``Serpico'' Sidney Lumet and Al Pacino portray a gritty police drama that restores faith in law and justice.

Al Pacino completely assimilated with Serpico

Bregman fell in love with Pacino's talent when he appeared on Off-Broadway plays, and offered to support Pacino as his manager. It was Bregman who encouraged her to appear in both `` The Godfather '' (1972) and `` Dog Day Afternoon '' (1975). For Al Pacino, he was the benefactor who helped propel him to stardom, but he was initially reluctant to appear in Serpico(1973). At the time of the first draft, the content was too biased towards politics, so much so that he firmly declined to appear in the film. However, Pacino eventually gave the go-ahead Signs.

"I read the script and thought it was another cop movie. Then [screenwriter] Waldo Salt came to me with a script that I could relate to, so I decided to be a part of it. And Frank Serpico... The moment I shook his hand and looked into his eyes, I knew what kind of movie this was going to be.I knew there was something in there that I could play.'' (Excerpt from PLAYBOY interview)

In order to prepare for his role, Al Pacino invites Frank Serpico to the house he was renting and they start living together (!!). And slowly, over time, he assimilated himself into the person named Serpico. And he truly becomes “Serpico.” In a famous story, Pacino tried to arrest a truck driver by showing his police badge.

"Serpico" (c)Photofest / Getty Images

"One hot summer day, I was in the back of a taxi, and the truck dumped all sorts of things in front of me. I yelled, 'Why are you throwing trash on the road!'" Driving The hand said, ``Who are you?'' I said, ``I'm a police officer! You're under arrest! Stop the car!'' and I pulled out my Serpico badge. It was a fantasy moment. ” (Excerpt from PLAYBOY interview)

Pacino's performance, completely taken over by Serpico, is spectacular. Every time I watch this movie again, I am struck by how small he seems. Although he is originally a small actor, he is hunched over more than usual and shrugs his shoulders as if he is frightened by something. In the scene where he is surrounded by his colleagues and asked why he doesn't accept a bribe, the overwhelming height difference is emphasized (perhaps intentionally), making his small size stand out.

"Is Don Quixote an actor or a freak? A clown or a saint? These are the innovations and themes of Cervantes' work."

In the scene where Serpico is taking a lecture on Don Quixote , the university professor speaks these words: Serpico, who stands alone against great power, is exactly like Don Quixote , who Paths of Glory at windmills. Absolutely no isolation, all-faced pleading, empty-handed fisting. Pacino skillfully expresses the situation by approaching him physically as well as internally.

The harsh filming that troubled Sidney Lumet