Madigan

Infobox_Film
name = Madigan


imdb_id = 0063256
producer = Frank P. Rosenberg
director = Don Siegel
writer = Abraham Polonsky
Howard Rodman
starring = Richard Widmark
Henry Fonda
music = Don Costa
cinematography = Russell Metty
editing = Milton Shifman
distributor = Universal Pictures
released = March 29, 1968
runtime = 101 min.
language = English

"Madigan" is a 1968 crime-drama film directed by Don Siegel and starring Richard Widmark and Henry Fonda. The screenplay, originally titled "Friday, Saturday, Sunday", was adapted by two writers who had been blacklisted in the 1950s: Abraham Polonsky and Howard Rodman (here credited under the pseudonym Henri Simoun), which was based on his novel titled "The Commissioner". Don Siegel, a genre director known for taut action films like "The Lineup" (1958) and "Hell Is for Heroes" (1962), was handed the directing reins.

Plot

The film follows the tired New York police detective Daniel Madigan (Richard Widmark) and his partner, Rocco Bonaro (Harry Guardino). After losing their guns to an escaping fugitive Barney Benesch (Steve Ihnat), they are reprimanded by Commissioner Russell (Henry Fonda), and assigned to bring the fugitive to justice on their weekend off. Meanwhile, Russell attends city meetings, fights with the mayor, and counsels the families of fallen officers.

Cast

Richard Widmark "as" Det. Daniel Madigan
Henry Fonda "as" Commissioner Anthony X. Russell
Inger Stevens "as" Julia Madigan
Harry Guardino "as" Det. Rocco Bonaro
James Whitmore "as" Chief Insp. Charles Kane
Susan Clark "as" Tricia Bentley
Michael Dunn "as" Midget Castiglione
Steve Ihnat "as" Barney Benesch
Don Stroud "as" Hughie

Overview

In New York City's Spanish Harlem, police detectives Dan Madigan and Rocco Bonaro break into a sleazy apartment and arrest Barney Benesch, a hoodlum wanted for questioning by a Brooklyn precinct. Momentarily distracted by Benesch's nude girl friend, the two detectives are outwitted by Benesch, who escapes with their guns. When it is discovered that Benesch was wanted for homicide, Madigan and Bonaro are reprimanded by Police Commissioner Anthony X. Russell. Aside from this new problem, Russell is troubled by other matters: his married mistress, Tricia Bentley, has decided to end their relationship; a black minister, Dr. Taylor, is claiming that his teenaged son was subjected to brutality by racist policemen; and proof has been established that Russell's longtime friend and associate, Chief Inspector Kane, has accepted a bribe to protect a hangout for prostitutes. Irritated by the fact that Madigan and Bonaro broke the rules by working for another precinct, Russell gives the two men 72 hours to arrest Benesch. Despite the deadline, Madigan tries to spend some time with his wife, Julia, who is socially and sexually frustrated as a result of her husband's dangerous and time-consuming job. After Benesch shoots two policemen with Madigan's gun, the two detectives finally get a lead through bookie Midget Castiglione, who puts them in touch with Hughie, one of Benesch's pimps. Tracing Benesch to an apartment in Spanish Harlem, Madigan and Bonaro bring in a police cordon and order the killer to surrender. When he refuses, the two detectives rush the building and break down the door. In the exchange of gunfire, Madigan is fatally wounded before Bonaro can kill Benesch. Later, Russell tries to comfort Julia, but she accuses him of being a heartless administrator. As Russell leaves with Chief Inspector Kane, he tells him that tomorrow they will face the bribery problem together.

Critical Response

Reviews for "Madigan" were among the best of any film Siegel had directed. Critics praised its urban grittiness and straightforward style, and audiences responded to its excitement and tautness. Siegel would go on to direct other exciting cop movies, including "Coogan's Bluff" (1968) and "Dirty Harry" (1971).

Collaborative Clash

*Serious clashes between Siegel and producer Frank Rosenberg marred the production. Rosenberg was a studio veteran who considered himself the boss of the project; as far as Siegel was concerned, once the cameras rolled, Siegel was boss. The very first day of the shooting schedule set by Rosenberg, for example, called for a highly emotional and poignant scene that comes at the end of the film, in which actress Inger Stevens berates Henry Fonda for the death of her husband. To make things more difficult for Stevens' concentration, she was also scheduled to shoot wardrobe tests throughout the day. Stevens approached Siegel almost in tears. The director apologized, suggesting, "When you're playing this painful scene with Mr. Fonda, think of the loathing you feel for Frank Rosenberg, who is responsible for this ridiculous schedule." In the end, Siegel wrote, "Miss Stevens gave a startling portrayal, truly magnificent and brave."
*Rosenberg also interfered in tiny, annoying ways, as in the shooting of Henry Fonda's first scene. The actor walked into a room where Susan Clark was lying on a bed and said, "You can open the other eye now and make coffee." Siegel said, "Print it," but Rosenberg, who had been watching, demanded that it be re-shot because Fonda didn't say "the coffee." "It changes the whole meaning," Rosenberg insisted. When an angry Siegel refused to reshoot it, Rosenberg later had Fonda record the "the" and looped it into the final cut.
*The most significant clash came over the location for the action-packed ending. Most of the picture had been shot on location in New York, but for the finale the company moved to Los Angeles. New York was getting to be too dangerous: Widmark and Guardino's car had been attacked by a gang in Harlem, and the prop man had been mugged. Rosenberg picked a location in L.A. that Siegel found to be unimaginative and virtually unusable. Siegel himself then discovered a location that was perfect and looked very much like New York, but Rosenberg still insisted that his choice be used. Siegel went over Rosenberg's head to Lew Wasserman, the head of Universal. He made his case, showed photos of both locations, and Wasserman agreed that Siegel's choice was best.
*Henry Fonda echoed these accounts of Rosenberg. Attracted to the project because his part as the police commissioner was so three-dimensional, he found that Rosenberg toned down much of the character's depth in the screenplay. "He just wouldn't listen to anything," Fonda said. "He fancied himself a writer and rewrote scenes which we'd try to change on the set, but eventually he'd make us dub it the way he had written it, putting single words back in. The rest of us on the set got along beautifully. It was still a good picture because of what Don did with it."
*"Don's tough," said Richard Widmark. "He could have slid over the ending we wanted. He could have said, 'Let's shoot it and get it over with.' It was the end of the picture and we were all tired. But no sir. He fought like a bastard. A director can't operate on the idea that everyone has to like him. If he does, somewhere along the line reality is going to hit." Widmark called Siegel one of the three best directors he ever worked with, along with John Ford and Elia Kazan. "He's efficient, organized, quiet, and in total command. You never feel any loose ends. And he has taste."

Television series

In 1972, Widmark reprised the title role (literally bringing the character back from the dead) for the NBC television series "Madigan". The series ran as part of the "NBC Mystery Movie" series, sharing its timeslot with several other programs. It only lasted a single season, producing 6 episodes.