Following the death of his partner, brash NYPD cop Eddie Ryan (Robert Duvall, The Godfather) swears vengeance, going on a violent quest through the streets of 1970s New York City to find his assailants. His methods prove so hostile, and racist, that he is forced to resign from the police, rendering him a vigilante hellbent on justice. Ryan’s pursuit of take-no-prisoners fury puts him in the crosshairs of drug kingpins and revolutionaries, not to mention the very department that he was once a part of.

Inspired by real life NYPD detective Eddie Egan, who was also the inspiration for William Friedkin’s The French Connection (1971) and its non-fiction source, Badge 373 is a much more raw portrayal of inner city violence and New York at a point of transition going into the mid-1970s. Long living in the shadow of Friedkin’s film, as well as other more popular New York City set cop films of the era (including the same year’s Serpico, by Sidney Lumet), Badge 373 is a vital time capsule of old New York, anchored by a fiery performance from Robert Duvall and energetic direction from noted New Hollywood producer Howard W. Koch (A New Leaf). Cinématographe is proud to present this long underseen entry in 70s crime cinema in a brand new 4K restoration from its original camera negative.

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Video Quality

This new Blu-Ray release from Cinématographe gives Badge 373 an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 derived from a newly commissioned 4K restoration of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. The film was previously released on Blu-Ray with an ancient master by Olive Films in 2012, which was acceptable but needed an upgrade. The only slight disappointment is that we did not get a full 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade, but we appreciate the upgrade nonetheless. The film has a rich natural grain structure that preserves the filmic origins of the picture, revealing discrete details in the police station, apartments, and other various locales. You will delight in the texture at last revealed within the costumes and production design on display with this transfer.

The cinematography from Arthur J. Ornitz is very evocative of the time and packed with character. The natural grain field can be gritty, yet it never succumbs to what we would classify as noise. This presentation is virtually free of print damage such as specks, scratches, and tears. Skin tones look natural, with a significant amount of facial detail present in close-ups. This may not be a Technicolor showcase, but colors are impressively saturated from space to space. Everything appears to be accurate with the perfect amount of depth. Certain characteristics within the outfits and some lighting choices make the biggest impression. Black levels hold up especially well and never come up short in shadow detail. The picture never exhibits crush, and the highlights are strong with no semblance of blooming. This exceptional label has given this film a welcome second life on Blu-Ray with a top-tier presentation.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track that translates this soundscape well. The sounds of the urban sprawl waft through to provide some glorious ambient details. All of the various sounds in the mix seem considerately rendered so that nothing ever feels off balance. Dialogue comes through clearly without being drowned out by the sound effects or the soundtrack. The score from J.J. Jackson sets the mood of the picture as it comes through consistently in this presentation. The presentation holds up well from beginning to end. Cinématographe has provided an audio track that spotlights this one with great care. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The Limited Edition version of Badge 373 comes beautifully packaged in a hard outer slipcase that opens up to a MediaBook that includes a bound booklet featuring new writing by Mark Asch, author of New York Movies; film critics Paul Corupe and A.S. Hamrah; and Cinématographe’s Justin LaLiberty, plus select archival photo reproductions. These essays delve into the film from multiple angles and provide a great analysis in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Film Historian Steve Mitchell provides an informative commentary track that explores how this film fits into the career of Howard W. Koch, the real-life inspiration for the film, the background of the performers, the era in which this film was released, and more.

Interview with Retired NYPD Detective Randy Jurgensen: A nearly 24-minute interview with the former detective in which he gives a solid overview of the evolution of cop movies throughout the 70s, his involvement in the storytelling at the time, the unique qualities of Badge 373, the background of various gangs, and more.

Conversation with Author Jason Bailey and Justin LaLiberty of Cinematographe: A fun 25-minute conversation between two incredibly knowledgeable film fans in which they discuss this era of police films, how Badge 373 stacks up against some of the heavy hitters, the semi-exploitation nature of the picture, the unique qualities of the feature, and so much more that is well worth a watch.

Craftsman Kingmaker – A Video Essay by Daniel Kremer: A 17-minute piece from Daniel Kremer that delves into the career of Howard W. Koch, his affinity for stories about authority and institutions, the themes explored, his commercial success, and more.

Theatrical Trailer (3:02)

TV Spot (0:55)

Radio Spots (2:57)
TCM Intro and Outro featuring Robert Osborne & Professor Chon Noriega: A nearly six-minute Turner Classic Movies introduction and post-film discussion in which the hosts contextualize how the film portrays Latinos and the broader representation on screen at the time.

Final Thoughts

Badge 373 is a down-and-dirty cop drama in which we follow a morally murky officer as he attempts to uncover all manner of lawlessness and corruption. It is a tale as old as time, yet Robert Duvall brings a certain amount of gravitas to the tale to keep it from feeling disposable. The twists and turns of the narrative are entertaining, even if this might not go down as the pinnacle of the genre. It delivers everything you want it to, so those looking for a well-made cop drama should have a good time. Cinématographe has provided a Blu-Ray that features a striking A/V presentation and a sterling assortment of supplemental features. Recommended

Badge 373 is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Cinématographe has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.