The Choirboys

The Choirboys is a 1977 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Aldrich, written by Christopher Knopf and Joseph Wambaugh based on Wambaugh's 1975 novel of the same name. It features an ensemble cast including Charles Durning, Louis Gossett Jr., Randy Quaid, and James Woods. The film was released to theaters by Universal Pictures on December 23, 1977. Plot Los Angeles police officers experiencing various pressures at work unwind at night with drunken get-togethers (a.k.a. "choir practice") at MacArthur Park, where their pranks often go too far: among those there are a retiring cop, a small number of young cops, a bigoted one and a Vietnam vet with panic disorder. Cast Charles Durning as Spermwhale Whalen Louis Gossett Jr. as Calvin Motts Perry King as Baxter Slate Clyde Kusatsu as Francis Tanaguchi Stephen Macht as Spencer Van Moot Tim McIntire as Roscoe Rules Randy Quaid as Dean Proust Chuck Sacci as 'Father' Sartino Don Stroud as Sam Lyles James Woods as Harold Bloomguard Burt Young as Sgt. Scuzzi Robert Webber as Deputy Chief Riggs Jim Davis as Capt. Drobeck George DiCenzo as Lt. Grimsley Vic Tayback as Zoony Phyllis Davis as Foxy Susan Batson as Sabrina Cheryl Smith as Tammy Barbara Rhoades as No Balls Hadley Charles Haid as Sgt. Nick Yanov Jeannie Bell as Jean Production Lorimar purchased the screen rights to the novel in October 1975, before it was published. The price was a reported $700,000. It was Wambaugh's fourth book, third novel and first comedy. The Los Angeles Times called it "brilliant". The book became a best seller.