Tödliche Umarmung

This is a routinely scripted made-for-tv drama, with rather predictable characters and situations.

There's nothing particularly fresh in understanding that it's tough being the wife of a mobster, even when she enters into a marriage not knowing all about her spouse.

That said, there's something compelling about this production, and it's the quality of the acting. Joe Penny, who kept busy during the 80s limning both good 'n' bad guy roles, shines in the lead. Penny, former member of an "elite acting student circle" of Lee Strasberg, knows something about his craft, and executes solid work.

Likewise grown up "Laura" from "Little House on the Prairie," Melissa Gilbert, projects growing discouragement as the sad wife, learning what she married into. Eileen Brennan is seen as senior spouse willing to "blow the whistle" and talk to authorities (Brennan's certainly come a long way from "Little Mary Sunshine"!).

And finally the familiar Tony Franciosa shows up in a law enforcement role, rounding out a dedicated cast. In the end, one may not learn much having watched this piece, but there's a lot to be appreciated in the intense no-nonsense performances by this strong group of New York acting pros.

This is not a bad movie at all. If you look at the Ratings on this site, though, you will see a big difference between men and women. Women (especially younger age groups) love it! Men hate it. It is a very involving love story that succeeds in capturing the emotions. Incredible as this may seem, it is a truly romantic story. The reasons it hasn't done better are:

• Some bad direction has the FBI's attempts to make contact with the heroines look really stupid and clumsy, to the degree that it almost blows your suspension of disbelief.

• Some of the money spent on this movie could have been much better spent. There is a helicopter sequence involving a shootout that was completely overblown and seemed to have ambitions to look like a movie about the Vietnam war. It portrayed gangsters going on what was in effect a suicide mission, and the real gangsters aren't into that. A more limited and under-stated gunfight sequence (more along the lines of THE GODFATHER; short, nasty and brutish) would have been cheaper and better.

• The end is rather excellent and courageous, but it shocks the audience in the way that it NEEDS to shock, without pandering to the demands to indulge the addiction of today's audience for sugary endings, and so the movie gets punished in the Ratings. Nonetheless, maybe the ending could have been handled a little better, to take the sting out of it.

There is plenty of room for a sequel showing what happens next, even though the original was filmed years ago.

Melissa Gilbert should have stayed on the "Prairie." I just watched this again after nearly 20 years, and to say it hasn't aged well is being generous. Maybe I'm more socially aware now, or maybe the Sopranos has raised the bar for portrayals of those involved in the Mafia, but this movie is dreadful. There are so many stereotypes it's hard to keep track. A low point comes when a detective gives Melissa's character his name, which is Italian, and she responds with shock, as though he should be involved in organized crime as well. He is required to educate her by saying "The name on a birth certificate doesn't determine your destiny." Collective groan...

The character of "Mama" is ridiculously stereotypical, with lines of dialog spoken in a cringe-worthy accent, like: "You'll eat lots of pasta and have many babies." Uh, okay...

I'm astounded how many people have given this film a 10. I gave it a 3 thanks to the numerous shirtless scenes with Joe Penny. LOL!

Sweet innocent small town gal Melissa Gilbert has met the man of her dreams Joe Penny. He's tall, dark, handsome, a successful attorney with his powerful wealthy Italian family's New York shipping business. What could possible be wrong with him? He's a successful attorney with his powerful wealthy Italian family's New York shipping business!!!

Once Gilbert realizes she's married into the family business it's too late and Uzi toting Cuban hit squads are literally being dropped off via helicopter on the front lawn! Thankfully her new in-laws stock piled enough M-16s to put Charlton Heston to shame in a shootout which makes Stalingrad pale in comparison.

'Blood Vows' certainly isn't 'The Godfather' or 'Goodfellas' but it over delivers what it promises and I really liked the ending.

The establishing shots of NYC are funny as they are desperately trying to conceal the obvious fact this was filmed in Canada not New York.

Melissa Gilbert's "Little House" stigma weighs her down a bit in the really romantic scenes, but otherwise she does well with the role of Marian Winslow. It is Joe Penny's outstanding performance that delivers the character of attorney Edward Moran as a complex, loving, and torn man who is forced to live two lives. And it is that performance that makes him a 'bad guy' it is impossible to hate. In fact, it is difficult, despite his background, to think of him as a 'bad guy' at all. Joe Penny's performance was also able to carry those few moments where Melissa Gilbert's character was not quite as convincing and create an effective scene.

The script is well done and delivers a twist that the viewers don't expect. The musical scores for the movie are excellent though at some times obnoxiously loud and overshadowing the movie itself. One of the pluses of the movie is it doesn't follow the traditional mafia storyline and takes a totally different approach. But for those who like action, there is a shoot 'em up later in the movie.

I rate this memorable movie with top honors.