spoiler alert . there appear to be irony in the title since the laugh policeman offer no laugh . the efficient director stuart rosenberg make an efficient crime thriller ( about a psychopath on the loose in san francisco and the cop who track him ) but unfortunately and it little more than that . it cold and sometimes slow and completely devoid of laugh and despite the presence of walter matthau and who manage to add at least some ( black ) comedy to even the bleak film ( fail safe and charlie varrick ) . nevertheless and matthau be still fine and bruce dern be excellent a his unexpected partner . there also a really fine performance bury in the film by cathy lee crosby ( a the distraught wife of matthau first partner ) . lou gossett jr. be a less than patient fellow cop and anthony zerbe be matthau crusty yet benign superior . a massacre on board a public bus be a real highlight . it quite frighten .