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The Guardian

  • TV Movie
  • 1984
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
526
YOUR RATING
The Guardian (1984)
CrimeThriller

Plagued by crime, the residents of a NYC condominium hire a seemingly over-zealous security expert to patrol the building.Plagued by crime, the residents of a NYC condominium hire a seemingly over-zealous security expert to patrol the building.Plagued by crime, the residents of a NYC condominium hire a seemingly over-zealous security expert to patrol the building.

  • Director
    • David Greene
  • Writers
    • Richard Levinson
    • William Link
  • Stars
    • Martin Sheen
    • Louis Gossett Jr.
    • Arthur Hill
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    526
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Greene
    • Writers
      • Richard Levinson
      • William Link
    • Stars
      • Martin Sheen
      • Louis Gossett Jr.
      • Arthur Hill
    • 14User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 4 nominations total

    Photos18

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    Top cast34

    Edit
    Martin Sheen
    Martin Sheen
    • Charlie Hyatt
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    • John Mack
    Arthur Hill
    Arthur Hill
    • Dr. Phil Julian
    Tandy Cronyn
    Tandy Cronyn
    • Lynn Hyatt
    Simon Reynolds
    Simon Reynolds
    • Robbie Hyatt
    Tom Harvey
    • Mr. Wicker
    Maury Chaykin
    Maury Chaykin
    • Rudy Simbro
    Anthony Sherwood
    Anthony Sherwood
    • Mr. Chambers
    Taborah Johnson
    Taborah Johnson
    • Mrs. Chambers
    Dinah Christie
    • Claire Julian
    Kate Lynch
    Kate Lynch
    • Fran
    Shaaun Taylor
    • Junkie
    Bathsheba Garnett
    Bathsheba Garnett
    • Mrs. Jacobs
    Hadley Kay
    • Jason
    Wendy Crewson
    Wendy Crewson
    • Marlee Kramer
    Sean McCann
    Sean McCann
    • Lt. Yaeger
    Harvey Atkin
    Harvey Atkin
    • Mr. Wallace
    Robert Reece
    • Beret
    • Director
      • David Greene
    • Writers
      • Richard Levinson
      • William Link
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    6.4526
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    Featured reviews

    8kevinkishin

    "A True Gem from a bygone Era"

    First off saw this when I was "10" it was burned into my memory, Second Louis Gossett jr. & Martin Sheen played there roles with precision, Third L. G. J.'s character resonates in the current time period a no nonsense individual willing too maintain order, the character was not apologetic about his methods. "The Guardian" is a forgotten gem of it's genre.
    10billagreste

    Wish I could find it on a DVD

    I've not seen this for 26 years, but I remember it well and have tried a number of times to find this movie again so I could watch it once more. It seems that only a few old VHS copies are still around at places like Amazon. I've not had a VHS player for 10 years, so that will do me no good.

    It's a great movie and if I am remembering it as it was, Louis Gossett did a near perfect job in his part and as unconventional as he was in his role as the Guardian, he was exactly what they needed. It's one of those politically incorrect stories where you'll find yourself glad it is that way.

    I'll keep looking for a DVD but I doubt I'll get another shot at this excellent movie! If you have an opportunity to catch it, make the effort. It's a movie worth your time.
    10robert_leath

    Wish I could find it somewhere

    Saw this movie on HBO when it first came out. I loved it. IMO one of the best movies for Lou Gossetts acting skills. Martin Sheen also did excellent job. Great job showing how Pacifist change their minds when violence is brought to them.
    10deadbull-95171

    I've come back to this one three times

    I saw it when it first came out and never forgot it. I saw it again some years ago and then again tonight. It hasn't lost anything. Great character studies by two great actors with very different ways of looking at their world. It has political and racial and social subtexts that are rarely if ever handled so directly and the whole thing has a tense realistic vibe. It poses as many questions as it answers, more about who the guardian is, then what he does. This was unusually good for 1984 TV and amazingly better, to me, then the stuff made now. It's an above average movie by any standard.
    8gavin-112

    Superior TV Movie

    Morally complex telemovie with 2 fine lead performances! Is surprisingly gritty and atmospheric and has a really potent and unpredictable ending. Underrated gem.

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    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Some of the film was shot in the abandoned Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital in the west end of Toronto, Ontario, which later became Humber College's Lakeshore Campus. Police Academy (1984) also had scenes filmed at this location.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 20, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Wächter
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • HBO Premiere Films
      • Home Box Office (HBO)
      • Robert Cooper Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • CA$4,400,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 45m(105 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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