Code of Silence

Code of Silence

Year: 1985

Runtime: 101 min

Language: English

Director: Andrew Davis

ActionDramaThrillerCrime

During the vibrant mod culture of 1960s London, Detective Nipper Read confronts escalating crime and a pervasive sense of corruption. Tasked with restoring order, he finds himself facing immense pressure and moral dilemmas as he investigates the notorious Kray twins. Navigating a dangerous web of intimidation, Read must decide how far he’s willing to go to achieve justice and break the code of silence surrounding the city's underworld.

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Timeline & Setting – Code of Silence (1985)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Code of Silence (1985). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Chicago, Illinois

Set in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, the film paints a gritty urban landscape of crowded streets, elevated trains, and back-alley crime. The city serves as a backdrop for tense stakeouts and the collision between police and criminals. Its nocturnal streets and dense neighborhoods amplify the thriller atmosphere and drive the pursuit.

🏙️ Urban crime hub 🗺️ Midwest city

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:33

Main Characters – Code of Silence (1985)

Meet the key characters of Code of Silence (1985), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Eddie Cusack (Chuck Norris)

A by-the-book sergeant with relentless determination, Cusack refuses to let corruption go unchecked. He fights through departmental politics to protect Diana and to bring the criminals to justice, even as he earns the ire of his peers. His perseverance earns him back the respect of his team after a risky, rogue move to confront the Comachos.

👮‍♂️ Cop 🛡️ Protector 🌆 Chicago

Tony Luna (Henry Silva)

A ruthless mob boss orchestrating the cocaine operation, Luna uses disguise and violence to control his empire and protect his family. He provokes escalation when his interests are threatened and reels only at the thought of losing his daughter Diana. His downfall comes as Cusack closes in with relentless determination.

🕴️ Criminal 🌆 Chicago 🔪 Violence

Luis Comacho

A Colombian cocaine trafficker who leads the operation in Chicago, he operates with brutal pragmatism and a constant threat over Diana's safety. He becomes a target of Cusack's pursuit and meets his end in the climactic confrontation.

🕴️ Criminal 🌆 Chicago 🔪 Violence

Diana Luna (Molly Hagan)

The artist daughter of Tony Luna, Diana becomes a central kidnapping target that triggers Cusack’s mission. She embodies vulnerability in a dangerous world, yet shows resilience as the chase unfolds.

🎨 Artist 🎯 Target 🌆 Chicago

Lou Gamiani

An associate of Luna who briefly protects Diana but is caught in the crossfire of the family’s conflict. His involvement underscores the reach of Luna's territory and the price paid for loyalty.

🤝 Ally 🧭 Underworld 🌆 Chicago

Cragie

An aging officer whose misconduct triggers the central conflict. His self-serving gun-planting and the subsequent hearing push Cusack to challenge the code of silence.

⚖️ Corruption 🗣️ Cover-up 🌆 Chicago

Kopalas

Cragie’s rookie partner who witnesses the gun-planting but initially refuses to testify. His eventual decision to speak up becomes a catalyst for exposing misconduct and rebalancing loyalties.

👮‍♂️ Integrity 🗽 Courage 🌆 Chicago

Ted Pirelli

A retired cop who shelters Diana after the kidnapping. His partnership with Cusack frames a more humane, personal dimension of policing.

🧓 Veteran 🏠 Safehouse 🌆 Chicago

Dorato (Lou Dorato)

An older officer who quietly allies with Cusack, tipping him to Luna’s location. His actions reveal a more complex network of loyalties within the force.

🤝 Ally 🗺️ Loyalty 🌆 Chicago

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:33

Major Themes – Code of Silence (1985)

Explore the central themes of Code of Silence (1985), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️‍♂️ Silence

The central theme is a code of silence that binds the police world. The story shows how fear of retaliation and loyalty to colleagues can prevent truth-telling or accountability. This tension drives key confrontations, from Cragie's misconduct to Kopalas' dilemma about testifying. When characters break the silence, the facade of solidarity starts to crumble, revealing corruption beneath.

⚖️ Corruption

Corruption threads through the narrative, from an aging officer's reckless cover-up to the broader systemic cover-ups within the force. The hearing scene and subsequent investigations highlight how power and fear shield wrongdoers. Cusack's courage to act outside procedure forces a reckoning with the rot at the core of the system. The film suggests that justice depends on exposing and confronting corruption, even at great personal cost.

🚓 Justice

Driven by a stubborn sense of duty, Eddie Cusack pursues justice for Diana and the victims of the trafficking ring. He risks career-ending consequences and personal danger to outmaneuver the criminals. The final confrontation combines grit, resourcefulness, and a willingness to defy orders to protect the innocent. The ending reaffirms community safety and the possibility of accountability within a fractured police force.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:33

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Code of Silence Summary

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Code of Silence Summary

Code of Silence Timeline

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Code of Silence Timeline

More About Code of Silence

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