Beyond the Law (1993 film)
Beyond the Law (also known as Fixing the Shadow) is a 1993 TV film written and directed by Larry Ferguson. It tells the story of Dan Saxon, an undercover cop who infiltrates a group of criminal outlaw bikers behind a drug-smuggling and arms-dealing operation.[1] In order to maintain their trust, he must commit ever more dangerous and heinous crimes and must question how far he can go beyond the law. The film stars Charlie Sheen, Linda Fiorentino, and Michael Madsen.
| Beyond the Law | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Crime Drama Thriller |
| Written by | Larry Ferguson |
| Directed by | Larry Ferguson |
| Starring | Charlie Sheen Linda Fiorentino Michael Madsen Courtney B. Vance Leon Rippy |
| Music by | John D'Andrea Cory Lerios |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Richard N. Gladstein Ronna B. Wallace Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr. (co-executive producer) |
| Producers | John Fiedler Mark Tarlov |
| Production locations | El Mirage Dry Lake, California Phoenix, Arizona New River, Arizona Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Cinematography | Robert M. Stevens |
| Editors | Don Brochu Robert C. Jones |
| Running time | 108 minutes |
| Production companies | Capitol Films Polar Entertainment Corporation |
| Distributor | HBO |
| Budget | $18,000,000 (estimated) |
| Release | |
| Original network | HBO |
| Picture format | Color |
| Audio format | Dolby |
| Original release | April 22, 1993 |
Plot
Based on a true story,[2] the film centers on Dan Saxon, a cop with a troubled childhood. He is enlisted by Conroy Price, an agent in Arizona's State Attorney General's office, to go undercover to bust the illegal drugs and arms trafficking. Saxon is unsuccessful until he meets and befriends Virgil, a mechanic who introduces him to the seedy world of criminal bikers.
Virgil tutors Saxon on bikes and customs of the "outlaw motorcycle brotherhood." After many lessons and a major change in appearance Saxon develops an alter ego named Sid and ends up infiltrating the Jackals and earning the trust of Blood, their president. At the same time, he begins a relationship with a photojournalist, Renee Jason, who is aware of his dual life.
As Saxon falls deeper into this world of crime, he becomes more unbalanced. After a violent situation that led to the murder of a 20-year-old convenience store attendant, Saxon is brought back to earth. Saxon's Identity is revealed, by Price, to the local, state, and federal law enforcement, much to their praise for Saxon's undercover skills. Concluding the undercover operation, over 200 arrests are made including Blood. The end of the film shows Saxon walking into the desert. It is revealed in the narrated epilogue that Saxon and Renee are living in California, and Blood is serving 3 consecutive life sentences.
Cast
- Charlie Sheen – William Patrick Steiner / Agent Dan 'Sid' Saxon
- Linda Fiorentino – Renee Jason
- Michael Madsen – 'Blood'
- Courtney B. Vance – U.S. Assistant Attorney Conroy Price
- Leon Rippy – Virgil
- Rino Thunder – 'Bogus Charlie'
- Rip Torn – Deputy Butch Prescott
- Steven Chambers – Clyde, undercover ATF agent on motorcycle
- Lyndsay Riddell – Marybette Jason
- Dennis Burkley – 'Oatmeal'
- Ed Adams – 'Dirt'
- James Oscar Lee – 'Highside'
- Hollie Chamberlain – 'Stephie'
- Brenda Phillips – 'Bubbles'
- Richard Madsen – 'Buster'
- Ted Parks – 'Sidewinder'
- Larry Ferguson – Sherriff Kelly, corrupt cop on Blood's payroll.
Background
Larry Ferguson wrote the screenplay after reading the article "Undercover Angel" by Lawrence Linderman in the July, 1981 issue of Playboy on an undercover agent named Dan Black.[2] Black served as a technical advisor on the film and appeared as an extra in the movie.[2]
References
- Smoron, Paige (July 11, 1997), "Camera Obscura", Chicago Sun-Times
- Larry Ferguson (Writer-Director) (1992). Beyond the Law (DVD (Insert & Special Features)). Artisan.