Did not realize this existed until I happened upon it on You Tube. To me Sinatra is always a good actor in search of a great script which he never quite got. In this one, that is the case as his acting is solid but he does not really get the script to work with. The script fails to flesh out his character quite enough to get great dramatic results.
What the film does do is tells the story of an aging detective who has an ill wife (Faye Dunaway) dying in a hospital due to a mystery that the doctor is unable to solve. The parallel is that at the same time he is getting a case about a serial killer and a new boss who doesn't care what he is doing in his last days prior to retiring.
While Dunaway gets to do a few scenes, she is basically wasted. James Whitmore is okay but with his talent, even his script lacks a bit for him to be effective here. Martin Gabel actually gets enough script to make this one of his better turns on the screen in support role.
As far as the story, it mostly makes sense and in a way the ending is perfect with the murderer getting what he deserves. Trouble is then the added scene of his wife's death might have worked better if it were put in before that scene. Her story is never fleshed out enough to be finished last. Her doctor, his role just does not come off effectively.
I do like Sinatra in this one. It's not quite the level of Manchurian Candidate, but he is effective.
What the film does do is tells the story of an aging detective who has an ill wife (Faye Dunaway) dying in a hospital due to a mystery that the doctor is unable to solve. The parallel is that at the same time he is getting a case about a serial killer and a new boss who doesn't care what he is doing in his last days prior to retiring.
While Dunaway gets to do a few scenes, she is basically wasted. James Whitmore is okay but with his talent, even his script lacks a bit for him to be effective here. Martin Gabel actually gets enough script to make this one of his better turns on the screen in support role.
As far as the story, it mostly makes sense and in a way the ending is perfect with the murderer getting what he deserves. Trouble is then the added scene of his wife's death might have worked better if it were put in before that scene. Her story is never fleshed out enough to be finished last. Her doctor, his role just does not come off effectively.
I do like Sinatra in this one. It's not quite the level of Manchurian Candidate, but he is effective.