This is an absolute gem of a movie. David Janssen is charismatic and sympathetic in his role as a police sergeant desperately trying to clear himself of a manslaughter charge stemming from when he shoots a doctor in self defense. The doctor was making a house call at midnight at an upscale apartment building. Ed Begley as his superior and Keenan Wynn as his partner are both fine. But this is David Janssen's movie. He's not getting much help in solving this case. No one really believes his story so he has to investigate it all and figure it all out on his own. He interviews all these people - the little old lady in the apartment building, the playboy pilot living next door, the doctor's assistant, the doctor's widow, the doctor's stockbroker, and others - and we go along for the ride, including a plot twist or two.
The female supporting cast members seem to get only one or two scenes with him.
Lillian Gish plays the forgetful, eccentric old woman whom the doctor was seeing at the apartment. She's very good in a stereotypical role.
Stefanie Powers is the assistant/nurse who worked for the doctor. She has an easy, light touch; similar to David Janssen, she doesn't look like she's acting. She's very believable. I wish her character's part had been bigger.
Joan Collins plays David Janssen's soon-to-be ex-wife. Never one of my favorite actresses, she appears here like everywhere else I've ever seen her. She does a lot of posing and looks pretty but can't deliver a line.
Eleanor Parker, meanwhile, is something else. As the boozy widow of the dead doctor, her scene was a lot of fun to watch. That scene together with the one right after, when someone gets dumped into the pool, is worth the price of admission.
This is one of David Janssen's better roles. I highly recommend it.
The female supporting cast members seem to get only one or two scenes with him.
Lillian Gish plays the forgetful, eccentric old woman whom the doctor was seeing at the apartment. She's very good in a stereotypical role.
Stefanie Powers is the assistant/nurse who worked for the doctor. She has an easy, light touch; similar to David Janssen, she doesn't look like she's acting. She's very believable. I wish her character's part had been bigger.
Joan Collins plays David Janssen's soon-to-be ex-wife. Never one of my favorite actresses, she appears here like everywhere else I've ever seen her. She does a lot of posing and looks pretty but can't deliver a line.
Eleanor Parker, meanwhile, is something else. As the boozy widow of the dead doctor, her scene was a lot of fun to watch. That scene together with the one right after, when someone gets dumped into the pool, is worth the price of admission.
This is one of David Janssen's better roles. I highly recommend it.