Tomorrow never comes

After many years of service, Police Officer Wilson ( Oliver Reed ) returns to his homeland: “To the small town where I was born. There, people respect each other and the law. Not like in this cesspool, where crimes, violence, murders are considered the norm. ” These words are illustrated by the course of action: in the morning, another murder is noted. A few years ago, Wilson's wife was the victim of an unknown criminal.

Wilson is an honored employee. In the city he is respected, solemn farewells are arranged. However, in his relationship with colleagues, tension and estrangement are felt. This is especially true of a direct subordinate of Willy ( Paul Cosloe ), whose views on life are the opposite of Wilson's humanism: “But I do not believe a single scum on the street. Once upon a time I was like you. Until my friend from the Salvation Army stepped on a mine. And then I decided: and you all went ... I will show you more. ”

Young manager Frank ( Stephen McHattie ) returns from a business trip to the city. Returning, he learns that his girlfriend Jenny ( Susan George ) cheated on him. Frank goes to the creepy establishment to his friend Bartender Ray ( Richard Donat ). A cheeky girl from a company of criminally-hooligan youth scoffs at him. A fight ensues, Frank is brutally beaten, they break his head. Ray hesitates to help (a knife of one of the visitor bandits was put to his throat), but he takes the battered Frank into the room and goes after the doctor. Left alone, Frank leaves in search of Jenny. He finds her in a luxury hotel cottage.

A hotel clerk, paying attention to Frank's strange behavior, calls the police. In the midst of Frank's explanation with Jenny, a patrolman enters the cottage. Frank rushes at him and pulls out a revolver. A patrolman is injured by a random shot. He gets to the car and reports what is happening. A police outfit arrives at the hotel. Outfit is commanded by Willie, who loves power and violence.

Frank, striking all his acquaintances (he is known as a reasonable, calm and balanced person), demands to bring a lover, threatening to kill Jenny. Willie begins preparations for the storming of the cottage. However, what is happening becomes known to Wilson, who has been on duty for the last day. He arrives at the hotel and - to Willy's great displeasure - takes the lead.

Willie orders a shot at Frank who appears. “He injured a policeman! And he appeared in the window! What else is needed ?! ”For Wilson, the main thing is to avoid bloodshed. He is especially concerned about the fate of the hostage Jenny, which Frank can instantly shoot. There is a kind of duel between Wilson and Frank - the policeman convinces the offender to surrender, looking for ways to force him to this at least in a fraudulent way. But the conflict is reinforced by the fact that morally Wilson is wholly on Frank's side.

Frank requires Jenny to name her lover. Jenny refuses. Frank's behavior is inadequate and aggressive, even taking into account the circumstances. Having learned from the bartender about the fight and beating, Wilson consults with the neurosurgeon Todd ( Donald Pleasant ). The one with professional cynicism makes the diagnosis: complete inadequacy and unpredictability: "Two minutes, two hours, two days."

Frank's mood changes dramatically from aggression to depression. He's ready to make peace with Jenny. But at the time of reconciliation, he accidentally sees the monogram RLL on a towel - and thus finds out the name of his enemy: “Robert L. Lin ... Have you messed up with Robert Lin ?! A dirty whore! ”Robert Lin is the richest man in the city, a major financier, an influential businessman. The motives for Jenny's betrayal are becoming quite obvious.

Frank demands to deliver Lina for a one-on-one male conversation. The case is taking a new turn. A crowd gathers around the hotel, frankly sympathizing with Frank. Television is broadcast live. Willie reports this to the Chief of City Police Burke ( Raymond Burr ). He informs Lina and leaves for the hotel.

Burke is a gloomy person with oddities (in the summer heat he does not take off his black coat, scarf and hat, does not part with children's clockwork toys). He pays tribute to the merits and merits of Wilson. But the chief considers the task of the police to be a quick solution to the problem - Lin is negotiating a large loan. The scandal is unacceptable: "We are causing financial damage to the city." Wilson understands the situation on the other hand: "Robert Lin wants these two to shut up forever." An honest policeman does not intend to help the presumptuous rich man hide his "immorality". Especially at the cost of two lives already broken by Lin.

