L'assassino ha lasciato la firma

I gave COP HATER two stars for one reason: almost all of the male leads appear shirtless and unshaved, a feat unheard of in the hairless, sexless Fifties. As for the script, it wobbles erratically back and forth between sentimental garbage and cloying patronizing slang. The plot is a senseless mishmash of half-baked ideas. The women presented here are practically blow-up sex dolls. By the time the killer is revealed, you'll be tapping our toe and checking your watch.

I have always been a great fan of books, novels written by Ed McBain, the most profilic and famous writter in terms of investigations and police procedural. He wrote fifty books about Steve Carella and his colleagues, cops like him in the 87th Precinct. Every crime books buff in the world knows Ed McBain, aka Evan Hunter, writer of BLACKBOARD JUNGLE. That said, I am not a great fan of William Berke's films, I watch them only because I crave for B movies, crime thrillers, adventures, horror...and Berke was also a prolific director. And this movie, adapted from Ed Mc Bain, as will be THE MUGGER, just after this one, also directed by Berke, this movie and THE MUGGER will be among the best that William Berke will offer us. Unfortunately by the end of his career. He died suddenly from a heart attack just after the editing of his last movie. The same tragic events occured in 1958 too, for two other directors, just after their last films were finished, before their releases: Fred S Sears and Kurt Neuman, what a coincidence. This movie doesn't have the Berke's trademark, on the contrary, it is very well made: characters, atmosphere, story, editing, everything very close to McBain's novel. Even to the heat - hot - atmosphere, with this gorgeous killed cop's widow who dreams only to undress because of the heat.... A must see, I assure you.

"Cop Hater" is an amazing film. After all, it's a cheap production from Allied Artists featuring complete unknowns at the time---and yet it's one of the best cop films I have seen. The film excels in realism, excitement and great twists--and it's a wonderful film for lovers of noir and those wanting to see future film and TV stars long before they were stars. In the film, you see lots of familiar faces from the 60s, 70s and beyond--such as Ralph Loggia, Gerald O'Laughlin (a VERY familiar face in cop shows), Vince Gardinia, Jerry Orbach and Glenn Cannon (the DA on "Hawaii Five-O"). I can't recommend this film strongly enough.

Because of the title, it's not at all surprising that the film begins with the murder of a cop. This guy is off duty and shot repeatedly in the head with a .45--making the man very, very dead. Who did it and why? There just don't seem to be any leads. Then, when another cop is killed with the same .45, there is the same problem--there just aren't any leads. And, when a third cop is killed, it still isn't a lot clearer. How are they going to solve a crime that just seems so random?! I could say a lot more about the plot, but don't want to give any of it away--just see the movie yourself.

The film is filled with great, realistic acting, wonderful and tough dialog and nice detail when it comes to forensics. It is just written masterfully and it came as a nice surprise. Why the film isn't more famous could only be because it slipped in under the radar when it appeared--with no big names and a paltry budget, it just didn't get noticed. Well, well worth your time.

By the way, there is a deaf character. While she doesn't use a lot of sign language, what she does use I was able to understand--meaning they were real signs. I hated hearing words like 'dummy' in regard to her, but appreciated having a deaf character and one they tried to get right.

I believe these type of gritty police films started around ten years earlier with "Naked City." There is a lot of nice neo-realism. For example, a gang leader calls a police captain "Daddy" and he snaps, "Call me "daddy" again, and you'll be spitting teeth." However, there are also some really exploitative elements. For example, deaf-mute Teddy (Ellen Parker) stands around for about five minutes dressed only in a towel, while the bad guy threatens to kill/rape her.

Robert Loggia is quite likable as the detective who becomes more and more frustrated when he can't quite solve his crime. Ellen Parker does a wonderful job playing his deaf-mute girlfriend. She had a very short acting career doing a few television shows in 1958 and two movies in which she played the fiancé of Robert Loggia in both. It is too bad she disappeared after that. Anybody know what happened to her?

This is a fun little movie, much closer to the street-smart New York "Naked City" television series of the time than the hyper-straight Los Angeles "Dragnet." The film is about as lurid as mainstream films got in 1958.

Check out the great posters. Google "Cop Hater" and search "images." Shirley Ballad looks great in both her leopard skin bathing suit and negligee.

Cop Hater (1958)

This is no brilliant affair, but it's more enjoyable than you might expect. It centers around a precinct police station and a group of guys who are suddenly on a manhunt for a cop killer. While that part of the plot has its small moments, it's the interaction between these guys, including some honest fun banter (not tough guy stuff), that really works. And two or three of the main cops are good actors, holding their own.

There are women on the side, one a searing beauty of some sort (a bit exaggerated and stiff, but you get the idea when she's on), the other a sharp and stylish deaf and mute woman played by Ellen Parker. These types are obviously meant to be opposites, one sympathetic and modest, the other full of herself and untrustworthy.

There is a Latino gang that figures into play eventually, and that gets a little crazy in its own way. And the leader is Glenn Cannon, who went on to have a long career on t.v. This is his first movie and he's pretty terrific for his four minutes of fame.

Otherwise this is a conventionally filmed crime film. Don't expect a gritty or moody film noir, because it's not that. But do expect a well paced plot with some nice interpersonal stuff. Probably has more honesty to it than most crime movies of the time, which are pumped up with types and drama.