MURDER IN SPACE

Canada, 1985, 90 minutes, Colour.
Wilford Brimley, Michael Ironside, Martin Balsam, Wendy Crewson, Jan Rubes, Arthur Hill.
Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern.

Murder in Space is a whodunit telemovie. However, on its first television release, it was the focus of a gimmick - being shown throughout the world simultaneously, competitions in most countries for audiences to send in their solution to the mystery, panels of experts to discuss the clues and situations after the screening of the film. After some time, crew and cast were assembled to film the final revelation sequences.

The film was directed by Steven Hilliard Stern, director of a great number of films and, especially, telemovies. It is competently - if routinely - made. A spaceship with both Russians and Americans and an international crew is the setting for the mystery. There are some nods in the direction of American-Russian? tensions, international collaboration in space exploration. Various points are made about the various nationalities and the clash between Americans and Russians. However, there are nine people aboard the spaceship and three of them are murdered.

Characterisations are basic - mainly the opportunity for concocting motives and indicating clues. There is the loyal Russian hero who dies when ordered to thwart American plans for the return of the spaceship. There is the promiscuous Russian scientist who has had an affair with the captain and is having an affair with someone on board. She was pregnant at the time of her murder. There is the American scientist with a wife back home (seen on television link-up) who is having a homosexual relationship with the German crew member - also murdered. There is an almost blind but sympathetic French doctor, an Italian scientist who may have stolen material from the Russian. There is an English woman aboard as well as a Canadian man. Michael Ironside is Captain Neal Braddock who has to take control and bring the group back to Earth.

The group on land is far more interesting - Wilford Brimley very good as the American control of the mission and Martin Balsam as his Russian counterpart. Arthur Hill is the American vice-president.

The film works on the basic level of murders, clues, mixed motivation - and audience curiosity.