The Borgia Stick

After the present-day funeral of Don Murray (as Thomas "Tom" Harrison) and Inger Stevens (as Evelyn "Evie" Finch), we flashback to see their story… The attractive married couple is set-up in suburban New York by a Mafia-like organization called "The Company" (explained in the script as a more modern term for "The Syndicate"). Mr. Murray (once Andrew "Andy" Mitchell) was recruited due to some embezzlement problems, and Ms. Stevens (once Ellen Coogan) was into drugs and a street gang. Basically, Murray's job is to launder money while Stevens provides bedside manner...

Trouble begins when Murray decides he wants the life he is pretending to lead. Envying neighbor Barry Nelson (as Hal Carter) and his growing family, Murray declares his love for Stevens and desire to have children; moreover, Murray wants to leave "The Company". As you might imagine, this isn't going to be easy. Stevens frighteningly refuses. Then, Murray's cover is threatened when a man from his past arrives on the scene. Sensing the man (whom you'll recognize as Ralph Waite from "The Waltons") is a threat, Murray must report him to "Company" leader Fritz Weaver (as Anderson)...

"The Borgia Stick" is a well-produced NBC-TV movie from 1967. Its quality and success helped return made-for-TV dramas to popularity; a 1950s staple, the TV drama had been replaced by theatrical films. But, by the late 1960s, the television-produced "Movie of the Week" was a ratings winner. Murray and Stevens are excellent; they are allowed a lot of natural, sexy chemistry. Producer Richard Lewis, writer A.J. Russell, and director David Lowell Rich would have been a winning team, if "Emmy Awards" had their categories intact. The crew re-teamed for "A Lovely Way to Die" (1968).

Some combination of this crew of New York City filmmakers might have familiar with a certain afternoon TV thriller - or, they must have used the same agency. For whatever reasons, they employed (at least) six "Dark Shadows" (circa 1966-1968) TV players in not only "The Borgia Stick" but also "A Lovely Way to Die". That's more than producer Dan Curtis allowed in the average episode of the supernatural serial. Herein catch (then) "DS-regulars" Hugh Franklin and Dana Elcar along with semi-regulars or bit players Conrad Bain, House Jameson, Barnard Hughes, and Ed Crowley – all in living color.

******** The Borgia Stick (2/25/67) David Lowell Rich ~ Don Murray, Inger Stevens, Barry Nelson, Fritz Weaver

Tom and Eve Harrison seem to be living the good life. Nice home, picket fence, trendy life style, sporty friends. However, its not at all what it appears. In reality, their life together is a sham. Tom and Eve are covers for a crime syndicate and their "marriage" a mere front for the criminal activities therein. By day, Tom goes off to "work" donning disguises and wheeling-and-dealing syndicate money while Eve sets up a responsible household, caters to her "husband", takes part in civic activities and sees to it they blend into the unsuspecting community. Living together but ultimately lonely, separate lives and not knowing a thing about each others' past as per syndicate code, a wrench is thrown into the proceedings when they discover that they are deeply in love and want to leave the syndicate to lead a "normal" existence together. The syndicate has other plans.

Don Murray and Inger Stevens are perfect in their roles of two pawns trapped in a much bigger chess game. The virile Murray, in particular, shows a natural fortitude for this type of edgy, clean-cut anti-hero. Usually wasted as a frivolous love interest, the gorgeous, honey-voiced Stevens gets the fleeting chance to display her dramatic talents especially as their sedentary lives begin to unravel.

Durable Barry Nelson acquits himself well here as the next-door-undercover cop whose onto their charade while Fritz Weaver offers smooth, cultivated menace as a syndicate leader. Along the way you'll spot a number of familiar TV faces in minor, pre-stardom roles, including Conrad "Diff'rent Strokes" Bain, Ralph "The Waltons" Waite and Sorrell "Dukes of Hazzard" Booke.

The movie is appropriately tense throughout and there are a number of interesting plot turns and twists to keep the cat-and-mouse proceedings moving as our couple desperately try to elude both the police and the syndicate. One eerie moment occurs in a funeral parlor where Murray and Stevens are laid out. The fact that Miss Stevens died a suicide only three years later offers a sad, peculiar foreshadowing for this lovely and tragic leading lady.

A most adroit and intriguing time-filler.

I was one of the few that had seen this movie when it came out in 1967. I was 14 years old when it came out and can only remember bits and pieces now. I have looked on and off for forty years to see if it was ever re-released. It never was to my knowledge. This movie made such an impression on me that has lasted four decades. I don't know who is in charge of releasing this to DVD, but it should be done and done quickly. I remember sitting on the edge of my seat till the very end. What a great movie. To all those who missed out, I'm sorry for you. The only way we will ever see this great flick again is to put pressure on the movie and TV industry to release it.

I saw this film in the late '60. It was made about four decades before Enron. I would have liked to do a plot summary but just don't recall it that well. What I do recall was that the subject matter was quite scary when the McGuffin was finally revealed at the end. Inger Steven and Don Murray were a typical suburban couple caught up into somethings way beyond their understanding. The story revolved around them not having any idea about what it was that they knew. And what did they know? Organized crime having so much money decided to buy into or buy up legitimate corporations and businesses. That wasn't unusual because that seems to be the way of the world in many quarters, but this story had unique twist, i.e., the crime families were going to buy up utilities, railroad, water, etc., to eventually monopolize them. It seemed to me that in the film they discussed that there eventually would be shortages either real or contrived. When that happened, they would be able to set or control the prices of necessities to any amount they wanted and no one could do anything about it. In 2008, the Borgia Stick has proved to be more fact than fiction except that the organize crime people today wear more expensive suits and attend the right schools. It was a great film that need to be out on DVD.

Inger Stevens - fresh from The Farmer's Daugther (with William Windom and Cathleen Nesbitt) and the venerable Don Murray are superb. I bought an okay DVD online. The story still holds up after so many years and that is because of the leads and the supporting players. I've never forgotten it. So weird how we older people remember certain films that have touched our lives in some way or other. I believe it was Inger Stevens who did it for me. Sad life, a tragedy. The film is eerie and so true to life. And as it turned out could very well be reel life. I wish they would release it on a good, good DVD. It is worth watching on any venue however.