Police Story (TV Series) Spanish Class (1976) User Reviews

Los Angelinos

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 21 September 2019]

Despite the series being set in Los Angeles, you didn't see that many Hispanic officers or civilians on "Police Story". Well, unlike the rest of the shows, this one is practically ALL Hispanic.

Officer Taylor (Desi Arnaz Jr.) has just transferred to a new part of Los Angeles so that he can learn Spanish and work with Hispanic-Americans. He's partnered with Officer Fernandez (Joe Santos) who seems to know the streets and the language.

This episode is more episodic than most. This is NOT a criticism but a comment about the style. So, instead of focusing on a particular criminal or type of crime, you see a bit of everything--from fights to shootings to drunks. I liked the episode a lot but did find it odd that Arnez played a complete Anglo who knew nothing about the Hispanic population...yet his father, Desi, was Cuban. And, despite the name, Joe Santos is Italian-American! Odd...but still a very good episode.

In the Barrio

[rodney_h · 8/10 · 9 October 2021]

Spanish Class is a great mid-3rd Season episode partnering the charismatic rookie Officer Taylor (Desi Arnez, Jr.) with the salty old veteran Officer Fernandez (Joe Santos). In following them through Fernandez teaching Taylor about the barrios of LA, and showing him the ropes in dealing with the Latino/Hispanic culture there we witness them dealing with drunks, young toughs, rowdy bar patrons and Mexican Mafia types. A truly engaging episode but with one major flaw in continuity - the black & white patrol car they are operating out of keeps changing between a Chevrolet Impala and a Ford Torino several times, once even in the middle of a pursuit! Very distracting but besides that flub in continuity, a very interesting and entertaining episode which can be found on Disc 4 of the Police Story Season Three DVD collection.

24hr patrol

[smappersmapper · 1 April 2017]

Interesting prospective on patrolling the barrios. Has all problems in the 70's that we have in 2017 .. drugs, illegals, stereotypes. A rookie wants more pay so he signs up to patrol east LA. I found the observations by the veteran interesting .. LA still belongs to the Mexicans and it is the whites who are the intruders.