Warning Shot (1967)

David Janssen stars in what might be described as a "mid-'60s sun-baked L.A. neo-noir meets Dragnet-esque police procedural". This was probably Janssen's best big screen role of his career, although the film did still overall have the production values and feel of a made-for-TV movie. I thought director Budd Kulik did well with his blocking and the pace of the film.Janssen, in his usual low-key but effective manner of acting, plays LAPD Sgt. Tom Valens who is accused of the wrongful shooting of a respected Beverly Hills doctor during a late night stakeout. Later, unable to locate the gun he claims the doctor had pulled on him, Valens is first relieved of duty and then must face a grand jury hearing after which the prosecutor played by Sam Wannamaker expresses his delight in "putting bad cops in their place". With all the evidence pointing to Valens' guilt and with few if anyone believing his story, he sets out for himself in search of evidence to prove his innocence. (sound familiar, fans of his most memorable television role?) A number of well known and respected actors and actress of the time would make what could basically be called long cameos throughout much of the movie, as it does seem a bit episodic in some parts. Among those familiar faces would be Ed Begley as Valens' LAPD superior, Lilian Gish as a sweet but forgetful elderly lady, Stefanie Powers as a sympathetic nurse, George Sanders as an investment banker, Eleanor Parker as the decedent's less-than-grieving widow, Joan Collins as Valens' soon-to-be ex-wife, Steve Allen as a blowhard television commentator, Carroll O' Connor as the grand jury judge and George Grizzard as a playboy airline pilot.The ending is a bit weak in regard to a somewhat illogical aspect to it, but overall it is worthwhile.

...AND a LOT OF QUESTIONS since the entire plot hangs on a police detective investigating in his own defense for the ensuing trial for shooting in self defense a man who turned out to be a doctor in a black trench coat carrying a black case suspiciously running away from the detective giving chase during a foggy night stake out only to be cornered and what appears to be the doctor pulling a gun on him.If you don't watch this opening scene carefully you'll miss whether you saw a gun or wallet pulled from the doctor's coat because the weapon could not be found in the investigation.You'll never figure out to the very baffling and surprising end what happened to the gun and question your own mind if there ever was one in addition to wondering why the doctor would run away from a cop. To me it made no sense which made me follow along paying close attention throughout the entire movie's involved connect the dots investigation amid rather still good looking and well acted cameo's of Walter Pidgeon, Lilian Gish, George Sanders and a sexy, gorgeous Eleanor Parker.I was so blown away by the level of specifics and detail in the plot that I had to look up the author of the book this movie was based on which IMO makes the "Columbo" series look like a Hardy Boys mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie.

I was going to say this felt more like something on TV, and here I find this movie was originally made for TV, but was released theatrically instead. David Janssen stars in this rather low-key but surprisingly well-made and effective movie about a murder investigation. It seems a kind doctor was making a house call at 11:00 at night. Odd, right? Why would he see Lillian Gish, who's a patient of his, at night, unless he had some other ulterior motive? That's up to David Janssen to find out, because he shot and killed the doctor, when the doctor pulled a gun on him. Only thing is, where'e the gun? And, why would an innocent doctor panic and run and pull out a gun? This features a slew of names, of movie stars and TV stars, which you can find listed here. But I will say, while Joan Collins may be eye candy for the men, she is rather lifeless here. And for that matter so is Stefanie Powers. The only highlight for the actresses here is the always dependable Lillian Gish and the always alluring and talented Eleanor Parker, as a far-from-grieving widow of the doctor. She really peps up the last half of the movie. David Janssen possesses his own way of acting with little to no emotion, but in a strange way he comes off very convincingly as a cop who's about to have his life turned upside down, because of his shooting an apparently innocent man with no gun. He must discredit the doctor and get to the truth. Will he? Maybe, but not before.....

What can I say. Just bought the DVD for the all-star cast. Out-dated story of a LA police detective who shoots a Beverly Hills doctor who he claims pulled a gun on him, but no one can find the gun. The rest of the movie shows the detective trying to prove he is not guilty, and that the well-respected doctor was really a bad-guy after all.Lots of well-known stars in the movie, but the standout is the Elenor Parker who looks very sexy and plays the part of a sexed-up, drunken widow to the tilt. Aside from that, and a few laughs regarding butter milk, this 1966 Who-Done-It is bested viewed on a rainy Saturday afternoon, the one which I'm having right now.