Prince of the City

HERO. . . OR COPPER'S NARK? Detective Danny Ciello (Treat Williams) enjoys a luxurious life-style that clearly costs him more than his take-home pay can support. Yet the manner in which he supplements his income is of little concern to his superiors. For Danny is what's known in the force as a 'Prince of the City' - a privilaged member of the New York Special Investigation Unit whose profitable area of operation is the city's narcotics traffic. All the same, Danny is not sleeping easily at night. A Catholic by upbringing, his conscience is burdened by guilt. For the truth is, he is trapped in law-enforcement system that is rotten with corruption. Thus, when a commission is set up to investigate police methods, Danny volunteers to assist in it as an undercover agent, provided that his partners and friends are guaranteed protection. But it doesn't quite work out that way and Danny's agony at finding himself trapped into betraying those closest to him provides director Sidney Lumet's unforgettable drama with its powerful centrilfugal force. © Orion Pictures Corp.