An attempt is made to neutralize Frank through beer with an euthanasia. For this, the police plan to use a child - a boy, Joy. This does not allow Ray, then the beer is Wilson. Frank solves the maneuver and takes a few shots. The situation is heating up, there is a fight between Willy and Ray. Ray, like most of those present, is outraged by Lin's meanness and police brutality (the latter is manifested primarily in Willie's actions). Frank demands to bring Lina faster by putting a revolver at Jenny's temple.

Burke calls in the hotel experienced sniper Milton ( Cecil Linder ). He also persuades Lina to arrive. The plan is that Lean’s presence lures Frank out of the cottage under Milton’s shot. Wilson is entrusted with preparing a sniper position. He fulfills the order, but in a conversation with Milton makes it clear - you should not shoot to death.

Lin arrives, settles in the distance and calls Frank. Milton takes aim at the cottage porch. But when Frank is already on the doorstep, anticipating Jenny doesn't let him go out. Milton and Wilson are delighted.

The day ends, twilight thickens. The last option remains. Burke and Wilson convince Lina to go to the cottage. Wilson tells Lina everything he thinks about him and goes ahead. Lin behind him. Frank jumps out of the cottage (followed by Jenny). Lin falls to the ground. Wilson convinces Frank: “Look at him. Is he worth it? And that patrol guy is recovering. Give me the weapon, Frank. ” Jenny begs for the same thing.

Frank slowly picks up the revolver, holding it out towards Wilson. The police are holding him in sight. Glancing at Willie, Chief Burke nods slightly. Bursting Willie commands: “Fire!” Frank is killed.

Willie checks the revolver drum. Empty cartridges fall out. Willie is stunned and even tries to make excuses. Wilson looks at him hatefully, turns around and leaves. He walks past his former colleagues, past Burke, past Ray standing with his head bowed.

• Oliver Reid - Wilson, City Police Officer
• Stephen McHattie - Frank, cheated fiancé
• Susan George - Jenny Cheating on the Bride
• Paul Cosloe - Willy, Police Officer, Wilson's Subordinate
• John Ireland - Police Officer, Wilson's Companion (unnamed name)
• Raymond Burr - Burke, Chief of City Police
• John Osbourne - Robert Lin, financier, seducer Jenny
• Richard Donat - Ray, Bartender, Frank's Friend
• Donald Pleasant - Dr. Todd, Doctor
• Cecil Linder - Milton, Sniper
• Jefferson Mappin , Mario Di Lorio , Julian Melzac - Bullies in the Bar
• Jane Eastwood - The Maid At The Bar
• Sammy Snyders - Boy Joy, Buddy Frank

It is not entirely clear - especially to a foreign audience - in which country the action takes place. An English-language thoroughly criminalized city with signs of imperious corruption is shown. The production of the film and the cast of “Canadian heavyweights” ^[1] most likely point to Canada . However, stereotypes of character behavior create associations with the United States . The police uniform could clarify, but it is not shown in detail (although obviously not British).

“Police melodrama” raises a number of social and socio-psychological problems ^[2] . Eternal problems of fidelity, friendship, love, betrayal are given in a clear social context. The personal drama of Frank and Jenny is passed through a criminal revelry, the arrogant soullessness of the financial aristocracy, the arbitrariness of power structures. Some phrases of key characters - Wilson, Frank, Willy, Burke, Todd - turn into winged expressions . The Anglo-Saxon material again shows the “ Zheglov - Sharapov conflict” universal for law enforcement agencies of the world.

The film gained fame after a demonstration at the XI Moscow International Film Festival in 1979 ^[3] . This show played an important role in promoting the picture. In the first half of the 1980s, the film was shown in the USSR and made a strong impression on the audience ^[4] .