Documentary Educational Resources - Subject / Politics, Law & Justice / Law Enforcement / All Films

901/904

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 09:18:00 GMT

In this film we accompany patrol cars 901 and 904 as they ply the streets of Pittsburgh. The diversity of situations to which the policemen are called upon to respond are striking: from a man who is furious because he can not get his twenty dollar deposit refunded on an exhaust system that does not fit his car, to an elderly white man who says he wants to shoot the black teenagers playing handball on his house wall, to a group of white teenage youths loitering in the street on a sultry summer day.

Scenes from short films such as Henry is Drunk and A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding are intercut with other material, including footage in the police station where the men talk about their experiences.The striking element in many of the scenes is the level of frustration, anger, and at times a feeling of impending violence. This is true of the policemen themselves (from "I'm not talking nice no more" to some brutal beatings), as well of the people of the city, who speak of guns and fear.

As Laura Nader points out in the film Little Injustices, the typical American ignorance of, and lack of access to, the law so often leads not to the resolution of but to the escalation of conflict. As one irritated man exclaims to the officer who seems to dismiss his complaint as though he were just a cantankerous old pest, "That's where I'd like to know the definition of breaking the law!"Viewing this film, we also understand the exhaustion that police work often entails, for the policemen often have no real solutions themselves. It is clear why policemen are so often the victims of public rage, and why they in turn may vent their own frustrations on the public.

Films in the Pittsburgh Police series

901/904

After the Game

A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding

The 4th and 5th and the Exclusionary Rule

Henry is Drunk

The Informant

Inside/Outside Station Nine

Investigation of a Hit and Run w/ Legal Discussion

Manifold Controversy

Nothing Hurt But My Pride

Three Domestics

Twenty One Dollars or Twenty One Days

Youth and the Man of Property

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Pittsburgh Police Series

Wed, 5 Sep 2018 11:07:00 GMT

Pittsburgh Police Series
Buy Now: $1,895.00

The Pittsburgh Police series offers a raw and often intimate window into policing during a time before the War on Drugs and subsequent militarization of the police.

Produced in the late 1960s, the project was sponsored by the Lemberg Center for the Study of Violence at Brandeis University in an attempt to study police conduct in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. In spite of the racially tense climate in the city, following civil disorders in which 2,000 people were arrested (although no one was killed), permission to film was granted by the Director of Public Safety and by each Station's Inspector. The films were intended for use by law schools, community relations projects, sociology and urban studies programs, and by the police themselves, to provoke discussion about policing practices.

Marshall accompanied Pittsburgh Police officers over a nine month period of time between 1968 and 1969 as they responded to calls in the community. Individual officers provided access to their everyday work, allowing Marshall to ride in the back of their squad cars and film their interactions with community members. Marshall's footage was edited into seventeen films falling into three categories. Some of the films such as After the Game and A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding are short films that focus on single sequences and events within the project. Other films such as 901/904 and Inside/Outside Station 9 are longer films made up of a variety of these sequences with the intent to give off an overall impression of police work. The third category of films within the series are educational films, such as The 4th and 5th and the Exclusionary Rule and Investigation of a Hit and Run with Legal Discussion, which consist of clips of Marshall's footage intercut with discussion and analysis of the footage.

In Pittsburgh, sequences shown to recruits in training and to off-duty officers provoked lively discussions about the conduct and decisions made by police officers in the actual filmed events. Opinions were often divided on particular cases, as well as on the basic issue of police roles. Recruits and officers argued about the extent to which the police must function as "social workers", becoming involved in domestic situations, and about their biases about men and women. "We always believe the woman and arrest the guy," said one policeman. Several years later, the Department and individual policemen were invited to participate in the discussion film, The 4th and 5th and the Exclusionary Rule, but the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association would not allow participation. The Pittsburgh Police Department now has copies of most of these films, all of which have been shown to Department members.

John Marshall and Emile de Brigard wrote in their 1973 article "Idea and Event in Urban Film" that "In its capacity as an eyewitness report, film is an experience. The object of using film is to untangle impressions, to analyze the facts and implications of an event." The films in The Pittsburgh Police series remain powerful documents for reflecting on society then and now and allow for potent discussions about the place of police within communities as well as issues and biases within the criminal justice system.

