A few minutes into watching ‘The Seven-Ups‘ you might get the sinking feeling that you’ve seen the flick before. That’s because this 1973 cop thriller copies so much from 1968’s ‘Bullet‘ you’d think this was part 2, set in New York City. Not only is there an epic car chase scene, but Roy Scheider even wears the iconic turtleneck and a shoulder holster, just like Steve McQueen.
Despite a lack of originality, ‘The Seven-Ups‘ is a cool movie. Set in the gritty NYC of the 1970s, the film takes place in winter and all colour is drained away, adding to the bleak atmosphere. The story centres on Det. Buddy Mannuci (Roy Scheider from ‘Jaws‘) in charge of a special unit taking down organized crime. No short sentences, they’re putting gangsters away for seven years and up (hence the nickname). But these cops use dirty tactics to get results, like pulling the oxygen mask off a hospitalized gangster to get information out of him. When looked at through the lens of today’s well publicized acts of police brutality, it’s hard to believe that these cops are the good guys and the gangsters aren’t the victims.
There’s been a series of high-profile kidnappings by bad guys posing as cops. Mafiosos are being ‘arrested’ but rather than being taken downtown for questioning, they’re being held for ransom at gunpoint. The same police department that applauded the Seven-Ups results (and turned a blind eye to their tactics) now suspects the elite squad has gone rogue.
You think fighting a great white shark is tough? In this movie, Roy Scheider has to solve the kidnappings, avenge his murdered partner, and clear the Seven Ups name while chasing the bad guys in an ascot silver 1973 Pontiac Ventura.
The Ventura is powered by a 350 cubic inch V8, but is no match for the 454 cubic inch Big Block V8 that the bad guys have under the hood of their 1973 Pontiac Grand Ville. Door banging with such a big, heavy car was never going to end well for the hero.
Right up their with car chase scenes in ‘The French Connection‘ and ‘Ronin‘ this Pontiac VS Pontiac chase has gone down in cinematic history as one of the best. Famed stunt driver Bill Hickman was behind the wheel of the Grand Ville in this flick, and his calm demeanor may remind viewers that he’s also the bad guy driving the black Charger in ‘Bullitt‘.
Look… this is a 1970’s cop movie. There’s guns and gangsters and car crashes. You weren’t expecting ‘Citizen Cane‘ were you? Just sit back and enjoy the ride, because this one might not be very original, but it’s worth the price of the popcorn.
There’s just not enough high speed car chases in movies anymore! That’s one of the things I love about Prison Break. Some seasons of it are chalk full of these chases’n crashes, it’s exhilarating!
Sometimes I think I was born a little too late. I’m a gearhead and I love car chase movies. This was bread and butter for movies in the 1970s when I was a kid. Not so much any more.
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I am amazed at how many curbs a 1973 Pontiac could jump (or concrete walls it could bounce off) and keep going. Those things were tanks!
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I might have to look up this Prison Break thing you speak of… just for educational purposes.
Yeah well today’s cars made of plastic couldn’t handle it that’s for sure….yes check it out!! I completely missed the first season but some episodes are thrill rides!
A couple years ago my wife watched Prison Break. She loved it, but only made it through a season or two …I never asked why (maybe a “cute guy” got written off the show). But she can certainly find the series on streaming for me.
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Regarding plastic cars, I think I understand that cars that crumple help to absorb energy in an accident. But I wish they were built tougher! When I see those big chrome bumpers, I think how many thousands of dollars in minor fender benders could be saved with those.
There may not be a lot of car chases so far in F&F but there are certainly plenty of car *races*!
I don’t know if “car flicks” are a genre like romance, film noir, or post-apocalyptic cyberpunk. But if it is a genre ‘The Seven-Ups’ is definitely linked to those F&F movies.
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The over-riding message seems to be that If you want to be fast, and WIN, you have to drive an American car. Charger is ideal, but a Chevy or Pontiac will do in a pinch.
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(Toyota’s need not apply)
I love Steve McQueen movies.
Me too, buddy. I went on a Steve McQueen binge a couple months ago. Bullitt, Thomas Crown Affair, The Getaway, Le Mans. I really like that he does some of his own driving (unless there was a chance of death).
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The Seven Ups really feels and looks like a 1970s rip-off of a Steve McQueen movie. Not necessarily in a bad way. There’s worse influences to have!
Did you see The Dead Pool where Dirty Harry is chased by a remote control Corvette with a bomb?
What? An R/C Corvette with a bomb in it? I must have seen that movie when I was younger, but I don’t remember that scene.
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(Checked YouTube and I definitely don’t remember this!)
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Might have to add this to the ever-growing playlist.
It’s a fun into to a Dirty Harry movie.
I remember watching those Dirty Harry movies years ago, but I think they partnered him with Cagney & Lacey for one movie..
and I tuned out.
That was the enforcer with Tyne Daly. Although, I never saw Cagney & Lacey, I think Tyne was Lacey. Of course, she dies in the end. Kind of like Chinese police movies. I liked Tyne much better than Sondra Locke in The Gauntlet, for example. Sondra is so mousey I can hardly look at her.
Oh, OK, now I remember.
I thought this scene was from the 1971 The French Connection movie.
I got confused because Roy Scheider also plays a New York cop there. And there is a good car chase scene in that movie as well.
Yeah, same era, same actor, playing a cop in both films.
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I actually haven’t seen the French Connection yet, but its on my watchlist.
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Ive heard the car chase seen under the elevated train is EPIC.
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But this chase in 7UPs has such a horrifying and abrupt ending. Hard to top that.
The French Connection is a very good movie. You should definitely watch it.
I have heard some rumors that the car chase under the elevated train rails was shot without much “warning,” and most of the car drivers and people in the scene were totally unaware of what was going on. I don’t know if it is true or not.
Funny… even though I have not seen the movie, I’ve heard the same thing: no filming permits.
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I’m going to watch it soon. Sounds very exciting!