MURDOCH'S GANG

US, 1973, 74 minutes, Colour.
Alex Dreier, Janet Leight, Murray Hamilton, William Daniels.
Directed by Charles S. Dubin.

A pleasant robbery murder mystery. It gives all the evidence of being the pilot for a television series. The star, Alex Dreier, a former newsreader, imitates Raymond Burr and his Perry Mason style. Janet Leigh and Murray Hamilton have quite good central roles. William Daniels is suave as the manservant, inevitable villain. The film is set amongst the wealthy of Los Angeles. It is TV fantasy material, entertainingly done.

1. The popularity of this kind of material for films, television?

2. The conventions of the genre; investigation, mystery, money, violence and murder? Romance? The status of this film and its quality?

3. Colour photography of California? Special effects? The score?

4. The plot for this kind of investigation mystery, the establishing of the detective and his assistants? The mystery situation? The violence, clues? The various characters and suspicions? The double dealing, lies? The tricks to unmask the villains? Audience participation, satisfaction at the solution?

5. Murdoch and his style? the opening and his coming out of prison, his know-how with the prisoners, with authorities, with the television, media? His alibi not being useful? His investigations for Talbot? His treatment of Talbot? Answering phones, doing messages? His henchmen, especially Denver? The humour of the opening sequence with the information about his gang having served prison sentences? The irony of his persuading them to go straight and live profitable lives? The former engagement with Laura? The encounter with Ryker and his safe being robbed? The relationship with Talbot and the hostility? Glenn and the sailing ship? The confrontation with the doctor? The following of intuitions? The unmasking of Bates? An interesting character, idiosyncrasies, flamboyant style?

6. The gang: their backgrounds, their appearance, Denver and his height and mannerisms of speaking, his skills at investigation? The lawyer and his working for Murdoch? The various other members? especially the meetings, robbing the safe, kidnapping Talbot?

7. Laura as enigmatic heroine? The relationship with Murdoch, her precarious marriage to Talbot, the affair with Glenn, the searching of the rooms? The truth about her affair? her decision? The quality of her decision to remain with Talbot? Her not telling Glenn about the money?

8. Talbot, the Californian millionaire, wealthy, eccentric, commanding? The investigation? Suspicions of Laura? The truth about his health? His being kidnapped? The reunion with Laura?


9. Bates as villain? the suave manservant, control? George and his murdering of the man in the hospital? The other members of Bates's group? The confrontation and Bates being caught?

10. Themes of law and order, the administration of justice? Greed? Wealth, health, happiness? Typical television material and themes?