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Spenser Private Investigation

Original title: Spenser: Small Vices
  • TV Movie
  • 1999
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
339
YOUR RATING
Marcia Gay Harden, Joe Mantegna, and Shiek Mahmud-Bey in Spenser Private Investigation (1999)
CrimeDramaMystery

Rita Fiore hires Spenser to determine if two-time loser Ellis Alves really did kill a college coed. Soon everybody wants him off the case, from the investigating officer to the parents of th... Read allRita Fiore hires Spenser to determine if two-time loser Ellis Alves really did kill a college coed. Soon everybody wants him off the case, from the investigating officer to the parents of the dead girl's boyfriend; and a professional hitman named Rugar is trying to kill him.Rita Fiore hires Spenser to determine if two-time loser Ellis Alves really did kill a college coed. Soon everybody wants him off the case, from the investigating officer to the parents of the dead girl's boyfriend; and a professional hitman named Rugar is trying to kill him.

  • Director
    • Robert Markowitz
  • Writer
    • Robert B. Parker
  • Stars
    • Joe Mantegna
    • Eugene Lipinski
    • Laila Robins
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    339
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Markowitz
    • Writer
      • Robert B. Parker
    • Stars
      • Joe Mantegna
      • Eugene Lipinski
      • Laila Robins
    • 16User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast35

    Edit
    Joe Mantegna
    Joe Mantegna
    • Spenser
    Eugene Lipinski
    Eugene Lipinski
    • Grey Man…
    Laila Robins
    Laila Robins
    • Rita Fiore
    Chris Britton
    Chris Britton
    • Partner #1
    Marcia Gay Harden
    Marcia Gay Harden
    • Susan Silverman
    Shiek Mahmud-Bey
    Shiek Mahmud-Bey
    • Hawk
    Wood Harris
    Wood Harris
    • Ellis Alves
    Marcia Bennett
    Marcia Bennett
    • Mrs. Henderson
    Joanna Miles
    Joanna Miles
    • Evans
    Scott Wickware
    Scott Wickware
    • Captain Healy
    Dean McDermott
    Dean McDermott
    • Tommy Miller
    Topaz Hasfal-Schou
    Topaz Hasfal-Schou
    • Lila
    Vincent Guastaferro
    Vincent Guastaferro
    • Gino Fish
    Vinny Vella
    Vinny Vella
    • Vinnie
    Lara Wickes
    Lara Wickes
    • Glenda Baker McMartin
    • (as Lara Boyd Rhodes)
    Jeff Clarke
    Jeff Clarke
    • Hunt McMartin
    Frank Crudele
    Frank Crudele
    • Bruce Parisi
    Kevin Rushton
    Kevin Rushton
    • Arena Thug #1
    • Director
      • Robert Markowitz
    • Writer
      • Robert B. Parker
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews16

    6.3339
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    Featured reviews

    7Doc-73

    Good casting for this adaptation of Small Vices.

    Mantegna and Harden are very good as Spenser and Susan, the by-play is good. Mahmud-Bey makes a good Hawk, though he does not seem to have the sharp edge that Hawk in the books does. The story is followed as closely as time permits for a 90 minute production. An enjoyable two hours.
    7helpless_dancer

    Murder and intrigue in Boston

    Good show featuring tough guy Spenser and his pal Hawk as they try to figure out if a convicted man is innocent or not. Spenser suspects the man is not guilty and gets into hot water when he gets too close to the truth. The story was a little corny and the character Spenser is somewhat unbelievable, but the film was enjoyable none the less.
    7N2GJ

    Where is Robert Uhrich et al?

    Y'know, my wife and I have EVERY Robert Parker book ever published. We've even read a few of them several times. We've seen EVERY "Spenser for Hire" TV episode at least a few times I think. So....it's awfully hard to sit through this decent outing thinking "Geez, Joe Mantegna isn't bad, but he isn't Robert Uhrich!" And Hawk: we REALLY miss Dr. Brooks! Couldn't Rutgers free him up from his teaching long enough for ONE more project?!

    On the flip side, Vinnie and Gino were lots of fun, and it was cool seeing Mr. Parker himself (and possibly his very own canine, playing Pearl, the Wonder Dog?) in cameo roles.

    The movie was pretty faithful to the book (after all the author also penned the screenplay). By the way, we're glad we videotaped it: A&E is AWFUL with commercial breaks (but aren't ALL broadcasters these days?!)

    So 7 of 10 is all it gets from us. 9, if it's Uhrich/Brooks in the remake!
    7Tigar

    So Near and Yet...

    Cast-wise, Small Vices is an intentional break from the "Spenser: For Hire" TV series and Lifetime movies. Spenser author Robert B. Parker adapted his book for the A&E movie and had some say in casting. Though Urich's loyal fans cried foul at the casting of Mantegna for Spenser, more hardboiled fans (such as myself), and Parker himself, believed Mantegna better portrayed the gritty hero. Mantegna's Spenser is more relaxed, more subtle--his delivery guided by an authentic, wry Parker script. Those looking for a harder edge to the character were pleased. Viewers were less kind to Shiek Mahmud-Bey's portrayal of Hawk. Series actor Avery Brooks cast a long shadow as the mob enforcer sidekick. In that shadow, many believed (myself included) Mahmud-Bey lacked presence, that he was too young, cheerful, and chatty for the part. Small Vices is above average for its closeness to Parker's original plot and--for the most part--his characters; however, the Boston atmosphere vital to the books and series is missing, too obviously replaced by Toronto for budgetary purposes. For a different spin on Spenser, with some of Parker's personal touch, watch Small Vices.
    thetallcool1

    Casting

    I agree, casting the Role of Spenser is a tough one, but if you have seen the poster/soverbox for the movie, "The Substitute", or if you saw "Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead", you can't argue with the fact that Treat Williams would have to make the all-time best Spenser. He's a boxer, He's Irish, He has the smirk, and he's a very good actor, he IS Spenser. And don't just get the first black guy that looks like Avery Brooks to play Hawk, put some thought into that as well. Ving Rhames would do well, since he can slide in and out of the educated accent and the street jive, and he's also one of the better actors out there. If not Ving, another good choice would be Dennis Haysbert, Pedro Serrano from "Major League". Susan Silverman is a tough one. Mr. Parker has almost made her shoes impossible to fill, but if I had to pick an actress who has her charm, looks, smarts, and is also Jewish (why not, Susan is?), I'd have to go with Rena Sofer. The other characters could be played by most any other character actors, Luis Guzman was spot-on as Cholo, the guy who played Little John In "Robin Hood: Men In Tights" is a great Teddy Blue, and Dan Hedaya is who I always see as Vinnie.

    Those are just my opinions, everyone sees these characters in a different way. But Joe Mantegna is NOT spenser, sorry.....

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The part of police detective Lee Farrell is played by 'Daniel Parker', son of author Robert B. Parker.
    • Quotes

      Spenser: I need some information from Pemberton College. My name is anathema there, so we need to use a little trick.

      Lila: What kind of name is Anathema?

      Spenser: Greek.

    • Connections
      Followed by Thin Air (2000)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 2000 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Robert B. Parker's Small Vices
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Brandman Productions
      • Jaffe/Braunstein Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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