2026 Subscribers: this is NOT included in your Subscription. If you'd like to purchase it, you will need to login to view your special 50% off SRP pricing.
This special limited edition J-card MediaBook slipcase (designed by Tom Ralston) is limited to 3,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Note: this release is available to be purchased on its own, or in the following bundle:
Limited Edition Slipcase + This Is Cinématographe: A Journal of American Cinema - Winter 2026. Limited to 300 units. (Sold Out)
Taking its name from the Lumière Brothers invention of the same name, Cinématographe is a new sub-label from Vinegar Syndrome that seeks to fill gaps in the canon of American cinema. Offering a mix of auteur driven studio films produced during the New Hollywood era of the late 1960s and 70s all the way through the indie boom of the 1980s and 90s, Cinématographe will explore the wide breadth of American moviemaking, spanning numerous genres and scales of production. Curated and produced by Vinegar Syndrome's Justin LaLiberty, each limited edition release will be housed in a specially designed, cloth-bound, media book with embossed foil titles and custom molded disc trays accompanied by a slipcase featuring newly commissioned art and an individually numbered J-card.
Following the death of his partner, brash NYPD cop Eddie Ryan (Robert Duvall, The Godfather) swears vengeance, going on a violent quest through the streets of 1970s New York City to find his assailants. His methods prove so hostile, and racist, that he is forced to resign from the police, rendering him a vigilante hellbent on justice. Ryan’s pursuit of take-no-prisoners fury puts him in the crosshairs of drug kingpins and revolutionaries, not to mention the very department that he was once a part of.
Inspired by real life NYPD detective Eddie Egan, who was also the inspiration for William Friedkin’s The French Connection (1971) and its non-fiction source, Badge 373 is a much more raw portrayal of inner city violence and New York at a point of transition going into the mid-1970s. Long living in the shadow of Friedkin’s film, as well as other more popular New York City set cop films of the era (including the same year’s Serpico, by Sidney Lumet), Badge 373 is a vital time capsule of old New York, anchored by a fiery performance from Robert Duvall and energetic direction from noted New Hollywood producer Howard W. Koch (A New Leaf). Cinématographe is proud to present this long underseen entry in 70s crime cinema in a brand new 4K restoration from its original camera negative.
directed by: Howard W. Koch starring: Robert Duvall, Verna Bloom, Henry Darrow, Eddie Egan 1973 / 116 min / 1.85:1 / English DTS-HD MA 1.0
Additional info:
Region A Blu-ray
New 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative with original mono theatrical soundtrack
New audio commentary by film historian Steve Mitchell
A Kernel of Truth - a new video interview with retired NYPD detective Randy Jurgensen, friend of Eddie Egan and technical advisor on the film
Police Film Protection - a new video conversation between Jason Bailey, author of Fun City Cinema: New York City and the Movies That Made It, and Cinématographe's Justin LaLiberty
Craftsman Kingmaker: Howard W. Koch and the Art of Getting It Done - a new video essay by Daniel Kremer
New text essays by Mark Asch, author of New York Movies; film critics Paul Corupe and A.S. Hamrah; and Cinématographe's Justin LaLiberty
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.6511626 / 5 from 86 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
The limited edition release of 'Badge 373' by Cinématographe, featuring a 4K restoration and new special features, has been well-received by customers. The film, directed by Howard W. Koch and starring Robert Duvall, offers a raw portrayal of 1970s New York City. Positive feedback highlights the quality of the restoration and the value of the included extras.
"Good movie, great packaging and presentation" — Ian P.
"Good movie good dis Mustone for my collection." — Jay L.
"That said, the Blu-ray set is incredible, and really puts the film in a nice context." — Joshua K.
Reviews
Badge 373 - Cinematographe/VS
"What timing when this one came out and Robert Duvall's passing. This is a great underrated NYC crime story with a great performance from Duvall. Lovely to see this one represented by Cinematographe. Thank you!"
