Joseph Wambaugh

Cop Stories: The Making of Richard Fleischer’s ‘The New Centurions’

Joseph Wambaugh wrote his first novel 'The New Centurions' while still active as a member of the Los Angeles Police Department, and his fact-based, painfully realistic book became a nation-wide bestseller when it came out in 1971. Replacing heroic cops with struggling, psychologically damaged characters, Wambaugh changed crime literature forever. Richard Fleischer’s filming of Wambaugh’s novel, also called THE NEW CENTURIONS, followed a year later and, in turn, revolutionized crime movies. Featuring newly filmed interviews with writer Joseph Wambaugh, star Stacy Keach, technical advisor Richard E. Kalk (Wambaugh’s real-life LAPD partner) and assistant cameraman Ronald Vidor, COP STORIES: THE MAKING OF RICHARD FLEISCHER’S THE NEW CENTURIONS chronicles the production of that landmark film in all its stages from script to screen.

Release Date: 2016-11-09

Character: Self

Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert

A lady private eye on her first job working a routine divorce case teams up with a cynical, heavy-drinking police detective after inadvertently stumbling upon a much bigger caper involving a mysterious fugitive.

Release Date: 1993-11-19

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Vote Count: 1

From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: A Jury of One

In the first of a potential series of films inspired by the real-life experiences of Los Angeles police officer turned bestselling author Joseph Wambaugh, an on-the-skids detective, with memories of having accidentally shot and killed his partner while they were pursuing a pair of bank robbers, tries to put his life back in order.

Release Date: 1992-11-29

Department: Production

Job: Supervising Producer

Character: Self

Echoes in the Darkness

Based on the true life story that took place in the 1970s, this movie follows the murder of Susan Reinert and her two children in Upper Merion Township in Pennsylvania, a case that lasted seven years

Release Date: 1987-11-01

Department: Production

Job: Co-Producer

Vote Count: 4

Echoes in the Darkness

This mini-series is a critically acclaimed drama of psychological intrigue, conspiracy and murder. It began in 1979 with the grisly discovery of school teacher Susan Reinert's nude, battered body. It ended seven years later, after one of the most massive homicide investigations in history.

Release Date: 1987-11-01

Department: Writing

Job: Novel

Episode Count: 2

The Glitter Dome

Al Mackey and Marty are homicide cops in Hollywood and hot on the trail of the murderer of a movie mogul that was moonlighting by making child porno pictures. Willie is one of several suspects with motive, opportunity and the evil means to carry out this act. A medal should be in order instead of being arrested

Release Date: 1984-11-18

Department: Writing

Job: Novel

Vote Count: 8

Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop

14 year police veteran, Evelyn Carter looks to make it to retirement while experiencing the highs and lows of police work in a male-dominated metropolitan police department.

Release Date: 1980-04-28

Department: Crew

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 1

The Black Marble

When alcoholic homicide investigator Valnikov is transferred to a burglary case that seems to involve a creepy dogcatcher, he's also given a new partner -- the pragmatic Sgt. Natalie Zimmerman, who's experiencing a midlife crisis and does not welcome Valnikov's company. But as these emotionally bruised cops are drawn deeper into the bizarre world of dog shows, animal fanatics and pet cemeteries, they're also drawn to each other.

Release Date: 1980-03-07

Department: Writing

Job: Novel

Vote Count: 13

The Onion Field

An LA police officer is murdered in the onion fields outside of Bakersfield. However, legal loopholes could keep his kidnappers from receiving justice, and his partner is haunted by overwhelming survivor's guilt.

Release Date: 1979-09-09

Department: Writing

Job: Novel

Vote Count: 102

A Cry For Justice

Due to hasty investigations and questionable methods of two police sergeants, two hoodlums are convicted for a robbery in which a patrolman was seriously injured. Years later, one of the two cops gets on the trail of the real culprits. To enforce justice, he makes himself unpopular with his department and his colleague, who want to cover up the embarrassing mistake

Release Date: 1979-05-23

Department: Crew

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 1

The Choirboys

A group of Los Angeles cops decide to take off some of the pressures of their jobs by engaging in various forms of after-hours debauchery.

Release Date: 1977-12-23

Department: Writing

Job: Novel

Vote Count: 28

Joe Forrester

Joe Forrester is an American Crime/Drama TV series, starring Lloyd Bridges.

Release Date: 1975-09-09

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 3

The Blue Knight

In this pilot film that preceded the short-lived series, a street cop in his last week on the force before his retirement investigates the murder of his partner.

Release Date: 1975-05-09

Department: Writing

Job: Novel

Character: Desk Sergeant

The Blue Knight

The Blue Knight is an American CBS Crime TV series, running in 1975 and 1976, starring George Kennedy as Officer Bumper Morgan. The show was based on the best selling novel by author Joseph Wambaugh and produced by Lorimar Productions. It was also inspired by the 1973 TV Film starring William Holden, which ran before the TV show premiered.

Release Date: 1975-05-09

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Vote Count: 1

The Blue Knight

Bumper Morgan is a veteran Los Angeles Police Department street cop. He is due to retire after 20 years on the job, but is not letting up on the criminal element on his beat.

Release Date: 1973-11-11

Department: Writing

Job: Novel

Vote Count: 12

Big John Morrison

Detectives Calabrese and Jameson become emotionally involved in a robbery/homicide/rape crime spree when a friend becomes a victim.

Release Date: 1973-10-23

Department: Crew

Job: Creator

Police Story

Police Story is an anthology television crime drama. The show was the brainchild of author and former policeman Joseph Wambaugh and represented a major step forward in the realistic depiction of police work and violence on network TV. Although it was an anthology, there were certain things that all episodes had in common; for instance, the main character in each episode was a police officer. The setting was always Los Angeles and the characters always worked for some branch of the LAPD. Notwithstanding the anthology format, there were recurring characters. Scott Brady appeared in more than a dozen episodes as "Vinnie," a former cop who, upon retirement, had opened a bar catering to police officers, and who acted as a sort of Greek chorus during the run of the series, commenting on the characters and plots.

Release Date: 1973-03-20

Department: Creator

Job: Creator

Character:

Episode Count: [ 1 ]

Vote Count: 17

The New Centurions

An idealistic rookie cop joins the LAPD to make ends meet while finishing law school, and is indoctrinated by a seasoned veteran. As time goes on, he loses his ambitions and family as police work becomes his entire life.

Release Date: 1972-08-03

Department: Writing

Job: Novel

Vote Count: 68

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night. For its first ten years, Carson's Tonight Show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California; in May 1972, the show moved permanently to Burbank, California. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked #12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.

Release Date: 1962-10-01

Character: Self

Episode Count: 5

Vote Count: 71