The films may be grouped into several clusters that address various dimensions of these broad issues:

The Job: These films focus on the variety and ambiguity of police roles. (A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding; Vagrant Woman; Nothing Hurt But My Pride; Youth and the Man of Property; Inside/Outside Station Nine)

Searches and Seizures: Fourth Amendment issues are addressed in these films. (Three Domestics; Wrong Kid; After the Game)

Asking Questions: Fifth Amendment issues are at stake in situations in these films. (Investigation of a Hit and Run; The Informant; The 4th and 5th and the Exclusionary Rule)

Public Places: These films dramatize the issues of civic order versus civil liberties, of public versus private. (You Wasn't Loitering; Henry is Drunk)

The films in this series lend themselves especially well to analytical treatments in "clusters" such as these, since many are short sequences and none are narrated. The groupings suggested here represent examples, and numerous other combinations can be constructed in order to explore and illustrate particular themes.

Eleven of these films are also available on the Pittsburgh Police Shorts DVD, a 2007 re-mastered/authored set which also contains additional information about the series.

Films in the Pittsburgh Police series

901/904

After the Game

A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding

The 4th and 5th and the Exclusionary Rule

Henry is Drunk

The Informant

Inside/Outside Station Nine

Investigation of a Hit and Run w/ Legal Discussion

Manifold Controversy

Nothing Hurt But My Pride

Three Domestics

Twenty One Dollars or Twenty One Days

Youth and the Man of Property

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Pittsburgh Police Short Films

Wed, 5 Sep 2018 11:07:00 GMT

Pittsburgh Police Short Films
Buy Now: $340.00

Featuring John Marshall's hallmark intimate camerawork, these shorts offer a unique perspective on both sides of law enforcement, and on some of the social issues facing American cities during the late 1960s. This 2007 re-mastered/re-authored compilation contains additional information about the series.

This DVD combines the 11 short films from the Pittsburgh Police series:

After the Game

A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding

Henry is Drunk

Manifold Controversy

Nothing Hurt But My Pride

Twenty One Dollars or Twenty One Days

Youth and the Man of Property

Other films in the Pittsburgh Police series:

901/904

The 4th and 5th and the Exclusionary Rule

The Informant

Inside/Outside Station Nine

Investigation of a Hit and Run w/ Legal Discussion

Three Domestics

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Five Films on Police

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 14:53:00 GMT

Five Films on Police
Buy Now: $320.00

These films are a view of police officers as instruments for social service for all rather than just law enforcement bringing down on criminals the punishment of the law. They were made for use during group discussions where the police could share their immediate experiences with one another and with the people from hospitals in their communities. Written material supplemented the films during these discussions, which encouraged the participants to cite their own experiences. Instead of just blaming the police and making them feel guilty, this dialog created some understanding. The first four of these films were produced through the Louisiana Association for Mental Health in collaboration with its executive director, Dr. Loyd Rowland (1902-1981).

The series was co-sponsored by International Association of Chiefs of Police, with support from the National Institute for Mental Health. The fifth film was made last with the New York Police Department. George C. Stoney, producer of the projects, recalls, "I think they had a real effect on the medical professionals and the police. These group screenings brought them together and helped them recognize their common problems." The same problems are facing communities now. Perhaps these films can inspire further dialog, as they did when they were originally released.

Booked for Safekeeping (1960, 32 min) Designed to help police officers understand how to respond to situations involving people with mental illnesses. Made with New Orleans Police Dept.

The Cry for Help (1962, 33 min) Teaches police officers how to interact with suicidal individuals. Made with the Chicago Police Dept.

The Mask (1963, 33 min) A film designed to make police officers aware that alcohol can disguise or mask serious physical and mental illnesses. Made with the Cleveland Police Dept.

Under Pressure (1964, 32 min) Targeted toward police officers, this film discusses personal and emotional problems related to the job. Made with Cleveland Police Dept.

The Man in the Middle (1966, 22 min) Shows police how they can work more sensitively with the communities they serve. Made with New York City Police Dept.

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Free-For-All In Sararé

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 14:53:00 GMT

Free-For-All In Sararé
Buy Now: $295.00

More than six thousand gold and mineral prospectors have invaded the Nambiquara reserve of Sararé, Brazil, while loggers raid the area's mahogany rich forests. Only pressure from the World Bank, with whom the government of Mato Grosso is negotiating a loan, promises to bring an end to the gross environmental degradation. The government gives the prospectors 60 days to leave the area; the situation becomes increasingly tense as the state police are brought in to evacuate. Poor and desperate for a livelihood, the prospectors don't believe in the Indians' right to have a reservation, asking, "What are they going to do with all that land?"

Films in the Conflicts in the Amazon series

Free-For-All In Sararé

It's Now or Never!

Disclaimer on Naming:

Please be aware that this documentary may include outdated or potentially offensive language. Such terms are not endorsed by DER but are presented in their original context to promote awareness, education, and discussion. Learn more about DER’s efforts to use reparative language and honor the preferred names of Indigenous communities by clicking here.

