Main Cast: Elliott Gould, Robert Blake, Allen Garfield, Antonio Fargas, Sid Haig
Release Year: 1974
Country: US
Run Time: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Peter Hyams made his feature-film directing debut with this clumsily paced crime film concerning two Los Angeles vice-squad detectives. Michael Keneely (Eliott Gould) is the swaggering non-conformist and Patrick Farrel (Robert Blake) is the cocky follower. The two cops live for their work and spend most of their time busting call girls, massage parlor employees, and homosexuals. Keneely and Farrel eventually come to the conclusion that every criminal act in Los Angeles is due to the efforts of crime lord Carl Rizzo (Allen Garfield). The boys begin to harass Rizzo to the point of distraction, but their singular attempts to arrest Rizzo cause them to become the targets of, not only the criminal population, but the police force as well. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Michael Lerner - Marvin; Ron Cummins - Keneeley's New Partner; Mimi Doyle - Mrs. Rosen; Carl Eller - Huge Black Man; Ivor Francis - Judge Simpson; John Furlong - Policeman; Danny Goldman - Mr. Crosby; Kai Hernandez - Hooker; Howard Platt - Carletti; Logan Ramsey - Dr. Berman; Cornelia Sharpe - Jackie; Richard X. Slattery - Desk Sergeant; William Sylvester - Mr. Waldman; Napoleon Whiting - Rizzo's Butler; Margo Winkler - Mrs. Rizzo; Jessica Rains - Receptionist; Erin O'Reilly - Doris; Karen Anders - Nurse; Frank Farmer - Rizzo's Connection; Dee Carroll - Nurse; John Lawrence - Sgt. Kenefick; Jack Knight - Hyatt
Credit
Fred R. Simpson - First Assistant Director, Peter Hyams - Director, James Mitchell - Editor, Billy Goldenberg - Composer (Music Score), Earl Rath - Cinematographer, Robert Chartoff - Producer, Irwin Winkler - Producer, Ray Molyneaux - Set Designer, Richard Albain - Special Effects, Andrew Gilmore - Sound/Sound Designer, Hal Needham - Stunts, Peter Hyams - Screenwriter
Busting is a 1974 film. It was directed by Peter Hyams and stars Elliott Gould and Robert Blake as police officers. The film is episodic, depicting the two cops teaming on several different cases with varying degrees of success but then everything centers on them trying to bust one main criminal named "Rizzo" (Allen Garfield).
The film is also extremely cynical, strongly implying that crime does pay ... and that the biggest criminals in society are corrupt politicians and businessmen who will never be punished for their crimes. The film ends with an unusual soundtrack flash-forward. While we see Gould attempting to arrest a powerful figure who will ultimately walk free, we also hear something which hasn't happened yet: Gould's character quitting the police force and applying for a civilian job.
