Police Press Conferences in the Movies

Here’s a challenge: Can anybody think of any film that features a Police press conference?

You know the classic set-up – a panel of figures seated behind a table or lined up behind a lectern, an audience of journalists scribbling away, photographers snapping throughout.

Perhaps a statement to the press regarding the progress of a case, perhaps an appeal for people to come forward with information etc

I’m particularly interested to know of any examples in French cinema, and especially from the 1950s or 60s, but really any suggestions of any films would be very much appreciated.

I believe there are some in Kurosawa’s High and Low. Also, the recent BBC trilogy, Red Riding.

Might be one here: The Killer That Stalked New York 1950 Directed by Earl McEvoy

The Boston Strangler
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Madigan
Batman
Zodiac

lots of late 60s and 70s movies

Richard Roundtree in SE7EN

All the dirty Harry movies had at least one press conference

“Death Wish” has great interaction between Detective Frank Ochoa (Vincent Gardenia) and the press. It’s so friggin’ brilliant because the film’s central character, Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson in his most famous role) is knocking down crooks one-by-one all by himself. The cops know there is a vigilante on the loose and that the crimes figures are plummeting. Frank finds himself in a tough spot: he doesn’t want to openly encourage vigilantism, he doesn’t want the police to appear less competent in their law enforcement duties than a renegade killer, but at the same time he has pressure from the mayor’s office to lay off the vigilante as there is an election around the corner. Frank doesn’t know how to handle the press and the question contemplated by the city authorities (police and politicians)—do we bring down the vigilante or let him roam free?—should be food for thought for every viewer.

By the way, I think the fellow with the knife was well within his rights to make Paul Kersey extinguish his cigarette on a public train.

The Dark Knight

I immediately thought of this movie (7m56s into clip, if the deep link doesn’t work). Granted, it’s not 50s/60s, and many would not consider it very good.

The topic seems like something Fuller would have put in at least one of his pictures during that time, but I haven’t seen enough to know for certain.

Kurosawa in High and Low set the mark for excellence in this capacity.

Also don’t forget L.A. Confidential, in which said events are presented with delicious irony.

As for French films … any of Melville’s policiers should give you many nice scenes.

My favorite pi— I mean “police” press conferences where in the TV series The Night Stalker, Kolchack always making the police look like the incompentent fascist fools that they are. Priceless.
Also the 80s C.H.U.D. movies had some great ones.

If you want films that make police look “incompetent” look no farther than the "Police Academy” series, films that also sometimes had a press conference here and there.

F.J. Torres, you’d probably be less hostile concerning police if more of them looked like this…

How about Serpico? That said something useful about the whole rotten caboodle

Not entirely sure it was technically a press conference but the press were there: at the end of Dark Blue. And maybe, although I haven’t watched it for quite a while, Sea of Love?