The Golden Gate Murders
Director: Walter
Grauman
Year:
1979
Rating: 6.0
For some odd reasons I keep coming across TV
movies starring David Janssen and watching them. Not that I am a fan really
but his low-key style of acting and rumpled persona is both annoying and
comforting. This was one of his last films before he died of a heart-attack
at 49 years old in the following year. He will always be remembered for The
Fugitive. I recall that the night before my family took the USS Independence
to Europe and then on to Afghanistan, we sat around the hotel TV and watched
the final episode of that show in 1967 when he captures the One-Armed killer
of his wife. So, perhaps for that reason I have fond feelings for him and
watch these TV movies. This one is ok though I wonder if Catholics were happy
with it.
He is a cop and is assigned to look into
a priest who fell off the Golden Gate Bridge. We know its murder by a person
who looks like the Phantom of the Opera but nearly everyone else thinks it
is suicide. Except the nun who looks after him. She keeps harassing the police
to look further into it because he would never do such a thing. His immortal
soul is at stake. The fact that she is played by the bewitching Susannah
York probably makes it an easier decision for him to help. So the cop and
the Sister start investigating together. It sounds like the making of a great
TV series. But it wasn't to be. There aren't many clues but they keep
digging and yes slowly falling in love. Yikes. She is a nun! Just leave it
alone. You will rot in hell I expect. But he takes her on the cable car and
eats crabs and gives that wry smile of his that he should have patented and
what chance does she have. Cute ending.
