They Call It Murder

This 1971 TV movie appears to have been a pilot for a proposed series based on "Perry Mason" creator Erle Stanley Gardner's much lesser known "Doug Selby D.A." novels. It's a shame this never made it because "They Call It Murder" shows a good bit of promise. Jim Hutton is excellent in the title role as the earnest young D.A. (His son Timothy's resemblance is remarkable) and he was always an underrated actor.

The supporting cast is also strong an notably features Ed Asner as a bumbling and blustering small town chief of police. In this episode the "guest stars" are Jessica Walter (who was intriguingly distant yet seductive) and Leslie Nielsen (was this guy EVER young?) and while it wasn't real difficult to finger the culprits the motive and means were creative yet not so far-fetched as to be beyond the rules of "fair play."

TCIM, of course, appears dated now with a very early 70s look (and outlook)and pacing that is several gears slower than contemporary mystery/suspense. It could be said that the movie drags in places but it could also be argued that that the languid pace adds to the atmosphere. . As with all mysteries it is a formula driven show but it is a well done one. This has more in common with 40s film noir than formula dramas of today such as the L&O faux realism template.

TCIM relies more on plotting and character psychology and less on fist fights and car chases than the typical 60s/70s era shows of this genre did. (Although there is a little of that it appears superfluous and forced; that would be my only complaint.)

I came across this in a $1 bin of overstock DVDs. It's a very low budget DVD that appears to have been transferred from second generation (or worse) tape and has uneven sound and almost no packaging but it's well worth the dollar.

Quite many of these obscure cable-television thrillers from the early 70s are really, really good. "They Call it Murder" is even better than good. As far as yours truly is concerned, this is a downright great thriller with a captivating & puzzling plot, a fantastic ensemble cast, and a mystery climax that would even cause Agatha Christie herself to nod her head with approval. I don't want to reveal too much about the plot, but it starts with a dead body in the pool of a wealthy but eccentric family, and it ends with the utmost twisted and convoluted insurance scams you'll ever witness. The cast this modest little TV-thriller managed to gather is truly impressive, and they are all giving away stellar performances in roles that seem very fitting. Jim Hutton as the persistent DA, Lloyd Bochner as the insufferable upper-class attorney, Ed Asner as the somewhat doofus Chief of Police, Leslie Nielsen as the arrogant patriarch (who talks with a bizarre Irish accent that makes him sound like a Leprechaun), Michael Pataki as the small-time crook, and the stunningly beautiful Jessica Walter as the quiet widow with a dark secret. The latter will always remain one of my favorite actresses thanks to her glorious roles as the psycho in "Play Misty For Me", and Lucille Bluth in "Arrested Development".

I love "made for tv" movies and old mystery shows. This one has it all. Great cast, brilliant camera angles, typical music for the time and decent script. Where in California was this filmed? The panoramic views are stunning! It's a shame this series never came to fruition.

Regarding the cast, Jim Hutton is pleasant as always. I can't count the number of tv movies Jessica Walters was in. She seemed to always play the villainess. Ed Asner's performance is the usual gruff sheriff. His Lou Grant series is still one of my all time favorites. I believe Jo Ann Pflug was on a game show or two but remember her most from tv movies.

This definitely one of the better pilots for an unrealized tv series.

District Attorney Doug Selby (competently played by Jim Hutton) faces a unique murder case involving a dead body in a pool with two bullets in its heart. After some detailed examination and theory debunking as to which of those bullets might have gone in first, it becomes clear that the D. A. is not helped by the blundering Police Chief Otto Larkin, who keeps stupidly disrespecting the very law he is supposed to uphold - it could be a comic relief, but does not quite work - and in time comes under attack himself from a vehicle trying to bump him off a cliffy road.

Standout performance from Lloyd Bochner as lawyer A B Carr, self-effacing but effective in his legal assistance.

Well, all is not bad news: Selby is surrounded by pretty women: the elegant Jessica Walter, who in 1971 also played an evil part in PLAY MISTY FOR ME; Nita Talbot, absolutely gorgeous as a second rate movie star who keeps undergoing rejuvenating surgery; and Jo Ann Pflug, simply to die for.

The explanation as to how all the murders took place struck me as lengthier than necessary, but otherwise I enjoyed it all. 7/10.

This made for TV movie predates the Jim Hutton version of the Ellery Queen TV series by a few years. However, Hutton obviously used this role as his model for playing Queen in the series. He has a lot of fun with his role as DA and it is contagious. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Hutton as he appeared in virtually every scene as the relentless DA, investigating a murder that soon expands to even more homicides. This film is based on an Erle Stanley Gardner work and contains all of the elements of fine mystery writing which we would expect from Mr. Gardner. A good cast of names and faces familiar to TV watchers serves to keep up the interest and suspense as this excellent mystery unfolds. I would have preferred another actor in the role of the defense attorney played by Lloyd Bochner. But, I admit that I am nit picking here. I simply don't like Mr. Bochner since he plays every single role in exactly the same manner, smug and arrogant. Just once I would like to see him exhibit some semblance of warmth or humor. For me his performance was the only negative in this most enjoyable movie.