Michael_Elliott The Police Connection (1973) *** (out of 4)A Los Angeles cop (Vince Edwards) is trying to track down a mad bomber (Chuck Connors) but he hasn't any witness or evidence. This all changes when the bomber attacks a hospital at the same time a rapist (Neville Brand) attacks a woman. The cop figures if he can catch the rapist he can then find out who the bomber is.Bert I. Gordon will always be remembered for his "big" movies like THE AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN, VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS and THE CYCLOPS but this film here is very far from them. In fact, I must say that this here is the best movie I've seen from Gordon and it's a real shame that he didn't continue making movies like this. If you know the director then you know he followed this up returning to his "big" roots with THE FOOD OF THE GODS and EMPIRE OF THE ANTS.I was really shocked at how entertaining this film was and especially in its uncut form. Gordon made a career out of "safe" movies but that's certainly not the case here as it earns its R-rating. The violence is quite graphic at times but what really stands out is the sleaze factor. You've got all sorts of full frontal nudity as well as some kinky moments dealing with a subplot of the rapist. Not only do you have some great explosions that shows off the action but the rape scenes are also filmed quite well for this period.The performances here are another major plus. Edwards is extremely good and believable as the cop who will stop at nothing to bring down the bomber. Brand gets the sleazy role as the rapist and he does an extremely effective job with it. His character is certainly lower than dirt and Brand's performance just makes you feel how dirty this guy is. I was also very impressed with Connors who was flawless in the role as the bomber. This guy has several mental issues and I thought the actor perfectly captured all of this.The film, also known as THE MAD BOMBER, was apparently really cut down for its television and video release so you certainly want to make sure that you're watching the uncut version. The sleaze and action factor are quite high and that makes this Gordon's best picture.

sol1218 ***SPOILERS*** Vince Edwards who became famous playing the moody and no BS brain surgeon Benjamin or Ben for short Casey on TV plays the tough as nails Native Amerian/ Italian L.A police lieutenant Geronimo Minneli here who has his hands full in tracking down this mad bomber William Dorn played by blond blue eyed Chuck Conners, who ironically played Geronimo in a 1962 movie, who's terrorizing the entire city. Dorn has a number of issues that he refuses to deal with in getting help for. One is the death of his teenage daughter Ann, Nancy Honnold, who overdosed on drugs and the fact that he didn't get the compensation he expected to get from his job after injuring himself.Now a full fledged psychotic Dorn is planning to get even with the world or the city of L.A by bombing it back into the stone age and taking hundreds of people along with it. During one of Dorn's bombing missions at a local mental hospital, where his daughter died, he's spotted by rapist George Fromley,Nevill Brand, as he's was raping one of the the patients, Christina Hart, there. With Let.Geronimo deducing that Fromley,who was later arrested, could identify the unknown mad bomber he tries to get the man to talk but with little or no success. That's until he puts a gun to his head and threatens to have it accidentally go off! With a scared down to his socks Fromley giving an accurate description, it was so accurate that all he ad to do is give the police an 8 by 10 glossy of Chuck Conners, who who the bomber is that he in fact becomes Dorn's next victim. Dorn gets to Fromley, by throwing a bomb through his window, while he's home enjoying himself almost to the point of getting a heart attack watching porno flicks of his old lady, Bona Wilson, taking it all off. With his cover now blown Dron plans his next and final outrage by driving a van filled with explosive into the center of the L.A financial district and blowing himself together with hundreds of people up in a crazed kamikaze like 9/11 attack!***SPOILERS*** Let.Geronimo who was told to stay away from Dorn and his van instead tracks him down and prevents Dorn for setting off his explosives before he reaches his final destination where he could kill the most people. What also momentarily prevents Dorn from pulling the switch,to his cache of explosives,is that he hallucinates seeing his dead daughter Anne walking down the street in front of his van! Explosive final with Dorn finally getting a chance to set off his explosives but with Let.Geronimo's help, by keeping Dorn away from the public, only blowing himself up and no one else by doing it!

Brian Washington This is probably the only decent film that Bert I. Gordon ever did in his career. The story film is full of tension as we see the protagonist, Geronimo Minelli, not only hunting down the bomber, but he must also try to save the life of the creepy rapist who witnessed his second bombing. Vince Edwards does a pretty good job playing Minelli and Chuck Connors is good as Dorn, the title bomber. Connors really shows how much he really wants to get back at the people he feels has wronged him, and goes about his "work" with such cold, unemotional efficiency. However, Neville Brand steals the film as the rapist. Brand showed why he was one of the more popular villains in film with his disturbing performance. Its a shame that this picture isn't shown on television anymore.

David Kerr Very Excellent movie I own This movie and could watch it over and over again what more could be said. Hank Brandt and Chuck Connors were very good. But with all the terrorism in the world and after the September 11 attacks I am not to sure it is a good idea to make any more of this type of movie. David J Kerr Minneapolis Minnesota