MISSING PIECES
US, 1983, 96 minutes, Colour.
Elizabeth Montgomery, David Haskell, Ron Karabatsos.
Directed by Mike Hodges.
Missing Pieces is a private eye thriller with a difference. The private eye is a woman played effectively by Elizabeth Montgomery. She takes on a job after the brutal killing of her husband. Eventually the pieces fit together - and the audience is surprised with her disillusionment and the criminal involvement of her journalist husband and the reasons for his death.
The screenplay is rather arty - in the sense that the heroine's nightmares keep recurring throughout the film visually and are part of the character development. There are inserted glimpses of her memories of her husband's murder and stylised dream sequences. The screenplay was written by Mike Hodges who made the tough thrillers Get Carter and Pulp in the early '70s. He also directed such films as The Terminal Man and Flash Gordon.
There is constant voice-over by the heroine, a focus on corrupt politics in California, drug-running and cover-ups. An interesting contemporary private eye telemovie.
1. Interesting and enjoyable thriller? Private eye genre? The female private eye? The background of California, journalism, drugs, political corruption?
2. The Californian locations? Authentic atmosphere? The insertion of the memories and the nightmare sequences? The importance of editing and pace? The use of the voice-over?
3. The title and its focus on Sarah's investigation, puzzle, her being hired to find a missing husband and the irony of her own husband's involvement in the crime syndicate?
4. The opening with Andrew's death? Its effect on Sarah? Her relationship with her husband? Her relationship with her daughter - the balancing of the investigation with the home scenes, Valerie and her coping, her relationship with her mother? Supporting her? Sarah at work? Her partnership with Papazian? Mrs Richmond and the investigation, Sarah's skills in trailing Dr Richmond, her discoveries, the drug centre, the senator, the ex-actress? The airport sequence and the death of Dr. Richmond? The second murder? The victim's wife and her rejection of Sarah and Sarah's emotional upset? The encounter with Martinez - and discovering his link with the ex-actress? Following the trail? Eventually going to Sacramento? The discovery of the corrupt senator and the killer? The truth about her husband? Papazian coming to the rescue? The shattering of her idealism and her memories? Her recovery and going back to work? Elizabeth Montgomery's credibility in this role?
5. The background of private eye investigations? Sarah’s voiceover? The repartee and ironic comments?
6. Sarah’s memories, dreams, revelation of herself and of what happened? The surreal elements of the visual style – drawing attention to themselves?
7. Sarah tracking down her boss – the sleazy atmosphere and her discovery?
8. Her work in tailing the doctor, his different destinations, his contacts, drugs, money, his being knocked down, the flight attendant and the bag, her death?
9. Sam and his relationship with Sarah? The senator’s home and bugging it? Drug rehabilitation?
10. Sarah going undercover, the clinic, the dangers, escape, help and resolution?
11. The arty style blended with the conventions of the private eye investigation?
