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Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery

  • TV Movie
  • 1987
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
262
YOUR RATING
Tom Bosley in Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery (1987)
DramaMysteryThriller

Frank Dowling has to solve the mystery of a young man who is obsessed with finding his natural parents.Frank Dowling has to solve the mystery of a young man who is obsessed with finding his natural parents.Frank Dowling has to solve the mystery of a young man who is obsessed with finding his natural parents.

  • Director
    • Christopher Hibler
  • Writers
    • Donald E. Westlake
    • Ralph McInerny
  • Stars
    • Tom Bosley
    • Tracy Nelson
    • Robert Prescott
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    262
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Christopher Hibler
    • Writers
      • Donald E. Westlake
      • Ralph McInerny
    • Stars
      • Tom Bosley
      • Tracy Nelson
      • Robert Prescott
    • 2User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top Cast27

    Edit
    Tom Bosley
    Tom Bosley
    • Father Frank Dowling
    Tracy Nelson
    Tracy Nelson
    • Sister Stephanie 'Steve' Oskowski
    Robert Prescott
    Robert Prescott
    • Lt. Phil Keegan
    Mary Wickes
    Mary Wickes
    • Marie Murkin
    Susan Blakely
    Susan Blakely
    • Patricia Erdain
    Leslie Nielsen
    Leslie Nielsen
    • Senator Erdain
    Peter Scolari
    Peter Scolari
    • Chris Robinson
    Sada Thompson
    Sada Thompson
    • Maria Pello
    Kevin Crowley
    Kevin Crowley
    • Andy Moore
    Holly Fulger
    Holly Fulger
    • Theresa Robinson
    Stella Stevens
    Stella Stevens
    • Katherine 'Kate' St. Urban
    Mark Arnott
    Mark Arnott
    • Reporter
    Mike Nussbaum
    Mike Nussbaum
    • Dr. Sidney Canfield
    Guy Fricano
    • Sloan
    Joe Greco
    • Head of Security
    Ted Liss
    • Bishop MacNee
    Sarah Long
    • Jane
    Jack McLaughlin-Gray
    Jack McLaughlin-Gray
    • Bank Officer
    • Director
      • Christopher Hibler
    • Writers
      • Donald E. Westlake
      • Ralph McInerny
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2

    7.6262
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    Featured reviews

    7coltras35

    1st Pilot episode

    Chicago priest and amateur sleuth Frank Dowling (Tom Bosley ) investigates an adopted man's death in this entertaining pilot episode which introduces Father Frank Dowling's penchant for snooping for clues. In this one, he determined to learn who was the dead adopted boys parents, but someone will do anything to stop him. Sister Steve assists him in his investigations.
    8planktonrules

    Not especially deep but it does make you want to see more.

    This made for TV movie is the first appearance by Tom Bosley as the priest who solves murders...much like the British "Father Brown" shows.

    The show begins with a weird situation. A guy who was adopted as a baby is obsessed with finding his biological parents and is standing on the ledge of a skyscraper to somehow convince others to help him find them. This part really makes little sense.... I know. However, as Father Dowling is trying to talk him off the ledge, he realizes the man is NOT suicidal...so when he DOES fall to his death, the Father is confused. When he later sees footage of the fall on TV*, it shows that the dead man flinched as if he was shot when he fell! What is going on here and how does this man's death relate to both the mob and a US Senator? And, who wanted him dead and why?

    Apart from a few logical problems here and there, this is an enjoyable pilot movie. I think the nun is a bit too kooky to be realistic but Bosley is very good as the priest. Overall, enjoyable and it makes me want to see more.

    *The footage on TV was 100% impossible. The angle and close footage would indicate a videographer was literally floating in mid-air to get such footage! A minor concern but a bit ridiculouos.

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    Related interests

    Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, André Holland, Herman Caheej McGloun, Edson Jean, Alex R. Hibbert, and Tanisha Cidel in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The parish in this episode is different from the series one.
    • Quotes

      Father Frank Dowling: Are you a confirmed cynic, Miss Erdain?

      Patricia Erdain: Ask anyone.

      Father Frank Dowling: It's been my experience when you scratch a cynic you'll find a romantic underneath.

    • Connections
      Followed by Father Dowling Mysteries (1989)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 30, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Fatales Geständnis
    • Filming locations
      • Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Fred Silverman Company
      • Dean Hargrove Productions
      • Viacom Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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