I have a question-what was up with the non-uniform plaid shirts that some of the uniformed cops (including Frank Serpico) were wearing on patrol at the beginning of the film? I need to know! This might be s strange question-but it was a very strange scene.
Hmmm.
It's on TV now, and I just saw the scene.
As far as I can tell, it's just that the officers have arrived for their shift and roll call has begun before they can change from their street clothes into their uniforms.
It looked to me like it was just their own clothes that they were going to change out of as soon as roll call ended.
One thing I'd like to know....What do you call those uniform jackets the uniformed cops are wearing in the film? I'm talking about those jackets with the double row of buttons down the front?
I always thought those looked very smart.
Wow, finally a reply! Thank you! However, as I'm sure you noticed later in the film, Serpic goes on duty wearing those same clothes. It's particularly evident in that restaurant scene. It's so freakin' weird I can't believe that more people have not noticed it. Cops do not just go on duty with a jacket, a hat and street clothes. By the way, I don't know what those jackets are claled. They are kind of the police version of Navy pea coats.
shareLater in the film, wasn't Serpico working as a plain-clothes cop?
I didn't watch the film all the way through this time, but I did see it all a few years ago.
I know Serpico was working plain-clothes later on and he wore his own hippie-style clothes for that.
I don't know much about those jackets, but I know that the NYPD used them until the early 1980's.
He was working later in plain clothes. But earlier in the film he's on duty wearing a combination of plain clothes and a uniform. My only theory is that in those days they let new recruits wear plain clothes under the coat. That doesn't really make any sense, but it's all I have to work with right now!
share recruits weare all the same shirt: you see complete uniform (oficers) or uniform mixed with "cow-boy shirt" (recruits). it must be their uniform
:D
NO, NO E POI NO
I did notice that too.
It was a kind of odd thing.
It was Frank's first day, and there were other new recruits too.
I think the flannel shirts were just a way that the "newbies" had to
dress for a while.
In the military, they do something similar. The new recruits wore a
different uniform than seasoned personell. It's kind of a tradition
thing i suppose.
That scene at roll-call reminded me of boot camp in that way.
Just a way to single out the 'newbies'.
(anyway, that was my take on it)
:O)
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.
I know I'm a little late for this discussion (just found the thread), but here's my two cents: Years ago patrolmen (that was what the police officer's rank was called back then), wore a double-breasted uniform blouse, the blue coat with the double row of buttons, that was buttoned all the way up to the neck. This jacket wasn't taken off while on duty, so I'm sure a lot of cops wore more casual (comfortable) shirts under them. The uniformed cops in "Serpico" were wearing civilian shirts, but they were also wearing uniform pants and shoes. It wasn't until around the late sixties that the uniform was changed to a duty jacket over a uniform shirt. If you watch the movie "Fort Apache:The Bronx", you'll see that Paul Newman's character (the old-timer) wears the old style uniform, while Ken Wahl's character (the young guy) wears the new style. Also, years ago, cops had to wear their eight-point hat at all times, even in a sector car. I always laugh when I watch old movies featuring the NYPD and see cops riding around with their hats on, as you never see that today. Most cops today don't even put their hats on when they get out of their cars, even though they are technically required to do so.
"Beaver? You mean vagina?"
I might be wrong, but, I was under the impression that they hadn't been issued their complete uniform yet, and, they just wore the pea-coats to disguise the fact.
I've....seen things you people would'nt believe; Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.
I BELIEVE THAT PARTICULAR REEFER COAT WAS CALLED A WINTER BLOUSE.THAT BIT OF INFO WAS SHOWN ON A WEB SITE EITHER ABOUT THE NYPD MUSEUM OR A LINK THAT FEATURES THE OLD NYPD.
shareWere those double-buttoned jackets required for summertime as well, or was a different uniform allowed then?
shareDuring the summer from the 60s until the early 90s they wore a light blue short sleeved shirt. In the early 1990s they switched to an all dark blue uniform for all seasons.
Interesting tidbit: the New Jersey State Police does not have a short sleeved shirt uniform and troopers wear the wool long sleeved shirt YEAR ROUND - talk about brutal!
The uniform jacket was called the "winter blouse" and clipped tightly around the neck with a big hook and eye. It was known as the "choker" and the cops hated to wear it because it really chafed the neck. It was comfortable enough if you walked a beat, but damn near strangled you if you were assigned to a radio car. Most cops wore some kind of flannel shirt underneath the blouse and that was the most popular Xmas gift for a NYC cop.
shareIts a Reefer coat or 'Horse Blanket' as some guys called them.
shareIn the military, they do something similar. The new recruits wore a
different uniform than seasoned personell. It's kind of a tradition
thing i suppose.
I don't know what service you were in friend we wore the same outfits, however they knew who the new guys were: very short hair, brand new uniforms, no stripes, green look.
True I was in during Viet Nam era.
See some stars here
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If your talking about the cream chicken scene I think it was his first day and maybe it was just to establish he was a rookie?
shareakasha50
The uniform jacket was called the "winter blouse" and clipped tightly around the neck with a big hook and eye. It was known as the "choker" and the cops hated to wear it because it really chafed the neck. It was comfortable enough if you walked a beat, but damn near strangled you if you were assigned to a radio car. Most cops wore some kind of flannel shirt underneath the blouse and that was the most popular Xmas gift for a NYC cop.
Ah-ha. So having them wear flannel shirts makes sense. Serpico just hadn't buttoned up his blouse yet. Thanks for the answer. Sorry it's five years late.
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