A woman is murdered in a small seaside town. The cops investigate but are hampered by bureaucratic infighting, complicated relationships, and a vicious Doberman Pincher.
Looks to me like the script was on a hurry-up schedule. Nonetheless, the movie's got its compensations. Unfortunately, the whodunit part, which is supposed to be the core, is developed in pretty ragged fashion with a number of hanging threads (who is it in the nude photo; what role did the sheriff have, etc.).
The movie's appeal really comes from its unsparing and often humorous look at small town life, particularly the semi-competent 3-man police force. Plus, there are the town characters, generally cameos from movie vets getting a few minutes back in the spotlight. Nonetheless, it's an uncharacteristically grouchy Jim Garner as the chief. But no wonder he's grumpy, since his two underlings are bumblers, at best, while he has to contend with a county sheriff (Guardino) who wants to cut in on the investigation for suspicious reasons. Then too, catch the naughty innuendo that's not supposed to typify small town life. And, on a different note, that burning beach house is a real Technicolor inferno and a movie highpoint.
The movie's also a payday for a number of movie vets who get the amusing small town parts. (Except for Tom Ewell as a badly out of shape cop.) But who could have guessed that the wonderfully preserved June Allyson was all of 55 in her role here; ditto Ann Rutherford, also 55. For old movie fans, these nostalgic glimpses were a treat.
All in all, it's an entertaining movie, even with a ragged script. Then too, judging from the Malibu location, plus the timing, I wouldn't be surprised that the movie inspired Garner's TV hit, The Rockford Files (1974-1980). But it's a much more typically amiable Garner in the Rockford role than he is here. Anyway, I hope they paid Murphy double biscuits since he's a good enough actor to compete with the many movie veterans.