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A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 14:52:00 GMT

A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding
Buy Now: $340.00

Policemen intervene when a woman calls to complain that her boyfriend stole forty dollars. The argument soon escalates as the man refuses to admit that he took any money, and the woman, losing her temper, crashes a glass window and cuts her hand. The police try their best to diffuse the situation and eventually take the woman away from the scene.

This film is included on the Pittsburgh Police Short Films DVD collection.

Films in the Pittsburgh Police series

901/904

After the Game

A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding

The 4th and 5th and the Exclusionary Rule

Henry is Drunk

The Informant

Inside/Outside Station Nine

Investigation of a Hit and Run w/ Legal Discussion

Manifold Controversy

Nothing Hurt But My Pride

Three Domestics

Twenty One Dollars or Twenty One Days

Youth and the Man of Property

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Henry Is Drunk

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 13:27:00 GMT

Henry Is Drunk
Buy Now: $340.00

Pittsburgh police observe a man's questionable driving pattern and request him to leave his car and take a cab. This film is included on the Pittsburgh Police 11 Shorts DVD collection.

This film is included on the Pittsburgh Police Short Films DVD collection.

Films in the Pittsburgh Police series

901/904

After the Game

A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding

The 4th and 5th and the Exclusionary Rule

Henry is Drunk

The Informant

Inside/Outside Station Nine

Investigation of a Hit and Run w/ Legal Discussion

Manifold Controversy

Nothing Hurt But My Pride

Three Domestics

Twenty One Dollars or Twenty One Days

Youth and the Man of Property

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Inside/Outside Station 9

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 12:45:00 GMT

Inside/Outside Station 9
Buy Now: $340.00

A number of short sequences show some of the events and people in the daily lives of several policemen: their intervention in domestic quarrels, the handling of a hit-and-run case, the approaches taken toward loitering youths, a drunk and disorderly charge being made in Magistrate's Court, and the interrogation of a burglary suspect. Police force candidates are shown being interviewed by members of the police department. They discuss their reasons for wanting to be policemen and their thoughts about themselves and their jobs, placing the film in the context of the community from which the department draws its personnel.

Films in the Pittsburgh Police series

901/904

After the Game

A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding

The 4th and 5th and the Exclusionary Rule

Henry is Drunk

The Informant

Inside/Outside Station Nine

Investigation of a Hit and Run w/ Legal Discussion

Manifold Controversy

Nothing Hurt But My Pride

Three Domestics

Twenty One Dollars or Twenty One Days

Youth and the Man of Property

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Investigation of a Hit and Run

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 12:45:00 GMT

Investigation of a Hit and Run
Buy Now: $320.00

Investigation of a Hit and Run follows two officers as they investigate a hit-and-run accident from initial reports to the questioning of witnesses and the interrogation of the suspect, an eighteen-year-old boy nicknamed Pumpkin, along with his girlfriend and brother. A number of factors complicate the case: the suspect was without a driver's license; he reported the car stolen to cover himself; he could not be persuaded to confess; and the girlfriend is pregnant. The police use considerable pressure on the girl, and treat her eventual statement as though it were a confession. (33 minutes)

In A Legal Discussion of a Hit and Run, a Harvard Law School class, led by Professor James Vorenberg, discusses the salient legal points about the police investigation and interrogation and the rights of witnesses or suspects after the class has screened the film Investigation of a Hit and Run. (24 minutes)

These two films are now offered on one DVD, providing a unique educational tool for anyone interested in police procedure and constitutional rights.

Films in the Pittsburgh Police series

901/904

After the Game

A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding

The 4th and 5th and the Exclusionary Rule

Henry is Drunk

The Informant

Inside/Outside Station Nine

Investigation of a Hit and Run w/ Legal Discussion

Manifold Controversy

Nothing Hurt But My Pride

Three Domestics

Twenty One Dollars or Twenty One Days

Youth and the Man of Property

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The Informant

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 12:45:00 GMT

The Informant
Buy Now: $295.00

This film focuses on a black burglary suspect who, during interrogation by police offers his services as an "undercover" informant - providing the police will suppress his charge.

Films in the Pittsburgh Police series

901/904

After the Game

A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding

The 4th and 5th and the Exclusionary Rule

Henry is Drunk

The Informant

Inside/Outside Station Nine

Investigation of a Hit and Run w/ Legal Discussion

Manifold Controversy

Nothing Hurt But My Pride

Three Domestics

Twenty One Dollars or Twenty One Days

Youth and the Man of Property

Visit Law Enforcement to see additional products in this category.