This is a gritty, no nonsense private eye film that was the pilot film for the short-lived series of the same name. Darren McGavin is a private eye who is hired by film executive, Edmond O'Brien. O'Brien wants McGavin to keep tabs on one of his employees. O'Brien tells McGavin the woman might be dipping into the company funds. "An easy job that should only take a couple of days", says O'Brien.
The case is of course anything but easy. The woman is hanging around with some most unsavoury types whose main income seems to be from blackmail. McGavin ends up in the hot seat as the bodies begin to pile up. First the woman he is watching gets the deep six, then O'Brien gets a couple of slugs in the head.
McGavin ends up on the wrong end of several beatings, a gun battle and even gets pushed off a cliff in his car. A bad day at the office or what! This comes across as a harder edged version of the same producer, Roy Huggins' later series, The Rockford Files. Directed by Michael Ricthie who gave us that great Lee Marvin film PRIME CUT. A very enjoyable nights entertainment.
Cast includes, Nancy Malone, Ann Sothren, Joseph Wiseman and Audrey Totter.
Responses