Goodnight, My Love

Back in the 1970s, some young directors really believed it was possible to make movies for television, rather than "TV movies" (one-episode 90 minute TV shows or the longer, even less cinematic soap opera 'miniseries'). The best known of these efforts was Spielberg's "Duel," but there were good films appearing now and again all the way up 'till about 1983, which saw the "Day After" phenomenon, following which Republicans put such pressure on TV producers, they never attempted anything risky on broadcast TV again.

This movie may very well be Peter Hyam's best. It certainly boasts the best later performance by Richard Boone as a washed-out detective and a knock-down performance by Michael Dunne as his side-kick. The camera-work, the pacing, the dialog, are all low-key, but need to be - this is an homage to the noir films of the forties, not a "Chinatown" attempt to resurrect them. Consequently there's a great deal of gentle humor here, but it never gets campy, and doesn't get in the way of a tight little mystery that is doomed to end badly for everyone - the detectives succeed in the end only because they live to be able to tell the tale (and are smart enough to know not to waste their breath telling it). There's a general feeling of 'life happens" pervading the film - as was also the case for the noir films toward the end of that genre as it faded after WWII. Despite the low-key approach, the film is highly memorable for its atmosphere and characterizations. I haven't seen it for years and I still think of seeing it with pleasure. Probably a lost film (although I suppose you can find anything on the internet), this could be well worth the research to rediscover.

I saw this movie when it first aired back in 1972 on ABC movie of the week and I'm trying to get a copy of it as I write this. Just about everyone in the cast is dead except for Barbara Bain. I was hoping it was going to get picked up as a show but like so many good pilots from that time period it fell by the waste side. If you haven't seen it, try to check it out. It's a well above average detective TV movie With a great cast. Back in the 70's There was a lot of movies being made about that time period. Even Robert Mitchum Played a Philip Marlow in 1974 in Farewell My Lovely. Tony Curtis did Lepkie and so on. I think when Re-runs of the untouchables surfaced it started a wave on that subject matter. To bad there not making more films like that now.

Made during the `Glory Days' of the ABC Movie of the Week, when they were putting out some real quality TV-Movies (The Night Stalker; Dr. Cook's Garden; A Brand New Life; Congratulations, It's a Boy; Five Desperate Women), this one ranks with the best of them.

Chandler-esque detective yarn, great atmosphere, clever dialogue, and perfectly cast (particularly Michael Dunn, probably the greatest Little Person actor in Hollywood history).

Catch it if you can. A true gem.

"Goodnight, My Love" appeared as a movie-of-the-week just a few years before neo-noir became a viable 1970s genre through films such as "Chinatown" and "Farewell, My Lovely." It's nowhere near as good as either of those, though. The 1940s L. A. atmosphere is more hinted at than evoked (never has the city looked so small), and stars Richard Boone and Michael Dunn, as rather seedy P. I.s, look more like they're dressed for a Halloween party than inhabit the characters. Boone in particular is miscast, looking both tarnished and afraid as he growls through his lines with the greatest ennui; James Garner would have been a far better choice for the role as written. Dunn tries hard, though his arbitrary perpetual hunger seems more like an homage to "Scooby-Doo" than a meaningful character trait. He and Boone have so little chemistry that one wonders how they became detective partners. Stealing the show are Victor Buono, who is aces as a Sydney Greenstreet-like criminal, and Barbara Bain, who plays the smoky, beautiful mystery woman who instigates the case to noir perfection. The plot has to do with a missing man, a missing large sum of money, and some murders, and Boone frequently complains that he has no idea what's going on. But the audience, if they're awake, should have little trouble figuring out exactly what is happening before it's revealed. Writer/director Peter Hyams' decision to shoot many scenes in one long shot, aided by obvious post-dubbing, might have been a stylistic choice, but it looks more like they ran out of time and money to do anything other than master shots. "Goodnight, My Love" (an evocatively parodic title that means nothing in context) isn't total loss, but it's hardly a win, either.

This story looks much like a Raymond Chandler mystery story, so if you like films like "Farewell, My Lovely" or "The Big Sleep" or "Lady in the Lake", then by all means watch this film--which is available to watch on YouTube.

The film is set in 1946 and stars Richard Boone as private detective Francis Hogan and Michael Dunn as his very non-traditional partner, Arthur Boyle. Dunn was a very good actor and I am glad he got a chance to do a part that isn't normally played by a person with dwarfism...and I appreciate that opportunity. The pair are doing rather poorly...and need a case in the worst possible way. So, when a lovely blonde (Barbara Bain) shows up and wants them to find her missing boyfriend, they quickly take the case without too many questions. Not surprisingly, however, Susan (Bain) is a femme fatale...and quick to turn on the water works (a woman who cries at the drop of a hat). She also lies...but only when she opens her mouth! Soon it becomes apparent that LOTS of people are looking for the missing boyfriend, as there's a mob contract out on the guy...and this could be exactly why she's looking for the guy. And what about that strange fat guy (Victor Buono in a Sidney Greenstreet sort of role)...what does he have to do with all this? And what about the missing money? What's next?

The filmmakers did a nice job of catching the look of 1946 and the writer/director Peter Hyams did a nice job of capturing the spirit of the Chandler stories. I especially like the snappy dialog-- particularly between Boone and Dunn. The movie also shows how good and well crafted some made for TV films were back in the day.

By the way, in one scene the pair of gumshoes are standing outside the Chandler Hotel...probably meant as a subtle inside joke for the famous writer.