Editing Serpico (section)

===Wide release reception===
[[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four, noting its treatment of corruption as its "principal strength and weakness", and adding that ''Serpico'' "loses the perspective" that "corruption ... begins and ends with individuals making active and passive decisions".{{sfn|Siskel, Gene|1974|p=1 (Section 2)}}

''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' celebrated the film's critique of police corruption, despite its "embellishments and omissions" on the story. Pacino's performance was called "riveting", and the piece praised the "sharply individualized characterizations" by [[Tony Roberts (actor)|Tony Roberts]], [[Jack Kehoe]], [[John Randolph (actor)|John Randolph]], [[Biff McGuire]], Barbara Eda-Young and Cornelia Sharpe.{{sfn|Collins, William B.|1974|p=8A}}

Meanwhile, also for ''Philadelphia Inquirer'', [[Investigative journalism|investigative journalist]] Greg Walter lamented its portrayal of police officers as "snarling, insipid ass(es)". Walter felt that Maas's book was "coldly objective", but that the director's work delivered characters that were "one-dimensional caricatures".{{sfn|Walter, Greg|1974|p=1-I}}

''[[The Boston Globe]]'' welcomed Lumet's "melodramatic efficiency". The publication considered the story "heavily repetitious", but favored its "quick pace". It regarded Ornitz's camerawork as "the right documentary look", while it lamented Theodorakis's score as "disruptive" and "out of character".{{sfn|Kelly, Kevin|1974|p=35}}

''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]'' further criticized Theodorakis, as the reviewer opined that his "composing voice ought to be silenced". Meanwhile, the piece praised Allen's work.{{sfn|Esquire staff|1974|p=70}}

[[File:Al Pacino in Serpico 1973.jpg|thumb|Pacino sporting a beard and undercover outfit in a scene]]
The ''[[Miami Herald]]'' hailed the use of "street talk" instead of the "language of actors and actresses" by Salt, Wexler and Maas. It praised Lumet and Ornitz's photography that "generate the smells, sounds and styles of the city". It considered Pacino's acting "predictably excellent", and it favored Theodorakis's music.{{sfn|Huddy, John|1974|p=7-D}}

The ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' suggested that ''Serpico'' would be a breakthrough role for Pacino as an actor, and called his work "fascinating". The newspaper defined the film as an "encouraging morality tale".{{sfn|DeVine, Lawrence|1974|p=5-C}}

Meanwhile, ''[[San Francisco Examiner]]'' observed Pacino's acting to be "a brilliant, solidly thought out performance". The publication added that the supporting cast's contributions "never satisfactorily fleshed out". Regarding Lumet, the reviewer felt that he directed the film with "skill and vigor".{{sfn|Eichelbaum, Stanley|1974|p=27}}

''[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]'' attributed the commercial success of the film to Pacino's acting, and to the film's depiction of "hard, cold, grit and grime reality".{{sfn|McElfresh, Tom|1974|p=42}}

For ''[[The Baltimore Sun|The Evening Sun]]'' reviewer, Lou Cedrone expressed his doubts about Durk's "gratis talk of defamation of the police image". Cedrone considered that Durk "comes off very nicely" on the film, and defended Lumet's choice to "emphasize the action rather than the definition". Meanwhile, it viewed the use of "Neapolitan" music as "foolish perhaps, but not touching". It declared Pacino's contribution "a magnificent performance".{{sfn|Cedrone, Lou|1974|p=B6}}

The ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'' found ''Serpico'' to be "meticulously crafted, intelligently written, unflinchingly honest". The publication noted the "fidelity" with which the director captured New York, and that the city "becomes more than just a background". It summed Pacino's acting as "naturalistic, flawlessly convincing".{{sfn|Anderson, George|1974|p=8}}

[[The Honolulu Advertiser|''The'' ''Honolulu Advertiser'']] attributed Pacino's "brilliant portrayal" to turn an "ordinary cop movie" into "extraordinary". The review favored Lumet, the writers and the supporting cast.{{sfn|Harada, Wayne|1974|p=E-4}}

The ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]'' highlighted realism in producing a "fascinating film".{{sfn|Bustin, John|1974|p=44}}

The ''[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]'' celebrated Pacino's "towering performance". Roberts's performance was noted as a "standout". Sharpe and Eda Young's appearances as Serpico's love interests were deemed to be "played with restrained excellence". The newspaper opined that the film was "15 minutes too long", but that viewers would not "realize the length until you're outside looking at your watch".{{sfn|Brooks, Elston|1974|p=10-A}}

The ''[[Kansas City Star]]'' detailed the criticism that the film received from police officers, and Serpico's discontent with the production. The piece noted that despite the fictional additions, ''Serpico'' was a "superrealistic dramatization". Meanwhile, Wexler and Salt were praised for the authentic use of profanity in the dialogues.{{sfn|Stack, Dennis|1974|p=1E}}

''[[The Times (Shreveport)|The Times]]'' in [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]], Louisiana, opened its review applauding Serpico's denunciation of police corruption, while it pointed out that the film "exceeds (the) expectations" of the viewers for it to be "powerfully dramatic". Lumet's "accurate eye for surroundings" was remarked, and the reviewer hailed Pacino and the supporting cast.{{sfn|Montgomery, Jim|1974|p=6B}}