HFF 185: 1994. Car 54 Where Are You ?
is an ancient TV series inspired movie with no parallels in the film industry. The opening scene is Brooklyn Officer Toody smiling asleep in a squad car, and on to his dream. In a fantastically peaceful yellow and purple dressed neighborhood, Gunther Toody struts his beat, and the worst crime contemplation is a cat after a yellow bird. Toody discourages the crime, with a wave of his finger, and sings his official purpose. He awakens to the real Brooklyn (riot scene), and returns to precinct 53 with his elderly partner Leo Schnauser. At the station house, the first of the two movie's overlaid main stories begins. Toody is losing Officer Schnauser, for a highly trained rookie Muldoon, who brings with him, the newest high-tech anti-crime tools and by the book standards. After several days of grief with trigger happy ticket happy blind justice un-partnerly Francis Muldoon, Toody returns to Captain Anderson's requesting (sternly) make Muldoon into a useful officer. Gunther Toody then unleashes his social graces, and street smarts, and with the help of jealous Lucille Toody and "can I touch your badge" Velma Velour, puts Muldoon's mind onto better things. The second main story, is a silly protect the mob witness theme, that moves the movie along, and demonstrates how easily city cops are distracted, but unmoved, by their blunders. Poorly protected Herbert Hortz is an unlikely unworrying party animal of a mafia accountant, who raps with jailed rappers, and cares more about his diet, than the bumbling mob's attempts on his life. Gunther proves to be an urban model of a good husband, for uneasy Lucille, and Francis Muldoon adds street smarts, and Velma to his cart. Car 54 is demoted to a 9, for a few zany scenes, but is a major charmer of a flick, and should be required viewing for all officers of the law. Great cast.
186 Changing Lanes,
187 The Titfield Thunderbolt,
189 NYP( New York Paris 1927),
190 Flash
191 Working Girl
192 The Pianist
