The Policeman

There's more than a bit of Inspector Clouseau, with just a dash of Fritz Lang's M, in Efraim Kishon's 1971 Israeli comedy, which was nominated for an Oscar as Best Foreign Language Film and won a Golden Globe in that category. The Policeman revolves around constable Azulai (Shaike Ophir), a beat cop in Jaffa who's been on the force for 20 years. Azulai is a likable buffoon whose ineptitude has allowed crime to flourish unimpeded in his district, which is why his superiors intend to fire him when his employment contract comes up for renewal. But the local crooks, alarmed at the prospect of Azulai's dismissal, come up with a plan to keep him on the job: they will let him capture one of them robbing a nearby monastery, thereby creating a wave of public support that will make him untouchable. Needless to say, Azulai's blissful ignorance over what's going on around him insures that the scheme won't go exactly as planned. The Policeman is a jovial film, sparked by a winning turn from beloved leading Israeli actor Ophir. DVD extras include “The Israeli Theater of Efraim Kishon,” a featurette on the director's career. Recommended. [Note: two other Kishon films are also newly available on DVD: Ervinka (starring Topol) and The Fox (starring Ophir).] Recommended. (F. Swietek)