P.I. PRIVATE INVESTIGATION
US, 1987, 91 minutes, Colour.
Martin Balsam, Anthony Zerbe, Ray Sharkey, Clayton Rohner, Talia Balsam.
Directed by Nigel Dick.
P.I. Private Investigation is an interesting and enjoyable police thriller. However, it plays like an episode from a television series. It has a good cast led by Clayton Rohner as the bewildered son. Anthony Zerbe is the editor of the paper, Martin Balsam his adviser. Ray Sharkey is the rogue policeman. Effective of its kind.
1.Interesting thriller? Plausible?
2.Los Angeles locations, special effects and stunts? The musical score?
3.The title, the investigation by papers, the police? The consequent dangers - for innocent bystanders?
4.The basic situation: the corrupt police, the drug-stealing and dealing? Ryan as the murderer? Wexler as the co-ordinator? The surveillance, spying? Murders? The deal with the newspapers and the expose? The build-up to the meeting?
5.Jerry, his work, going home, the dead man in his apartment, the pursuit by Ryan, the shooting of the car? The attempt in the house? His trying to escape, the help of the police? Meeting Jenny and the crash, her help? The message from his father? The dawn meeting, the rogue police and their murdering his father's assistant? The pursuit, the arrest for the stolen car? His friend and his help? Ryan's pursuit? The interpretation of the number, going to the meeting, the dangers, the fight, his helping his father? The return with Jenny?
6.Jenny, knocking Jerry down, helping him at the apartment - the irony of her being sinister in his nightmare? His return, her helping him with the code, going and helping at the meeting?
7.Sharkey, his brutality? Wexler and his co-ordination, the meeting, the snakebite and his death? The ugly police and their violence?
8.Bradley, the responsibility of his paper, the advice of his friend? The deal with Kim? The meeting, the shoot-out, the rescue?
9.The background of drug-dealings of the '80s? Corrupt police? Newspapers and their responsibilities? Innocent bystanders?