— Colin M. (5/5)
Man this transfer is so
"Man this transfer is so much clearer here than the old Olive Blu Ray. I love this flick so I got an upgrade just based on the extras that do not disappoint at all. The Randy Jurgensen interview is worth it alone. The great Robert Duvall shines here as a super unlikeable character who you still have sympathy for. He's so got. It's shot in that 70s gritty style and is so atmospheric. Great release of a great movie!"
— Bryan K. (5/5)
Gritty cop thriller
"This is one of my favorite cop thrillers ! Just love the grittiness of movies from this time Top notch performance from Robert Duval. Would love this one to be a 4k but it is still a great upgrade from my early Uk import ! Great extras ! Big recommendation"
— Patrick J. (5/5)
Underseen Gem
"Badge 373 is a hard-edged crime drama that captures the gritty mood of early ’70s New York with a raw, almost documentary feel. Robert Duvall delivers a tough, no-nonsense performance that really anchors the film. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but its intensity and street-level realism make it a compelling watch."
— Shawn M. (4/5)
Eddie Egan at his worst?
"So Eddie Egen wanted a movie that was more representative of him as a person and we got this raciat, misogynistic fuckhead? Cool, Eddie, cool. This movie definitely exists thanks to The French Connection, but it pales in comparison. Still has its merits though, including an absolutely badass bus chase scene. I love these fascist cop movies because I can separate them from reality, but I kind of wish they didn't exist because too many people grew up watching them and couldn't figure out the issues with morality or see them as cautionary tales. Duvall is great, the movie is decent, it's a good time overall."
— Derrick A. (4/5)
Tough Streets, Mixed Results
"Badge 373 has all the ingredients of a hard-hitting 70s cop thriller: a gritty New York setting, a determined detective, and a story pulled from the era’s fascination with urban crime. The film captures the city’s rough edges well, and there are moments when its semi-documentary style gives it real authenticity. Frank Sinatra’s absence from the lead role is often discussed, and while Robert Duvall gives a solid performance, the film never quite develops the momentum or intensity needed to stand alongside the genre’s best entries. It remains watchable throughout, particularly for fans of 70s crime cinema, but it feels more like a historical curiosity than an essential classic. An interesting snapshot of its time, even if it never fully lives up to its potential."
— Antonio T. (3/5)
Classic Duvall
"“Badge 373” is a gritty 1970s New York crime thriller elevated by Robert Duvall’s intense performance, even if the film itself never quite escapes the shadow of The French Connection. Drawing inspiration from the real-life exploits of NYPD officer Eddie Egan, the film follows suspended detective Eddie Ryan as he hunts down his partner’s killer, plunging into a world of gun‑running and gang violence. Critics note that while the movie aims for realism, it often veers into implausible territory—particularly its high‑altitude crane confrontation and exaggerated political overtones."
— Tarek E. (3/5)
R. I. P. Robert Duvall
"A decent gritty 70's cop drama with Duvall playing a tough, racist, detective. The special features on this release are fantastic with the stand out being an interview with the real life detective Duvall's character is based on."
— Patrick D. (4/5)
Good movie; GREAT Blu-ray set
"Of all the cop movies spawned in the wake of William Friedkin’s The French Connection, Badge 373 is…one of them? It certainly isn’t bad, and it has a couple of stellar elements (some good dialogue, courtesy of Pete Hamill, and a GREAT bus chase), but it often feels like the pilot for a weekly ‘70s cop show that I’d only watch intermittently. That said, the Blu-ray set is incredible, and really puts the film in a nice context. Worth it just for all the special features."
— Joshua K. (5/5)
Outstanding VS Restoration!
"I really love this particular video line of VS! This flick was awesome with a stellar performance from Duvall! The film was exciting and kept me watching from beginning to end! The extras were also awesome! The peerless VS restoration process was on full display with stellar sound and picture! Thank you, VS, for continuing to lovingly restore and release so many wonderful films from every conceivable genre! You are keeping physical media alive in this streaming world we now live in! Highly recommended!"
— Paul K. (5/5)
Q&A
More Items to Consider
Cart
0 Item(s)
Stay in the know!
Join our mailing list for updates on new releases, promotions & events.
