Report to the Commissioner

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Report to the Commissioner

PG

1975

1h 52m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Patty Butler (Susan Blakely) is a New York City police detective working undercover to investigate a Times Square drug-trafficking ring run by a street-smart crook named Stick Henderson (Tony King). When a naive rookie cop, Bo Lockley (Michael Moriarty), begins to investigate Patty, the incident ends with Patty shot dead. After Patty's death, Bo's corrupt superiors attempt to cover up the incident, and Bo is forced into an uneasy alliance with Stick Henderson.

Critics Consensus

Report to the Commissioner presents some compelling performances and atmospherically gritty cinematography, but its central story of police corruption becomes overwrought and contrived.

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Martin Knelman

Globe and Mail

Oct 8, 2025

This is a sleazy, loaded fabrication.

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David Robinson

The Times (UK)

May 2, 2025

Over-written by Abby Mann and Ernest Tidyman, and under-directed by Milton Katselas.

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Phil Strassberg

Arizona Republic

Apr 24, 2025

It is a smartly - written, if sometimes contrived suspense story.

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Adrian Turner

Radio Times

Aug 31, 2025

3/5

A solid script by Abby Mann and Ernest Tidyman and some crisp action sequences, including a shoot-out in the Saks department store, make this eminently watchable.

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Ted Mahar

Oregonian

Aug 21, 2025

It's a basically good, tough adventure which could stand to be just a bit leaner.

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Boris Nelson

Toledo Blade

Aug 20, 2025

The film has a slow beginning, trying to fit together the pieces of the puzzle, but the drama mounts with increasing suspense.

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Scott E

@RT19581245 Aug 30, 2025

Pretty good. Great to see a young Richard Gere.

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Alain E

@AlainE Jul 12, 2025

A superb police crime drama that proved to be beyond the comprehension level of most reviewers. Most of the protagonists are unknown today. It marked the first role of Richard Gere in a minor part. Superb gritty color cinematography and appropriate music by Elmer Bernstein.

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acsdoug D

@acsdoug May 27, 2024

The story is good enough, but what i really appreciated was the feelings of nostalgia the film invoked. Everything about Report to the Commissioner screams the 1970s: from New York City at its nadir to the soundtrack to the hairstyles and costumes.

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Steve D

@RT35616104 Aug 10, 2023

Bleak but never interesting.

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Z M

@RT07895578 Nov 16, 2022

Turgid, boring, Times Square looks awful like the movie.

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delysid d

@RT67044741 Mar 6, 2022

this movie is one of my favorites

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Milton Katselas

Director

Michael Moriarty

Bo Lockley

Yaphet Kotto

Richard "Crunch" Blackstone

Susan Blakely

Patty Butler

Héctor Elizondo

Captain D'Angelo

Tony King

Thomas "Stick" Henderson

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Synopsis

Patty Butler (Susan Blakely) is a New York City police detective working undercover to investigate a Times Square drug-trafficking ring run by a street-smart crook named Stick Henderson (Tony King). When a naive rookie cop, Bo Lockley (Michael Moriarty), begins to investigate Patty, the incident ends with Patty shot dead. After Patty's death, Bo's corrupt superiors attempt to cover up the incident, and Bo is forced into an uneasy alliance with Stick Henderson.

Director: Milton Katselas
Producer: M.J. Frankovich
Screenwriter: Abby Mann, Ernest Tidyman
Production Co: Frankovich Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 5, 1975, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 29, 2016
Runtime: 1h 52m

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