The New Centurions (1972)

Hard hitting, especially for its time, with George C. Scott in lead.

"The New Centurions" is a matter of fact and episodic take on policemen in Los Angeles that is overwhelmingly sympathetic to the officers and the daily grind of their unglamorous and thankless profession in changing times. As depicted, the job is unpredictable as the cops do not know what may be around the next corner, only to be prepared for the worst.(So, it is ironic that the movie tips its hand in a couple of key scenes.) Made in 1972, the film was made at a time when minorities were beginning to be hired into the ranks as the Supreme Court hands down decisions further defending rights for citizens. So, it stands for Roy Fehler(Stacy Keach), a new recruit and law student, to explain this to his fellow cops, especially Andy Kilvinski(George C. Scott), a veteran beat cop one year away from retirement, who has been partnered with Roy. It is Kilvinski's task to explain the rules to his young partner and how they can bend them without going too far, injecting a human factor into their hopefully courteous interactions with civilians. At first, Roy thinks of his job as a temporary way to provide for his family but as time goes on and he does not quit, tensions grow between him and his wife Dorothy(Jane Alexander). Even though balance is key between professional and personal lives, nobody can quite find it as the job becomes all, as the closest connections the cops have is with each other, the need to trust one's partner coming above everything else.