Murder on the Yellow Brick Road

Murder on the Yellow Brick Road is a sharp, sexy, visually-stunning throw-back to "Old Hollywood." I was immediately seduced by this crime story of the heart. The acting truly makes the film. KEN BUTLER's intense portrayal of Joe Patterson definitely stood out. With eyes that stare right through you, this no-nonsense detective takes full command of the screen.

I was particularly impressed by the relationship between his character and Elwood Dick, played by the rugged & lovable ROSS HAGEN. This twosome embodies the ultimate in male camaraderie & tough love. It was a pleasure watching the talented actors play off one another so effortlessly and with such realism. HAGEN's gravelly narration takes us back to another time - a time worth revisiting. A final performance well worth highlighting is that of CHARLENE FERNETZ as Rachel Dowd. She brought a beauty and a charisma to the film not otherwise present. Clearly an talent trained in naturalism, she was a joy to watch.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road - you won't be sorry...

One of the great pleasures in life is to spend a lazy afternoon with a good mystery book in hands and a bowl of peanuts in front of you. Spending a couple of hours with "Murder on the yellow brick road" and a bowl of popcorn was in the same league. The movie is made in a best tradition of "Hollywood of my youth" and, importantly, not only for old-timers like me but also for anybody who loves good old fashioned murder mystery. The story is good, straightforward, and easy to follow. Ross Hagen and Ken Butler in leading roles, as well as supporting cast give great and memorable performances. The absence of violence, nudity, and foul language is certainly refreshing and makes the movie even more pleasurable. The music is great. If you ask me – go for it!!!!!

This film was both a treat and a surprise. It brought me back to those great "who done it's" based on real suspense, solid performances, artistic cinematography and a straightforward plot. The film was not filled with what we see every day - blood and violence, an overload of special effects, extreme sexual content and bad acting. The performances were strong; one that especially stood out for me was that of Joe Patterson, played by Ken Butler. He was terrific and really added to the film. After seeing this film, I would definitely make it a priority to see Ken Butler in his future efforts. Another aspect that really stood out for me was the score. The music was wonderful, never overpowering or distracting, but really complimenting the film. I would recommend this film to everyone of all ages. It's not very often that someone can take their kids along to see a smart, well-acted and beautifully filmed movie.

Murder On The Yellow Brick Road is an old fashioned murder mystery. With the fun narrative of.."It was a hot steamy night...", that I have always liked. It's a fairly simple story, that doesn't seem to need the violence, and foul language that has been the center of most films lately. The one scene that stays in my mind, is the one with the Detective, played by Ken Butler, discussing with the Private Eye the love that a person can feel for people they are close to, long after they're gone. And, that seems to be the feeling in the story...an older man feeling love for a much younger woman..but more the love of a Father caring, rather than romance. And, LOVED the song at the end of the movie, "Boulevard Of Dreams".

MURDER ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is a fun to watch film that took me back to the back and white era of film-making. I was extremely impressed by both the story and character lines. It really tugged at my heart. The acting makes the film, led by Ken Butler's sensational portrayal of Detective Joe Patterson and Ross Hagen's superb portrayal of the P.I., Elwood Dick. Their friendship was so natural and down to earth, that it didn't seem like they were acting at all. The performance of Pilar Lastra as Gabrielle Mendez is also worth mentioning. She seems to be a relative newcomer, but her presence is undeniable. The same can be said for Charlene Fernetz as Rachel Dowd. She represents today's modern woman with dignity and style. I also loved the music, especially the theme song, Boulevard Of Dreams. Leslie Gillman's voice is haunting and soulful, fully realizing the music written by John Corlis and the lyrics written by Eric Belgau, who also wrote the screenplay. If you are a fan of murder mysteries, don't miss this one. It is definitely the best Yellow Brick Road to follow since the one to Oz.