BUSTING

title: BUSTING

year: 1974

cast: Elliott Gould, Robert Blake, Allen Garfield

rating: ***1/2

A very hard to find seventies crime drama with Elliott Gould and Robert Blake as vice cops busting gay bars, low-rent hookers, sex shops and high price call girls, then eventually stumbling upon a bigwig pimp played by underrated Allen Garfield, and his henchman Sig Haig who, it turns out, doesn't have to do much since his boss owns the courts and the cops. Gould and Blake go on their own to nab Garfield with predictable results, although the adventurous climb to the top, by hanging at the bottom, is quite enjoyable, and a FRENCH CONNECTION-style foot chase in an outdoor bizarre makes for very addictive pleasure. Blake, unlit cigarette in mouth, is warming up for his famous TV-gig a year later, and Gould's performance is natural and easy but with some intensity.