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Glenn Ford plays the brass who has to clean up after cops who maybe went too far. 70s TV movie grit.
TMDB
70

Police Story: No Margin for Error (1978)

gritty proceduralmoral murkcop shop tension

Overview

TV MovieCrime

Two policemen are suspected of excessive violence and causing two deaths. The investigation brings to light, little by little, the whole truth.

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Content warning

Standout Aspects

Acting

Glenn Ford's weary authority anchors every scene.

Writing

Tight procedural that trusts viewers to connect dots.

Best for:Solo: Late-night rabbit hole into 70s TV movie darkness.·Rewatch: Spot the proto-Brooklyn Nine-Nine DNA twisted bleak.
Virgil W. Vogel

Director

Virgil W. Vogel

ReleasedApr 30, 1978
Runtime1h 40m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonedark
Feelmedium
Columbia Pictures Television

Top Cast

James Farentino

James Farentino

Anderson

Ron Masak

Ron Masak

Onorato

Glenn Ford

Glenn Ford

Deputy Chief Walter Hayes

Christopher Connelly

Christopher Connelly

Bakalayan

Russell Johnson

Russell Johnson

Captain

Lana Wood

Lana Wood

Hari Rhodes

Hari Rhodes

Oscar

Richard Ward

Richard Ward

Leslie Parrish

Leslie Parrish

Harry Guardino

Harry Guardino

Alan Fudge

Alan Fudge

Lonny Chapman

Lonny Chapman

Elinor Donahue

Elinor Donahue

Michael McGuire

Michael McGuire

Investigator George Sandrich

Ask about Police Story: No Margin for Error

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Cultural

This aired during the peak of post-Watergate institutional distrust, when TV movies became America's guilty conscience.

Trivia

Russell Johnson (Captain here) was The Professor on Gilligan's Island — his pivot to authority figures in gritty dramas was a whole career vibe shift.

Reviews

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