Sergeant Madden

1939
Approved
1h 20m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Wallace Beery and Laraine Day in Sergeant Madden (1939)

A highly respected Irish cop is pleased when his son follows him onto the force. Unfortunately, the son is more interested in rewards than in upholding the law. After he shoots a child caugh... Read allA highly respected Irish cop is pleased when his son follows him onto the force. Unfortunately, the son is more interested in rewards than in upholding the law. After he shoots a child caught stealing, the others frame him and he is sent to prison where his attitude becomes even ... Read allA highly respected Irish cop is pleased when his son follows him onto the force. Unfortunately, the son is more interested in rewards than in upholding the law. After he shoots a child caught stealing, the others frame him and he is sent to prison where his attitude becomes even worse than before.

Director
- Josef von Sternberg
Writers
- William A. Ullman Jr.
- Wells Root
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

207

YOUR RATING

Director
- Josef von Sternberg
Writers
- William A. Ullman Jr.
- Wells Root
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
This film's initial telecast took place in Los Angeles Sunday 18 August 1957 on KTTV (Channel 11); it first aired in New Haven CT 8 October 1957 on WNHC (Channel 8), in Altoona PA 22 October 1957 on WFBG (Channel 10), in Peoria 26 October 1957 on WTVH (Channel 19), in Spokane 7 November 1957 on KHQ (Channel 6), in Lebanon PA 9 November 1957 on WLBR (Channel 15), in Philadelphia 23 November 1957 on WFIL (Channel 6), in Norfolk VA 3 December 1957 on WTAR (Channel 3), in Honolulu 2 January 1958 on KHVH (Channel 13), in Chicago 31 January 1958 on WBBM (Channel 2), in Baltimore 9 February 1958 on WJZ (Channel 13), in Cincinnati 18 March 1958 on WXIX (Channel 19) (Newport KY), in Omaha 28 March 1958 on WOW (Channel 6), in Salt Lake City 2 April 1958 on KTVT (Channel 4), in Binghamton NY 21 April 1958 on WNBF (Channel 12), and in Indianapolis 26 April 1958 on WLW-I (Channel 13). Madden finally made it to New York City 23 July 1959 on WCBS (Channel 2), to San Francisco 26 September 1959 on KGO (Channel 7), and last, but not least, to Seattle 11 February 1960 on KING (Channel 5).

Goofs
The ship shown arriving from Ireland with Eileen has smoke going into the smokestacks, indicating the footage of a ship departing and the film is being run in reverse.

Quotes
Sgt. Shaun Madden: Aww... you shouldn't be kissing an old sheepdog like me.

Crazy credits
Opening card: There is an unsung hero on our street to whom we owe our lives a hundred times, yet seldom know his name. He is the cop on the beat. This is the story of such a hero.. A policeman who chose between love for his son and devotion to duty.

User reviews11

Review

Featured review

8/10

Moving story

I don't think that's a true crime film, but certainly a dark drama for sure. Wallace Berry gives one more terrific performance, moving, where the audience, at least me, feels very close to him, feels empathy towards him. The father son relationship is pretty well evoked in an unusual way, at least in the situation where both belong to the force. I don't remember such a scheme, nor this Josef Von Sternberg's film and it was very refreshing to watch it again. The actor playing the young cop is excellent, nearly stealing the film from Berry. A good film, good father son relation study. It deserves to be discovered again. The last minute is totally lousy, worthless, smashing the previous drama part.... Such a shame.