Dirty O'Neil (1974)

Dirty O’Neil, released during the same year as The Swinging Cheerleaders and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, is yet another on wild romp through exploitation flicks.  It is essentially about the love life of a small-town cop.  Filled to the bring with backseat action, corny one-liners, and lots of naked women, Dirty O’Neil might not be the exploitation cult classic you want it to be, but it never disappoints as officer Jimmy O’Neil (Morgan Paull) finds himself having to save one California town from a notorious gang of criminals.

"Dirty O’Neil is back on the beat thanks to Code Red’s brand-new 2K master."


Directed by Leon Capetanos and Lewis Teague (Alligator, Cujo, Jewel of the Nile) and written by Capetanos, this B-grade flick is known more for its very uncomfortable scene of rape than it is for its hilarity.  I’m not knocking either.  Yes, this scene - which is important as it is when the bad guys take over the streets - IS uncomfortable and it threatens to drown all the easy breezy scenes before it, but it is brief AND it is handled in a rather competent manner which builds in the suspense, preparing viewers for the violent finale.

Nothing much happens in ONeil’s small California town, so you can hardly blame him for hooking up with nearly every woman he comes across in the San Fernando Valley.  It seems no woman can resist a man in uniform and no woman wants to disappoint a very single young man, no matter her age.  Young or old, Dirty O’Neil has the woman game down pat AND HE NEVER GETS CAUGHT IN THE ACT.Dirty O'Neil (1974)

It’s important to note in this campy flick from the heyday of exploitation drive-in fare.  You might not want to check this one out if that type of stuff bothers you.

With plenty of jokes about horny cops along the way to the ultimate takedown of three criminals, Dirty O’Neil is a far dirtier version of Police Academy, which would debut a full decade after Morgan Paull got his badge shined by many topless women in the backseat of his cruiser.  It co-stars a wonderfully cast Art Metrano (Police Academy 2 & 3), Jeane Manson (The Piano Player) and Katie Saylor (Supervan), and features everything you love (or hate) about mindless sex comedies from the period.

Is it pornographic?  Not in the least, but it was made to tickle the fancies of a left-leaning audience and that it succeeds in time and time again as Dirty O’Neil finds himself in closets, pools, and basketball courts with women just begging him to put his handcuffs on their wrists and pull their hair . . . just a little.

Dirty O’Neil is back on the beat thanks to Code Red’s brand-new 2K master.

3/5 beers

 

Dirty O'Neil (1974)

Blu-ray Details

Home Video Distributor: Code Red
Available on Blu-ray
- March 15, 2022
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: English SDH
Audio:
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Morgan Paull (Blade Runner) is Dirty O’Neil, a small-town policeman with a big-time libido. On the rare occasions when his pants are on, he patrols the neighborhood and coaches the girls’ basketball team. But when three nasty hoodlums appear in his peaceful California town, Dirty wastes no time dispensing justice. This sizzling slice of ’70s exploitation will quench your thirst for raunchy cop comedy! Co-directed by Leon Capetanos (Secret Life of a Schoolgirl Wife) and Lewis Teague (Alligator), and co-starring Art Metrano (Andy Sidaris’ Seven), Pat Anderson (TNT Jackson), Jeane Manson (The Young Nurses) and Katie Saylor (Invasion of the Bee Girls).

Video:

Presented in a crisp 1080p transfer, the new scan of the original film elements is a thing of pristine beauty.  The film is dominated with reds and greens that absolutely burst with color.  It’s a cheap film, for sure, but the simple backgrounds burst with new details and a nice level of clarity.  Black levels are solid and skin tones are natural.  This is, after all, a dark film. There are lots of night scenes; thankfully, the lines hold their edges. Shadows are defined and the film has a new depth previously unseen.  

Audio:

A DTS-HD Mono Audio Track supplies the sound of gunshots and giggling girls.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • None

Special Features:

Only a trailer is included.

  • Theatrical Trailer (Mastered in 2K)

Blu-ray Rating

  Movie 3/5 stars
  Video  4/5 stars
  Audio 3/5 stars
  Extras 1/5 stars

Composite Blu-ray Grade

3/5 stars


Film Details

Dirty O'Neil (1974)

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime:
89 mins
Director
: Leon Capetanos; Lewis Teague
Writer:
Leon Capetanos
Cast:
Morgan Paull; Art Metrano; Pat Anderson
Genre
: Comedy | Crime
Tagline:
Women who make the kind of offer a Cop can't refuse! The public servant who serves ... and serves... and serves...
Memorable Movie Quote:
Theatrical Distributor:
American International Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date:
May, 1974
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
March 15, 2022.
Synopsis: Morgan Paull (Blade Runner) is Dirty O'Neil, a small-town policeman with a big-time libido. On the rare occasions when his pants are on, he patrols the neighborhood and coaches the girls' basketball team. But when three nasty hoodlums appear in his peaceful California town, Dirty wastes no time dispensing justice.

Art

Dirty O'Neil (1974)