Madigan is a 1968 crime-drama film directed by Don Siegel and starring Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, and Inger Stevens. The film follows two NYPD detectives, Daniel Madigan (played by Widmark) and Rocco Bonaro (played by Harry Guardino) who lose their guns to a notorious fugitive named Barney Benesch (played by Steve Ihnat). To make up for their mistake, the police commissioner gives them a 72-hour ultimatum to track down Benesch and recover their lost weapons.
The film depicts the gritty reality of police work in New York City in the late 1960s, with corruption, violence, and interdepartmental politics all playing a role in the investigation. Madigan and Bonaro follow various leads, including questioning witnesses, working informants, and staking out potential hiding spots.
Meanwhile, the police commissioner (played by Fonda) juggles his own responsibilities, attending official functions, meeting with the families of deceased officers, and comforting the spouses of fallen comrades. The film portrays the emotional toll that these duties take on the commissioner.
As the clock ticks down, Madigan and Bonaro narrow down their search for Benesch, eventually tracking him to a tenement building in Harlem. In a tense showdown, they confront Benesch and his henchmen, leading to a violent gun battle. In the end, Madigan and Bonaro recover their weapons and arrest Benesch, but not without casualties on both sides.
Madigan was praised for its realistic portrayal of police work and its frank depiction of the social issues facing New York City at the time. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score and is considered a classic of the crime-drama genre.