COPS! WHO NEEDS THEM?
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Description: This film, titled “Cops! Who Needs Them?” from 1973 is a fictionalized educational film, which follows a middle class teenager named Steve, who has a strong mistrust in the police force, but comes to understand a different reality during a ride along with LAPD two officers in search of his stolen Camaro. The film is a Henri Bagdadi production, written and directed by Henri Bagdadi, and photographed and edited by John Mayer, starring Jerry Jones as one of the officers. It's unclear precisely why this film was made, but based on the time period (Vietnam War era) and subject matter, it appears to be an attempt to show young people that the police were trustworthy and necessary.
A police officer is speaking to a group of teenagers (00:06). He arrests a young man named Steve (00:11). He performs a body search on Steve (00:15). The officer starts questioning him (00:19). He lets Steve walk away (00:25). Steve is walking with his teenage friends, longhaired Frank, Liz, and the Ernie -- who sports an Afro (00:33). He discovers his car has been stolen (00:54). Him and his friends discuss if they should call the police (01:07). Steve and Ernie drive away in Ernie’s convertible Mustang (01:44). They drive back to Liz and Frank (02:00). They continue discussing if they should call the police (02:22). Steve arrives at the police station to report his car stolen (02:58). The officers who arrested Steve beforehand arrive at the station (03:26). They ask Steve to come with them into an office (03:43). Steve calls his home to ask for the car’s license number (04:07). The officers ask Steve questions about the car (05:04). They ask why the car wasn’t reported stolen from the beginning, and Steve gets frustrated (05:28). Steve finally admits he went looking for the car with Ernie before reporting it stolen (06:30). The officers tell Steve to go home, and that the delay in reporting makes the chances of finding the car almost none (06:36). Stave stands up (06:51). He attempts to bribe the officers to make a bigger effort to find the car (06:55). The officers threaten to arrest him for attempting to bribe an officer (06:58). Steve takes back what he said, claiming he was joking (07:18). Steve asks the officers to join them in a search of the car (07:57). They ask Steve to call his father to come to the station and sign a waiver (08:11). Steve asks questions about the waiver (08:14). The officers and Steve are in a police car (08:34). One officer eats a donut and the officers start discussing diets (08:39). Steve asks the officers how long it takes to strip a car (08:56). The officer behind the wheel explains how it takes less than 30 minutes (09:00). They park on the side of a street (09:20) and one of the officers exits the car to question a couple walking on the street (09:27). They shake their heads and continue walking (09:31). Steve asks the officer if the couple had known anything about the stolen car (09:43). The officers explain to Steve that the couple didn’t say anything, and Steve asked why they didn’t pressure the couple to talk (09:44). The officers lecture Steve about police decency and civilian rights (09:54). The police car drives with the sirens on (10:45). They drive up to a woman walking her dog in the street to ask about the car (10:48). She says no and keeps walking (10:56). The police officers and Steve continue driving (11:04). They get information about the stolen car through the radio (11:10). They arrive at the scene of the stolen car (11:33). They enter a garage and find the car is stripped to pieces (11:58). Steve is sitting in the police car (12:09). The officers reenter the car (12:15). Steve sees a guy, Jordan, who he knows from school (12:18). Jordan tries to run from the officers and fires a gun at them (12:23). The officers chase him (12:27). One officer has been shot, the other calls an ambulance (12:41). Steve helps the wounded officer (13:00). “Cops! Who Needs Them?” title banner (13:38). Informational text overlay (13:42). Credits (13:52).
