American Cinematographer - January 1987 - 88

married

New York Harbor is

background for
scene from Cagney
& Lacey with Gless
and Daly working on
an investigation. The
100th episode of this

to a

construction foreman strug¬

gling to make it

They have
they have
moved from an apartment in the city to
a house in the suburbs. Lacey shares
common problems with many working

two

on

his

children, and this

own.

season

mothers.

once-cancelled
series will be

Cagney is the daughter of a
single, and has
marriage, but not

photographed this

retired cop. She is
chosen a career over

month.

without occasional bouts with doubt.
She lives in a loft apartment with a

comparative up-look, though

a battery of
locks reminds viewers that New York
has a dark side. As for appearances,

Lacy has brown hair and her skin tones
darker than Cagney's, who is a
blonde with a fair complexion.
A unique production situation
exists. The pilot movie for the program
was originally planned for production at
practical locations in New York City.
However, the projected budget came in
considerably higher than the network
licensing fee. Costs could be trimmed
by combining a week of practical loca¬

are

tions in New York with interiors

on

Hollywood stages, but not enough.
So the television wing of
Orion Productions shot the movie in
Toronto where there are government in¬
centives and the strong American dollar
stretched further. An abandoned and

gutted brick building became the nowfamiliar 14th precinct and also a mini¬
Photos

by Wyn Hammer

When the TV movie led to an
order for six episodes, Orion found an
abandoned warehouse in the low-rent
district of downtown Los Angeles, coin-

Cagney & Lacey,
The New York
Look in LA

cidently

on Lacy Street. The warehouse
converted to a makeshift studio
where the company built sets for the
was

squad room, Lacey's apartment, a jail
cell, Cagney's loft, the precinct lieuten¬
ant's office, and a swing set which can

by Bob Fisher
Unless you have been in hibernation for
the past four years, you already know
that Cagney and Lacey is a cops and
robbers show set in New York. A tal¬
ented ensemble cast, solid writing and

strong production values keeps this
weekly drama on top. For the most part,
the look of the show is straight from the
streets and tenements of the city. After

friendship between its main characters,
Mary Beth Lacey, played by Tyne Daly,
and Christine Cagney, characterized by
Sharon Gless. They are macho cops
who get the job done without surrender¬
ing their femininity. Lacey could chal¬
lenge Olivia Walton as TV mother of the
decade. And to say that Cagney exudes
sex

bers do most of their business.

Aaron hit

gray

86

show draws much warmth from the

all, that's where the real cops and rob¬

appeal is like mentioning that Hank
some

While the New York look is

There

and dingy, the feel and tone of the

personality and

American

Cinematographer

January 1987

home
are

appearance.

be dressed for each week's story.
The
entire
com¬
pany

-

writers, makeup, painters,

in both

Lacey is

car¬

penters, editors - is located at Lacy
Street. This togetherness away from the
environment of a larger studio has gen¬
erated an atmosphere that must be a lot
like the old Hollywood.

Lacy Street is also
nient

to

conve¬

downtown exteriors and build¬

ings frequently used for practical
locations. That's

runs.

contrasts

studio.

tion since

not a

small considera¬

typical episodes are com¬
posites of four days of interiors and
American Cinematographer - January 1987

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