They Only Kill Their Masters
| They Only Kill Their Masters | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | James Goldstone |
| Written by | Lane Slate |
| Starring |
James Garner Katharine Ross Hal Holbrook June Allyson Tom Ewell Peter Lawford |
| Distributed by | MGM |
Release dates |
|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,005,000 (US/ Canada rentals)[1] |
They Only Kill Their Masters is a 1972 mystery film (released by MGM) starring James Garner and Katharine Ross, with a supporting cast featuring Hal Holbrook, June Allyson, Tom Ewell, Peter Lawford, Edmond O'Brien, and Arthur O'Connell. The title refers to Doberman dogs that might have been responsible for a woman's murder currently under investigation by the local police chief (Garner). The film was written by Lane Slate and directed by James Goldstone.
Plot
Abel Marsh is a sarcastic, thick-skinned police chief in a small West Coast seaside town — the fictional Eden Landing, located somewhere between San Francisco and Los Angeles, where everyone knows each other. When one of its citizens is killed under mysterious circumstances many rumors arise, the most notorious of them being that the victim was killed by her own Doberman Pinscher.
The police chief is initially inclined to believe this scenario, but new facts discount this hypothesis. New developments complicate the investigation, especially when crucial evidence starts to disappear. The county sheriff is also trying to take control of the investigation, igniting conflict with Chief Marsh.
Cast
- James Garner as Police Chief Abel Marsh
- Katharine Ross as Kate Bingham
- Hal Holbrook as Dr. Warren Watkins
- Harry Guardino as Captain Daniel Streeter
- June Allyson as Mrs. Watkins
- Tom Ewell as Walter
- Peter Lawford as Campbell
- Edmond O'Brien as George
- Arthur O'Connell as Ernie
- Ann Rutherford as Gloria
Production notes
- Filmed late July-early September 1972
- It was the last film shot on MGM's backlot before it was sold. Several major stars accepted supporting roles in the film because it gave them the opportunity to be in the last film made on it.
- Partially filmed at the Paradise Cove Pier, Paradise Cove in Malibu, California. Two years later (1974) when Garner started to film The Rockford Files, his trailer was located at the same location.
There were several TV sequels made to the movie, starring Andy Griffith as Abel Marsh and the locale was moved to Big Bear Lake. The first movie was called Deadly Game and was written and directed by Lane Slate,[2] as was the follow-up Girl in the Empty Grave.[3] The character was renamed renamed "Sam Adams" for Adams of Eagle Lake, also written by Slate.[4] The character changed names yet again for Winter Kill, becoming "Sam McNeill."[5]
In popular culture
They Only Kill Their Masters was referenced in the King of the Hill episode "Bill's House".
References
- ↑ "Big Rental Films of 1973", Variety, 9 January 1974 p 60
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075919/
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076088/
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072464
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072411
External links
- They Only Kill Their Masters at the Internet Movie Database
- James Garner Interview on the Charlie Rose Show
- James Garner interview at Archive of American Television - (c/o Google Video) - March 17, 1999
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