The Laughing Policeman (1973): Cast & Plot
The Laughing Policeman is a 1973 crime thriller directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring Walter Matthau as Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD, Shirley Ballard and Albert Paulsen. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 52m (112 min)
- Director
- Stuart Rosenberg
- Original language
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English - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Laughing Policeman About?
The premise of The Laughing Policeman without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The film feels startlingly authentic, making every other local production seem staged. A gunman opens fire on a crowded San Francisco city bus, killing Detective Dave Evans and the suspect he was tailing in a murder investigation. Evans’s partner, Sgt. Jake Martin, becomes obsessed with solving the case, relentlessly pursuing the shooter.
The Laughing Policeman Cast & Characters
Walter Matthau leads the cast as Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD, with Shirley Ballard as Grace Martin and Albert Paulsen as Henry Camerero. Directed by Stuart Rosenberg; 17 actors are credited in all.
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Director Stuart Rosenberg
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Walter Matthau as Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD - Shirley Ballard as Grace Martin
- Albert Paulsen as Henry Camerero
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Louis Gossett Jr. as Insp. James Larrimore SFPD
Also Starring in The Laughing Policeman
· 13 more- Anthony Zerbe Lt. Nat Steiner SFPD
- Bruce Dern Insp. Leo Larsen SFPD
- Joanna Cassidy Monica, Beth's Roomate
- Val Avery Insp. John Pappas SFPD
- Matt Clark Coronor
- Clifton James Officer Jim Maloney SFPD Bomb Squad
- Paul Koslo Duane Haygood
- Frances Lee McCain Prostitute
- Mario Gallo Bobby Mow, Snitch
- Cathy Lee Crosby Kay Butler
- William Hansen Mr. Schwermer, Bus Vicitm
- Elaine Collins Go-Go Dancer
- Cheryl Christiansen Nurse on Bus
The Laughing Policeman Plot Summary
What happens in The Laughing Policeman from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A busload of passengers is gunned down in a brutal, sudden attack, leaving a trail of bodies on the street and igniting a citywide hunt. Among the dead is off-duty detective Dave Evans, and Evans had been acting on his own time, tailing a man named Gus Niles in a bid to uncover a possible link between businessman Henry Camarero and the murder of Camarero’s wife Teresa two years prior. Henry Camarero, [Albert Paulsen], becomes the half-glimpsed market for the investigation as fresh clues surface, suggesting a deeper web of deceit behind the tragedy.
Full summary
The whole story of The Laughing Policeman, scene by scene
The Laughing Policeman Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Laughing Policeman.
Cars in The Laughing Policeman
92 cars on screen, including the 1955 Mack C-49 DT and the 1973 Chevrolet Caprice Classic.
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1955 Mack C-49 DT Main role -
1973 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Important role -
1970 Ford Custom Important role -
1972 Lincoln Continental Important role
The Laughing Policeman Also Known As
19 alternative titles, including “L'ispettore Martin ha teso la trappola” and “An Investigation of Murder”.
- Also known as
-
- L'ispettore Martin ha teso la trappola
- An Investigation of Murder
- Matança em San Francisco
- Le flic ricanant
- San Francisco, ciudad desnuda
- De Negende Passagier
- マシンガン・パニック
- Massenmord in San Francisco
- A nevető rendőr
- Den skrattande polisen
- Smějící se policajt
- Naurava poliisi
+7 more Show fewer
- Endestation mord
- Смеющийся полицейский
- پلیس خندان
- Matança em São Francisco
- 래핑 폴리스맨
- Asesinato en masa
- Investigació d’un assassinat
Seen The Laughing Policeman?
The Laughing Policeman FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Laughing Policeman, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Laughing Policeman?
The Laughing Policeman runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).
When was The Laughing Policeman released?
The Laughing Policeman was released on December 20, 1973.
Who directed The Laughing Policeman?
The Laughing Policeman was directed by Stuart Rosenberg.
More films by Stuart Rosenberg Who is in the cast of The Laughing Policeman?
The Laughing Policeman stars Walter Matthau as Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD, Shirley Ballard as Grace Martin and Albert Paulsen as Henry Camerero, among 17 credited actors.
Does The Laughing Policeman have a post-credit scene?
No. The Laughing Policeman has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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