Who was Frank Serpico and why did his story become a film?

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Sidney Lumet in a tuxedo holds his Honorary Academy Award and smiles backstage at the 77th Annual Academy Awards, with a gold Oscar statue in the background. — Sidney Lumet American director Sidney Lumet after receiving an Academy Award for lifetime achievement, 2005.

Frank Serpico was a real-life undercover police officer who served in the New York Police Department (NYPD). His story became the subject of the 1973 film Serpico, directed by Sidney Lumet, because of his courageous decision to expose widespread graft and corruption within the police force.1

By choosing to speak out against systemic misconduct, Serpico faced significant professional retaliation and his life was placed in grave danger. The film, which was adapted from a book by Peter Maas, serves as a powerful examination of police corruption and highlights the personal cost of maintaining ethical integrity in the face of institutional wrongdoing. The movie was a critical and commercial success, featuring a career-defining performance by Al Pacino in the title role.12