MURDER IN BLACK AND WHITE

US, 1990, 100 minutes, Colour.
Richard Crenna, Cliff Gorman, Diahann Carroll, Fred Gwynne, Philip Bosco, Keith David.
Directed by Robert Iscove.

Murder in Black and White is a routine, entertaining murder mystery with a New York city setting. Richard Crenna is a New York police investigator. The chief of police is murdered. It seems to be a racial issue since the officer was black. However, the investigations lead to a range of interesting characters and suspects while eventually looking into the police force itself. The supporting cast includes Cliff Gorman, Diahann Carroll, Fred Gwynn, Philip Bosco and an interesting cast.

1.Entertaining murder mystery? Victim, circumstances? Clues? Suspects?

2.New York City settings, Central Park, homes, police precincts, clubs and restaurants, hospitals? The musical score?

3.The title, the force wanting the mystery solved quickly? Racial implications?

4.Frank, his investigations, his team? As a person, background? His relationship with Stover's wife? His stances, investigations? The attack on him? The clues, the shoes? The confrontation with Brannigan? The solution of the crime? The efficient police officer?

5.The members of his staff: Aaron and his investigations, the ballet dancer, his misjudging her? Jean and her work in the office, visits, inquiries? John and his friendship and support? The efficiencies of the inquiries?

6.The victim, his background, his work in the police, marriages, anger with his son and his going to Canada as a draft dodger and the melodrama of his return? His ex-wife? Suspicions, the antagonism in the force? The response of black criticism? His relationship with Nadine and her giving clues? The investigation, looking for the documents in the files? The encounter with Brannigan - and his murdering him?

7.Brannigan, the history of police brutality, cover ups? His luring Charlie to the restaurant? Killing him? The mistake with the shoes? Killing the doctor and the nurse?

8.The vignettes of characters with interviews, suspicions? Bruno and Emma and their relationship and the body in the garden? The ballet dancer and her career? Nadine and her relationship with Charlie? The dead doctor, his deceiving his wife, the nurse and their deaths? His wife and her comments? The old man neighbour and his giving of information?

9.The intricacies of the plot, the development of the investigation, the emerging of the clues and issues? Satisfactory resolution?

10.Themes of the New York police, violence, corruption and cover ups? Race relationships? Integrity?