Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981)

6.7R125 min

1981 film by Daniel Petrie

Fort Apache, The Bronx is a 1981 American crime drama film directed by Daniel Petrie. The film stars Paul Newman as Murphy, a hard-drinking, lonely veteran NYPD officer, and Ken Wahl as his young partner, Corelli, both of whom work in a crime-ridden precinct in the Bronx. Although Murphy's life takes a good turn when he falls in love with young nurse Isabella (Rachel Ticotin), the arrival of police captain Connolly (Ed Asner) threatens to tip the neighborhood's delicate balance into anarchy. Danny Aiello, Kathleen Beller and Pam Grier play supporting roles. The film was written by Heywood Gould and produced by Martin Richards and Thomas Fiorello, with David Susskind as executive producer.

It was filmed on location in the Bronx. Author Tom Walker sued Time-Life Television, alleging that the film infringed on his 1976 memoir Fort Apache, but lost after a lengthy court battle. The film received mixed reviews; however, Newman's acting was noted as a strength of the film. In addition, the film was the main inspiration for the long-running police drama series Hill Street Blues.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Fort Apache, The Bronx about?
Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981) — From the sight of a police officer this movie depicts the life in New York's infamous South Bronx. In the center is "Fort Apache", as the officers call their police station, which really seems like an outpost in enemy's country. The story follows officer Murphy, who seems to be a
Is Fort Apache, The Bronx based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Fort Apache, The Bronx scary?
Content rating: R. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.