Mr-Fusion A hard-nosed look at race relations in the gutters of Harlem, if "Across 110th Street" has any surprises, it's that empathy exists in unlikely places. Look, everyone knows that you don't steal from the mob, and yet you actually feel kinda bad for the murderous schlubs that cross this line - if only because of the mafia's gruesome rampage.And all the while, Anthony Quinn and Yaphet Kotto butt heads as they try to put out the fire. The NYPD detective pairing isn't exactly "In the Heat of the Night", but it's not far off, and Quinn's boorish old-world racist isn't evil in his own right. Still, it was easy to root for Kotto on this one. Cold, unrelenting and vicious, this is a worthwhile crime movie all around.7/10

tnrcooper Forget blaxploitation - this is a grim, negative, but clear-eyed crime movie from the '70s. The main takeaway from this film is that the mob doesn't like it when you take their money. Some fantastic acting in this one. Anthony Quinn and Yaphet Kotto are fantastic as proud, tough cops. There is tension between them but one senses grudging mutual respect emerging as the film progresses. Race divides them and their relationship is a great depiction of how men can address this issue in a realistic way. The local mob bosses (Gilbert Lewis and Richard Ward) are great - they will brook no interference in their neighborhood and they defend their turf. The small-time thieves (Jim Harris and Paul Benjamin) are great as guys with very few prospects and taking their shot at getting their piece of the American pie, by any means necessary. Tony Franciosa very much reminded me of James Woods in Godfather - as an entitled, bullying enforcer. There are no winners in this movie and there isn't even the passing pleasure of seeing a blaxploitation hero get one up on the white man. There is no glamor in this movie - it's pretty grim. Actually, the plot - whether the cops or the mob will get to someone first, reminded me of The Departed. It doesn't have quite the sophistication of the plot of that movie, but if you like a gritty crime procedural, this one's for you.

Ed-Shullivan Some movies when they initially premier, do not do well at the box office and then through the passing of time. they gradually attain cult status amongst a specific movie genre fan base decades later. In this case the film Across 110th Street probably did all right at the box office and then faded in to obscurity. The acting was good with stars like Yaphet Kotto, Anthony Quinn, Tony Franciosa and Paul Benjamin starring in the film and it showed great potential.The film had plenty of action scenes with the old school mentality "beat 'em up" white cop played by Anthony Quinn, and the black cop in charge of the murder investigation played by Yaphet Kotto. We also have the white Italian crime boss played by Tony Franciosa and the black robber/murderer played by Paul Benjamin.Certain movies are made for a specific era that reflects the current world around us. A world that may be harsh and cruel, where guns, bribe money and mob strength rule the inner city. Why I think Across 110th Street fell in to obscurity over the passing of time, rather than in to the cult classic regime was the film had no historical value, and we the audience just got tired of seeing white cops beating up black criminals.After viewing this film for the second time in 40 years, it ends up not having much substance and I viewed it only as an extended chase scene throughout the film, with the cops, and the black and white mobsters hunting down the three black robbers who end up murdering several black and white bad guys and two cops in the process of completing their $300,0000.00 armed robbery of an Italian mob cash counting operation.So the chase is on for recovering the stolen mobs money, vicious interrogations on (innocent) suspects are performed by both the cops and criminals, and if the cops or criminals don't get answers to who the three guys are who committed the robbery and murders people will get hurt and eventually die. It is a predictable ending that I don't think I will be watching again for a third time in the next forty years because there are a lot better crime films from the 1930's that would be on my watch list before Across 110th Street would be.

Scott LeBrun While not truly "blaxploitation", the integrated cast is of major interest in this story (based on a novel by Wally Ferris) strongly and memorably depicting racial differences. Two detectives, a veteran Italian-American named Mattelli (Anthony Quinn) and an up and coming black, Lt. Pope (Yaphet Kotto), are forced to work together while investigating the case of three black men (two of them disguised as cops) who ripped off money from a Mafia controlled bank. Now it's up to Mattelli and Pope to find the three men before the Mafia is able to get their revenge.There's some wonderful acting in this tough and gritty film, given straightforward treatment by director Barry Shear and featuring plenty of authentic Harlem locations. It's got quite a lot of hard hitting violence, and may be uncomfortable to watch at times for some viewers. The music by J.J. Johnson is superb and there are also great songs by Bobby Womack on the soundtrack. There's one ingenious cut a little past the 77 minute mark. The pacing is quite effective and the storytelling always interesting and compelling.Quinn is solid as the old school, bigoted veteran and Kotto is his match as the more disciplined, efficient younger man. Anthony Franciosa is fun in a key supporting role as a mob henchman, and the cast is peppered with many familiar faces. Delivering standout performances are the raspy voiced Richard Ward as gangster Doc Johnson and Paul Benjamin as determined career criminal Jim Harris. Viewers will enjoy themselves spotting actors and actresses such as George DiCenzo, Antonio Fargas, Paul Harris, Gloria Hendry, Gilbert Lewis, Charles McGregor, Robert Sacchi, Marlene Warfield, Mel Winkler, and Burt Young.Overall this is potent entertainment and deserves its place among the great NYC-based films of the 1970s.Quinn and Shear were the executive producers.Eight out of 10.