The great thing about TV movies in the 1970's and 1980's was the number of veteran stars kept busy and in the public eye, making many a legend far from faded. For Angie Dickinson, a glamorous star for over 20 years at this point, her beauty was far from faded, and if she wasn't dressed to kill, she was on the best chasing crooks or in TV movies like this creating interesting, vulnerable characterizations. With former co-star Robert Mitchum, she has a great leading man, playing, what else, a private detective searching for the missing wife of wealthy Mel Ferrer, a casino owner with criminal connections, and Mitchum finds a trail with the suspicion of suicide, but more likely murder.
A very funny, energetic performance by José Pérez as a police detective is the highlight of the film, stealing every scene he has with Mitchum. Of course, Mitchum is low key, almost emotionless, but that's part of his charm. Howard Hessman has a smaller part as a sleazy blackmailed, helping Mitchum on his own put two and two together. Dickinson shows great vulnerability as an aging beauty filled with regrets, every inch a lady even though her bedroom track record would indicate otherwise. It's the little details like this that makes these movies rise above predictability and become a lot classier than your typical dims store detective novel. Nice and subtle in many ways, and with little touches of noir, above average and intriguing.
A very funny, energetic performance by José Pérez as a police detective is the highlight of the film, stealing every scene he has with Mitchum. Of course, Mitchum is low key, almost emotionless, but that's part of his charm. Howard Hessman has a smaller part as a sleazy blackmailed, helping Mitchum on his own put two and two together. Dickinson shows great vulnerability as an aging beauty filled with regrets, every inch a lady even though her bedroom track record would indicate otherwise. It's the little details like this that makes these movies rise above predictability and become a lot classier than your typical dims store detective novel. Nice and subtle in many ways, and with little touches of noir, above average and intriguing.