A skilled police detective in a case involving the strange, sadistic murder of a young prostitute who has been killed in exactly the same fashion as a young nightclub singer in Saigon during the Vietnam War. At the same time, the detective attempts to ferret out corruption in the police ranks.
Acting
Richard Crenna's crumpled integrity vs. Cliff Gorman's weaselly desperation.
Writing
William Bayer's novel adaptation keeps two mysteries braided tight.
Director
Michael Tuchner
Richard Crenna
Frank Janek
Kate Capshaw
Joanna Gates
Cliff Gorman
Aaron Greenberg
Philip Bosco
John Wycoff
Lee Richardson
Chief Hart
Danton Stone
Sal Marchetti
Dennis Boutsikaris
Jerry Renfrew
Caroline Kava
Jean Harp
Aki Aleong
Quynh
John Capodice
Tony Graselli
David Leary
Ross Canfield
Paul Guilfoyle
The Watcher
Sam Coppola
Dave
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was a CBS Sunday Night Movie event, back when networks still commissioned 3-hour prestige crime sagas.
Tuchner's direction deliberately mirrors Vietnam War film aesthetics—grainy flashbacks, humid claustrophobia—to suggest Janek's psyche never left Saigon.
US
