Over-the-hill gumshoe in Los Angeles seeks to avenge the killing of an old pal, another detective who was involved in a case concerning a murdered broad, stolen stamps, a nickel-plated handgun, a cheating dolly, and a kidnapped pussycat.
Acting
Carney's irascible Ira—every grumble feels earned, every sigh historic.
Writing
Benton's script: hardboiled poetry with Tomlin's chaos crashing through.
Director
Robert Benton
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Benton wrote this as a direct response to Chinatown's pessimism—he wanted to prove noir could have a warm heart without being stupid.
Carney was 59 playing 'over-the-hill' and insisted on doing his own fight scenes; the alley brawl left him genuinely bruised for weeks.
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