TURK 182
US, 1985, 102 minutes, Colour.
Timothy Hutton, Robert Urich, Robert Culp, Darren McGavin?, Kim Cattrall, Steven Keats, Paul Sorvino, Peter Boyle, Maury Chaykin, Dick O'Neill.
Directed by Bob Clark.
Turk 82 is a melodramatic piece of protest against injustice in New York City. Timothy Hutton is a young man who starts to spray graffiti over buildings, attacking the mayor (Robert Culp) for the lack of compassion for his brother (Robert Urich) who was injured and has not received compensation.
The film has a strong cast with a range of character actors in support, including Paul Sorvino as himself.
The film was directed by Bob Clarke who had a wide range of films during his career, on the more serious level Tribute and the Sherlock Holmes story, Murder by Decree. He had a number of popular films like Rhinestone and the Porky’s series. He also made a number of films for younger audiences, including A Christmas Story.
The film belongs more to the 60s and 70s and early 80s than later decades – although the themes are still prevalent.
1. Popular American comedy-drama? Politics and social awareness? Society and individuals? Rights and duties?
2. Panavision photography, the use of New York city locations and atmosphere? Special effects and editing for Turk's activities? Musical score?
3. The point of view on Turk, his doings, his cause? Audience participation in the film? Mirroring audience response? The realism and fantasy? An emotional story? Anti-authoritarianism, anti-exploitation and cover-ups? The support of the rebel? A variation on the Scarlet Pimpernel and his disguises?
4. The opening with Terry Lynch, fireman, drinking, the bar, the background of his family, his father's death, his bringing up Jinmy, the handstands, the good-humoured atmosphere? The change to the emergency? The vividness of the fire sequences? Heroism, the rescue, his fall and the gush of the hose, his serious injuries? Audience response to this change of pace? The impact of his injuries, physical, psychological? Hospital sequences, his trauma? The city and its refusal of payment? His desperation, depression, suicide attempts? The support of the city, the role of Turk 182? The relationship between himself and his brother?
5. Jimmy as the younger brother, admiration for Terry, angry at his experience, his decision to become Turk 182 - and the family reasons for the name? The publicity, the reactions of the Mayor, his campaign? His trying to have interviews? His collage in the Mayor.'s office? His ability to escape detection? The growing derring-do? The sign in the sky? The graffiti at the railway station, the train? The electronics expert and the baseball game? The reaction of the mayor and the officials? The reaction of Ryan and his anger, Kowalski and his detection? The encounter with Danni: her work as a journalist, the romance? The baseball match, her discovery of the truth, the taping of the television show and its not being shown, the bogus Turks? The build-up to the bridge ceremony, Ryan pursuing him, the firing of the shots? The whole audience watching to see if he could succeed with the sign of Turk 182? The audience enjoying his feats, cheeky and spectacular? A credible character - fantasy character?
6. The New York Mayor, Tyler and his smooth manner, his role as Mayor, phoniness, wanting a clean city, anti-graffiti, the come-uppance with the graffiti-painted train? Tyler's manner behind the scenes, threatening Ryan? Kowalski and his detection? The baseball game, the build-up to the bridge? His having to give in? The satire on authority figures?
7. Kowalski and Ryan, the police, detective work, following Turk, Kowalski and his admiration, Ryan and his anger:and shooting, the workman defeating his intentions?
8. Danni and her work as a journalist, interest in Jimmy, the affair, the discovery of the truth?
9. Jockamo and his skill at electronics, help with the schemes, amazement at the truth?
10. The world of officials, government, reporters, television?
11. A lively piece of Americana, universal appeal, a pop fable about individuals and society?
