Police Sergeant Tom Valens kills a man who pulls a gun on him during a stakeout. But the dead suspect is a respected doctor with no criminal record and the man’s gun cannot be found, and the Sergeant is charged with manslaughter. The Sergeant works to clear his name and determine where the gun went and why the doctor was there at all.
Director: Buzz Kulik.
Writers: Whit Masterson (novel), Mann Rubin.
Stars: David Janssen, Ed Begley, Keenan Wynn, Sam Wanamaker, Lillian Gish, Stefanie Powers, Eleanor Parker, George Grizzard, George Sanders, Steve Allen, Carroll O’Connor, Joan Collins, Walter Pidgeon, Vito Scotti, David Garfield, Robert Williams, Jerry Dunphy, Romo Vincent.
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From back in the day when cops were cool. But a good movie, starts with a blasting jazz score over the opening credits, then just gets cooler and weirder. The community at the apartment complex (cool mid-century L.A. version) is the supporting cast and what a wild and wooly late 60’s assemblage they are, especially the weird and wonderful “body beautiful” George Grizzard. Throughout, the buttermilk swilling screw Janssen remains steadfast in his innocence. You know how this ends. Steve Allen, by the way, has a very amusing cameo as a Fox News-esque cynical pundit who admits he is going after viewers, not the truth. Kulik’s masterpiece and must-see. Thanks, Jon!