Transcription
[Music] for what for AFF fairing with an arrest wow you guys are tight now what's on your mind punk we were just joking all right take hi okay okay beat it okay those jerks would you believe they made such a big deal out of it come on man you were asking for it we were just kidding around they weren't laughing that's weird what that they weren't laughing no I don't see my car it was right here what's the matter big boy can't find his sacks I don't know man it was right here maybe it was to away or something what's the sign say says it should still be here that's really weird weird looks like it was stolen Steve jeez that's all I need guess you better click hops a terrific well what else can you do forget it man feel think we're putting him on yeah I mean like you saw what just happened that's got nothing to do with it your car has been stolen come off it Lizzy they've got it informed now and you know it that's not true hey wait a minute I don't want to hear all this we wasting time when I want to find my car all right Steve we'll think of something Frank well Frank a we're not going to find it standing here come on let's go look for it okay okay I'm parked right around the corner I hope let's call the guys tell them to meet us here in half an hour okay a this is really [Music] [Music] stupid hey where is everybody hey didn't you call yeah I called Richard's father took his car keys Tony lost his license and David and Sam were leaving for a game they said to tell you to call the cops unreal well what do we do now Frank what Frank hey man take a rest will you he cut it out you guys let's see why don't we uh that's right why don't we hey lay off it Liz you're only complicated things I'm complicating things be realistic Steve who are you going to call now The Mod Squad if you had called the police an hour ago they might have found your car by now maybe she's right what do you mean maybe all right you're right she's right right are you sure you brought your car today a a swell what a team with your help who needs cops um I'd like to report a stolen car okay license number uh I really don't remember what was the first thing we need is there anybody you can call I I guess so well look who's here you know him yeah we just met says somebody stole his car doesn't know the license number hey it's it's my father's car what time did he come in uh 4:07 I have it Jim office I will take care of you this way why where are we going just routine kid there anybody you can call for the uh license number yeah I can call home Dar n remember your phone [Applause] number hello Mother uh yeah let me speak to Dad Mom just let me talk to Dad will you here you go B thank you Bill dad uh listen I what's the license number on the Maverick 265 ebl oh I uh well I I think the car was stolen or something when we came out of the movie it wasn't there so I came to the police station to report it well don't worry Dad I'll take care of it you and I'll call you back later right bye whose name is the vehicle registered on there it's my father's car Mr Frank Porter was the car locked yeah you see what happened was just answer the questions hey man I'm trying to talk to you did you leave your keys in the ignition I told you the car was locked was the car legally parked yeah where do you know Ernie from Well's he's a kid from school what time did you discovered a vehicle missing hey what 2:00 why didn't you report it right away hey why all these questions I don't understand this hassle we thought you'd enjoy talking to us Stevie you did this afternoon so that's it yeah I know I should have never have come here sit down you've got some questions to clear up first sit down hey man I don't have to answer any of your questions you better have an explanation an explanation for what I came here to report my car was stolen and I get the third degree you discovered your car missing out approximately 2: p.m. it wasn't reported until 4:00 p.m. now what we want to know Steve is what were you doing between two and four am I going too fast for you all right my friends and I went looking for the car you went looking for the car yeah okay Steve go back and look some more hey what does that mean you're not going to oh we'll put on a broadcast that's routine but with the two and a half hour lead that baby is long gone don't lose any sleep over we're going by a book not an inch more or less what would it cost me for an inch more I didn't hear that Steve you heard me why you cool it Bob we could book you for attempted bribery what are you talking about you just tried to bribe officer Ferell and me you got to be some stupid kid look well this has gone too far what bribery I mean I don't even have the money for a parking meter I mean look I I was only joking sure Steve everything's a joke with you in front of the movie today was a joke the 2-hour delay was a joke your friend Ernie in there is a joke and bribing an officer is a joke you got any more jokes Steve hey wait a minute this has all gotten out of hand I mean look I didn't realize I well we thought we could find it ourselves do you know there's a car stolen every 34 seconds in this country do you know how long it takes a pro to strip a car could I go with you I mean I don't know maybe help you look for it you know or something could we arrange it Bob call your father tell him to come down and sign a waiver sure what waiver to release the police department of all responsibility for your life once you're inside that car what does that mean it means we ain't exactly riding in an ice cream truck all right Mike see you later one more month on this diet my stomach will be shut something to sooth your stomach the only one with trimethicone oh well and sa um how long does it take to strip a car well let's see back a tow truck up against the front end lift the hood cut the wires then hook up to the engine mounts and zap then wheels and the rest so I'd say if it's a pro probably less than 30 minutes that's about the [Music] size [Applause] [Music] did did they know anything what did they say nothing what do you mean nothing maybe they didn't feel like talking why didn't you make them you mean why didn't we hassle treat him to a little old police brutality no I well I mean well if they don't know anything at least they should say so well listen to him what do you know no Steve that's old stuff now the laws are different we got to tell them the rights but they don't have to answer yeah you mean just like you did with me that was different sure that was different you almost threw me in jail you were getting out of line look kid this may sound a little Conny but cops are not machines you kick us hard enough and we'll kick back sometimes yeah with steel boots hey wait a minute what's going on here thought we got that all straightened out I'm sorry I'm still you know maybe she knows something why don't you ask her excuse me miss my uh buddy here would like to know well have you seen a uh blue Maverick no with a 500 lb canary on top hey killer why didn't you give a ticket 1 at 3 1 at 3 possible stolen vehicle at 1160s Colorado Street late model blue Maverick no license number what Adam 3 Roger hey is that the place that Knox been investigating yeah I think so well what do you know the big leg what's that probably a Syndicate front exclusive little Trading Post for drug [Music] [Applause] [Music] traffic [Music] [Music] wow hey that's a kid from school hey Jordan what are you doing here hey Jordan come here hold it Jordan bring the car around hey look F's been shot one Adam 3 officer needs help at 1160s Colorado Street request an ambulance shots have been fired he got away must be three blocks from here got me in leg let me down here we you can okay okay that's better lucky again what happened probably making a pickup some heavy drugs paid for with the yourk car wow well that's how we get medals by the way how much was it you were going to pay [Applause] us [Music]
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