Fuzz

Fuzz is a 1972 crime comedy set in Boston, where a bomber is demanding money from the city and targeting public officials. The detectives of the 87th Precinct are assigned to the case, but their investigation is complicated by their own disorganization and by the mix-up of two separate cases. As the extortionist raises his demands, the squad scrambles to stop him before anyone else is hurt.

The film was directed by Richard A. Colla, who made his feature debut here before going on to direct Battlestar Galactica in 1978. Evan Hunter wrote the screenplay, and Martin Ransohoff and Jack Farren produced. It is based on the 87th Precinct novels by Ed McBain, the pen name under which Hunter himself wrote. Burt Reynolds leads the cast as Det. Steve Carella, alongside Jack Weston as Det. Meyer Meyer, Tom Skerritt as Det. Bert Kling, Raquel Welch as Det. Eileen McHenry, James McEachin as Det. Arthur Brown, and Steve Ihnat as Det. Andy Parker.

The film runs 93 minutes and drew modest responses from audiences: it holds a rating of 5.5 out of 10 on IMDb from around 2,500 votes, and a matching 5.5 out of 10 on TMDB, though from roughly 50 votes. The small gap between the two vote counts means the TMDB figure reflects far fewer viewers, while the IMDb average suggests a generally mixed reception. Its cast of 62 credited performers reflects the ensemble nature of the precinct setting.