialogue passages. But hang on! Wasn't there a murderer on the loose at the beginning of the film? Half way through the piece I had forgotten about Steve Ihnat's crim that opened up proceedings, surely that can't be right? Film looks terrific at day time, where Metty's bold Technicolor photography really gives the New York locations a sense of 70s wonder (I know it's a 60s movie but it feels very 70s, and in a good way as well), though Costa's score is far too blunderbuss for narrative themes.

It's a mixed bag, a film you just know should be better considering the talent in front of and behind the cameras. Ideas at core are strong and worthy of filmic adaptation, while the last quarter is electrifying and crowned by a classic foray into film noir territory. But really this is recommended as just above average entertainment for the cop/crime movie fan. 6/10

If you like your thrillers lean and mean then this is a film for you.
Two cops with a contrasting way of doing there job(in persuit of the same deranged killer ) an old cinema cliche but with actors of the calabar of Fonda and Widmark and belivable dilouge and what feels like an authentic script Madigan works.
Don Sigel directs in what appears to be a warm up for Dirty Harry a taut Thriller
about a hard boiled mavrick detective (Widmakr) and his unemphatic rigid boss (Fonda) who is guided as much by his displine to buracratic sytems and correct procedure as his iretent Madigan is by gut instinct and ready use of his fist's.
I woouldn't put money that Fonda and Widmark are together in a film for the first time(I'm sure they made some western together) but when these two clash on screen it really is something and it's there verbal battles which make the film a stand out for this viewer. The climax is shocking.
A good comercal action film if you like'd Bullit Copland Serpico and Dirty Harry this ought to be your ticket. An entertaining but non the less riveting little Cop opera.

I saw Madigan in the the cinema when it was first released and found it to be a great thriller and better than your average cop thriller we had seen up to then.
A hard nosed cop Madigan (Widmark) and his partner Rocky Bonarro (Guardino) are on the trail of a psycho killer played brilliantly by Steve Inhat. Although the main plot is always there we are shown how police commissioner (Fonda) runs his police force...straight by the book, no nonsense here and no exceptions. That is until his best friend the Chief of Police (James Whitmore) finds himself in a corruption scandal. These two men have been friends all their lives, so whats the 'no nonsense' commissioner gonna do now?

Back to Dan Madigan, his marriage is falling apart, because he is so busy trying to nail his psycho killer. Dan's wife (Inger Stevens) cannot understand her husband being away so long but loves 'ol Danny in spite of it all.
The movie moves at a reasonable pace so as to keep the viewer interested, and we have a fly on the wall look at some of the other characters that eventually come Madigans way as The movie comes to an unexpected bloody end.
Apart from Harry Guardino watch out for other Don Siegel regulars such as Don Stroud and Susan Clark who featured in his later films, Coogans Bluff and the Dirty Harry series.
I really enjoyed this movie being as it was for 1968, and I believe it paved the way for future cop thrillers both on screen and T.V.
and its available through Amazon on dvd ....go get it!