By-the-book African-American Lieutenant William Pope (Yaphet Kotto) has to work with crude, racist but streetwise Italian-American Captain Frank Mattelli (Anthony Quinn) in the NYPD's 27th precinct. They are looking for three black men who slaughtered seven men—three black gangsters and two Italian gangsters, as well as two patrol officers—in the robbery of $300,000 from a Mafia-owned Harlem policy bank. Mafia lieutenant Nick D'Salvio and his two henchmen are also after the hoods. Paul Benjamin plays the troubled Jim Harris, who is the last of the surviving robbers; he makes his choice in the emotional climax.

West 110th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard, Manhattan.

West 125th Street and 8th Avenue, Harlem.

8th Avenue and West 125th Street, Harlem.

West 160th Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue, Harlem.

420 West 160th Street and Jumel Terrace, Harlem.

Jumel Terrace and West 160th Street, Harlem.

West 160th Street and Edgecombe Avenue, Harlem.

Lenox Avenue (btw West 141st & 142rd Street) Harlem.