Le meurtre du funiculaire

I've been looking for this movie since I first saw it in 1971. I really wish this were released on DVD (along with The Marcus/Nelson Murders") There was a lot of sloppy TV on in the early 70's but this is easily one of the best TV movies ever. I was only 11 when it aired so I don't quite remember the plot, but it's stayed with me ever since.Even as a kid I was struck by the authentic feel of the film and the sincerity of the performances. Robert Hooks was a favorite actor of mine from the period and I would watch whatever he happened to be in. It was movies like this that got me interested in police work and later prompted me to join the NYPD. It truly deserves a DVD release of the highest quality.

This gritty Made-for-TV film from 1971 boasts terrific on location photography in San Francisco; a mature, tight script; a well paced, pounding score by the awesome Jerry Goldsmith and good performances, especially by the lovely and likable character portrayed by Carol Lynley, no-nonsense SF police detectives Robert Hooks and Jeremy Slate, the always reliable Simon Oakland and a surprisingly good turn by Robert Wagner. Its a shame that the original title - The Cable-Car Murder - was dropped since the body found on the cable-car at the beginning of the film was the catalyst for setting the plot in motion. One of the better made-for-TV films from the early seventies. Tense and exciting, it deserves to be revisited and preserved on DVD.

Update: the terrific, sparse soundtrack by Mr. Goldsmith has been released and the liner notes say that 'Crosscurrent' was the original title. It was recut and renamed 'The Cable-Car Murder'.