On a foggy night, LAPD Sgt. Tom Valens (David Janssen) is on a stakeout for a prowler-killer when he confronts a mystery man. The man runs for it and pulls something. Valens sees a gun and shots the man dead. The man turns out to be respected Dr. James Ruston and no gun is found. Capt. Roy Klodin (Ed Begley) questions his fitness after a previous incident. He gets suspended after an inquiry and charged with manslaughter by an eager D. A. He investigates to clear his name. Joanie Valens (Joan Collins) is his estranged wife.
This is ripped from the headlines and the headlines haven't changed much in over fifty years. The black protestor may as well be saying that in a BLM protest. The interesting aspect is that everything is slanted off towards Valens. He's the underdog and the victim. He doesn't have a lawyer. He has limited support from the thin blue line. He still goes to the standard police operating procedure by dirtying up the dead man. This movie touches on many present-day issues and it's interesting to hear so many echoes of today reverberating from a movie from so long ago. The story itself has a functional mystery. It's a bit slow in the middle and it insists on doing weird slow motion with its action. This is a compelling movie nevertheless.
This is ripped from the headlines and the headlines haven't changed much in over fifty years. The black protestor may as well be saying that in a BLM protest. The interesting aspect is that everything is slanted off towards Valens. He's the underdog and the victim. He doesn't have a lawyer. He has limited support from the thin blue line. He still goes to the standard police operating procedure by dirtying up the dead man. This movie touches on many present-day issues and it's interesting to hear so many echoes of today reverberating from a movie from so long ago. The story itself has a functional mystery. It's a bit slow in the middle and it insists on doing weird slow motion with its action. This is a compelling movie nevertheless.