Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Newman's Law Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 6, 2023

Richard T. Heffron's "Newman's Law" (1974) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with director Jeff Burr; new audio commentary by film historian Steve Mitchell and producer/screenwriter Cyrus Voris; and vintage promotional materials for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Los Angeles, the 1970s. During a routine drug bust, Vince Newman (George Peppard) and his partner Garry (Roger Robinson) accidentally discover a massive network of distributors and pushers controlled by Frank Lo Falcone (Louis Zorich), a notorious Italian crime boss the local authorities have been trying to put behind bars for decades. Shortly after, the DA concludes that there is enough evidence to open and win a case against Lo Falcone and arrangements are made with the Italian authorities to bring him back to America. When Lo Falcone lands in LA, however, his experienced lawyers immediately go to work to strike a deal with the DA that would see him walk free, and a few days later the two sides reach an agreement.

Meanwhile, another gangster, John Dellanzia (Abe Vigoda), reaches out to the disgusted Newman and offers to pay him for information on a snitch he believes is responsible for the death of a trusted associate. Despite being urged by a colleague to accept the cash and use Dellanzia’s influence to help him corner Lo Falcone, Newman refuses, and then immediately becomes a target for Internal Affairs after agents discover a large bag of heroin in his apartment. Around the same time, Newman realizes that Lo Falcone plans to take him out for helping the DA bring him back to LA, and decides to hit him first. Before he does, however, he loses his partner and discovers that Lo Falcone is being assisted by a dirty cop.

Richard T. Heffron’s Newman’s Law is a very close relative of Howard Koch's final film, Badge 373. In fact, in terms of style and attitude, the two films are practically identical. What makes them unique is the charisma of their leads -- both played by equally terrific middle-aged stars -- and the manner in which they choose to incorporate the ambience of LA and New York in their narratives.

The bulk of the material in Newman’s Law has a raw documentary appearance. While Newman and his partner visit different shady areas of LA and hunt down small-time criminals and later on, after the Italian crime boss is officially charged, begin interacting with other cops and prosecutors that are part of the legal system, the film quietly examines the city’s socio-political foundation. However, the intent was not to produce shocking eye-opening material that would demand change, rather it was to infuse the film with unfiltered authenticity. (Interesting fact: on the other side of the Atlantic, the Italian poliziotteschi thrillers were using the exact same blueprint to appear legit. See Enzo G. Castellari's Street Law and Umberto Lenzi's The Tough Ones).

The clash of ideas that is at the center of the film is a cliched one but remains relevant. Newman is an old-fashioned idealist who believes that a police badge should never be stained, so he rejects all ‘compromises’ that threaten the integrity of his profession and then goes on the warpath to take out the traitors. On the opposite end are the ‘pragmatic professionals’ who allow the criminals to engage them and then for the right price embrace ‘compromises’ that erode the integrity of the legal system. Newman is of course depicted as an outsider and his working methods branded excessive.

The cynicism that permeates the film isn’t quite as strong as the one that flourishes in Badge 373, but perhaps only because most of the time Newman chooses to remain silent and quietly suppresses the anger inside him. But this helps the drama look more balanced and authentic, especially after his partner is gunned down.

Heffron worked with Latvian-born cinematographer Vilis Lapenieks, who had earlier lensed Curtis Harrington’s gem Night Tide.

The original soundtrack blends jazz and funk harmonies that would have been perfect in a much looser blaxploitation thriller. It was composed by Robert Prince (TV’s Mission: Impossible, J.D.'s Revenge).

Newman's Law Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Newman's Law arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

In 2020, we reviewed this U.S. release of Newman's Law, which was sourced from a good organic 2K master. This release is sourced from the same master.

I do not have any new comments about the overall quality of the 2K master. I think that it produces attractive organic visuals. However, in some areas, certain nuances are not optimal and as a result delineation and depth could be a notch below where ideally they need to be. Sharpness levels could be a bit better as well. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections, but in some areas grain exposure should be more convincing. The rest looks very good. Color balance is excellent. Image stability is very good. A few blemishes remain, but there are no large distracting cuts, marks, warped, or torn frames to report. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographica location).

Newman's Law Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio is free of distracting age-related imperfections. In a few areas, you will likely notice some unevenness, but these fluctuations are part of the original sound design. I think that it is pretty easy to tell, and you will realize that it is so as well, that at times the film adopts a semidocumentary personality and these fluctuations are right for it. The dialog is always clear and easy to follow.

Newman's Law Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Richard's Law: The Films of Richard T. Heffron" - in this exclusive new program, director Jeff Burr (Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings, Night of the Scarecrow) discusses the background and career of Richard T. Heffron, his best work, and the production of Newman's Law. Also, there are some very good comments about Heffron's cult film Trackdown. In English, not subtitled. (16 min, 1080p).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by film historian Steve Mitchell and producer/screenwriter Cyrus Voris. The two commentators discuss in great detail the production history of Newman's Law -- including the decision to alter its title, which initially was simply Newman -- its style and personality and how they are reflective of the era from which the film emerged, Richard T. Heffron's body of work; George Peppard's career and the type of characters he played; some notable trends in American cinema during the 1970s; the lasting impact of The French Connection, Dirty Harry Collection, and Shaft; etc.

• Trailer - remastered vintage trailer for Newman's Law. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Radio Spots - a couple of vintage radio spots for Newman's Law. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

Newman's Law Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As far as I am concerned, Newman's Law is the perfect companion piece to Badge 373. These films tell similarly powerful stories about tough old-school cops who refuse to compromise with the wrong people, plus both have the same quasi-documentary '70s edgy look. The two are equally allergic to political correctness as well, though it looks so now because they were conceived in an era when filmmakers had entirely different understandings of what can and cannot be done before the camera. This Australian release is sourced from the same good recent 2K master that the folks at Kino Lorber worked with to produce their American release in 2020. It is included in Film Focus: George Peppard, a four-disc box set. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I would like to encourage you to also consider picking up for your library Richard T. Heffron's Trackdown, which is a very close relative of Hardcore and is referenced in one of the exclusive new programs that Imprint Films produced for this release, while it is still available with an affordable price tag. Trackdown was remastered by Scorpion Releasing, which most unfortunately ceased operations.