golden age of VHS pt. four--Police Tapes by Alan and Susan ("American Family") Raymond--

"The Raymonds' first independent production was an experimental video called "The Police Tapes" (WNET New York 1977, ABC News 1978) that forever changed the TV landscape. The program chronicled police officers in America's highest crime precinct and captured a South Bronx neighborhood in the process of self-destructing. This program has been honored with four Emmys, an Alfred I. DuPont and George Foster Peabody awards. "The Police Tapes" has been recognized in the film and television industry as a major influence on police dramas and the many reality TV cop shows that followed. Steve Bochco, creator and Executive Producer of Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law, commented upon his inspiration in American Film magazine, July 1988:


"But we really stole the style of Hill Street Blues from something called "The Police Tapes" ... It was one of the most arresting things I'd ever seen in my life. We said, 'This is the feeling we want. We want to create something that gives the illusion of random event.' "

Elvis Mitchell, New York Times film critic, wrote in a June 2002 Sunday article on reality cop shows influencing the movies and recognized the Raymonds' contribution:

"Through their "Police Tapes", the Raymonds have assured themselves a spot in movie history: the DNA of their original has found its way into the film mainstream through "Cops"."


Toward the end of the film a long, highly articulate speech by the South Bronx Borough Commander, where he talks about being the head of an "army of accupation" in a country "that manufactures criminals" is as riveting as anything I've seen anywhere lately. The low grade black and white handycam images--flaring lights, garbled soundtrack--give some sense of how powerful and shocking this must have been before decades of its influence had set in...