IMDb RATING
5.3/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
A heterosexual police detective is unnerved when ordered to go undercover with a homosexual police clerk, as a couple, to solve a series of murders in the gay community.A heterosexual police detective is unnerved when ordered to go undercover with a homosexual police clerk, as a couple, to solve a series of murders in the gay community.A heterosexual police detective is unnerved when ordered to go undercover with a homosexual police clerk, as a couple, to solve a series of murders in the gay community.
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe movie was allegedly intended as a parody of Al Pacino's undercover cop movie Cruising (1980). The 'DVD Verdict' website states that this movie is "basically William Friedkin's Cruising (1980) turned in to a sitcom."
- GoofsDuring quick close-up of newspaper when female photographer reads story headlined MALE MODEL SLAIN, the article has nothing to do with murder and is just a jumble of meaningless sentences.
- Quotes
Benson: Let me ask you something Sir. Why did you choose me for this job?
Chief Wilkins: Because you're a good cop, Benson, a real good cop. And because of your cute ass.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Sneak Previews: Changing Attitude Toward Homosexuality in Movies (1982)
- SoundtracksGet It Up For Love
Written by Ned Doheny (as N. Doheny)
Performed by Tata Vega
Courtesy of Motown Record Corporation
Featured review
Undercover gays
Done with a much lighter touch than Cruising, Partners operates on the same plot premise with the police looking for a serial killer of gay men. Only it's two undercovers that are sent in by the chief played by Kenneth McMillan. One is Detective Sergeant Ryan O'Neal from LAPD homicide. The other is an officer down in records played by John Hurt.
I recently wrote an article about a man I knew back in the 80s who had been a McCarthyite victim because he was gay and fit all the stereotypes. Hurt's character is the same, he operates quietly and unobtrusively no doubt seething inside over the stupid homophobic comments made in front of him. When McMillan picks him for the assignment he feigns surprise.
So the two go undercover in a gay area as a couple and start to mix and mingle. It's actually O'Neal who discovers there's a serial killer that the regular homicide cops missed. That's because he is a cop first and foremost as hard as he is trying to overcome his preconceived notions about gays.
O'Neal and Hurt are fine in the leads. O'Neal looks every bit the hunk he plays. Hurt has the more difficult role and carries it off beautifully.
I was very moved by the other reviewer who identified himself as coming from Bible Belt America and how he saw Partners much differently than LGBT people from the coasts. Sometimes the stereotypes might have been over the top in this and other films, but they validated his existence. I can truly relate to that because in the 60s when I was growing up I had even fewer entertainment role models than he probably had.
Some of the gags misfire and some of the stereotypes are over the top. But Partners is a film with some real relevancy.
I recently wrote an article about a man I knew back in the 80s who had been a McCarthyite victim because he was gay and fit all the stereotypes. Hurt's character is the same, he operates quietly and unobtrusively no doubt seething inside over the stupid homophobic comments made in front of him. When McMillan picks him for the assignment he feigns surprise.
So the two go undercover in a gay area as a couple and start to mix and mingle. It's actually O'Neal who discovers there's a serial killer that the regular homicide cops missed. That's because he is a cop first and foremost as hard as he is trying to overcome his preconceived notions about gays.
O'Neal and Hurt are fine in the leads. O'Neal looks every bit the hunk he plays. Hurt has the more difficult role and carries it off beautifully.
I was very moved by the other reviewer who identified himself as coming from Bible Belt America and how he saw Partners much differently than LGBT people from the coasts. Sometimes the stereotypes might have been over the top in this and other films, but they validated his existence. I can truly relate to that because in the 60s when I was growing up I had even fewer entertainment role models than he probably had.
Some of the gags misfire and some of the stereotypes are over the top. But Partners is a film with some real relevancy.
helpful•92
- bkoganbing
- Feb 5, 2017
- How long is Partners?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Zwei irre Partner auf heißer Spur
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $6,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $6,062,898
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $2,318,801
- May 2, 1982
- Gross worldwide
- $6,062,898
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content