P.J. (1967, USA, 109m, 15) ***
Action, Drama, Mystery
dist. Universal Pictures (USA), Rank Film Distributors (UK); pr co. Universal Pictures; d. John Guillermin; w. Philip H. Reisman Jr. (based on a story by Philip H. Reisman Jr. and Edward Montagne); pr. Edward Montagne; ph. Loyal Griggs (Technicolor | 2.35:1); m. Neal Hefti; ed. Sam E. Waxman; ad. Alexander Golitzen, Walter M. Simonds.
cast: George Peppard (P.J. Detweiler), Raymond Burr (William Orbison), Gayle Hunnicutt (Maureen Preble), Brock Peters (Waterpark), Wilfrid Hyde-White (Billings-Browne), Jason Evers (Jason Grenoble), Coleen Gray (Betty Orbison), Susan Saint James (Linette Orbison), Severn Darden (Shelton Quell), Jane Van Duser (Elinor Silene), George Furth (Sonny Silene), Barbara Dana (Lita), Herb Edelman (Charlie (as Herbert Edelman)), John Qualen (Poppa Gonowski), Bert Freed (Police Lieutenant), Ken Lynch (Thorson), Jim Boles (Landlord’s Agent), Arte Johnson (Jackie), King Charles MacNiles (Calypso Singer), Kirk Alyn (Supervisor (uncredited)).
This 1940s-style thriller has been written and shot through a 1960s lens resulting in a tonally shifting and often violent tale. Down-on-his-luck New York private eye P.J. Detweiler (Peppard) takes a bodyguard job to protect Maureen Preble (Hunnicutt), the mistress of shady millionaire William Orbison (Burr). P.J. gets in over his head after Orbison’s business partner is gunned down and he’s framed for the murder. It becomes clear to P.J. that he’s been set up and after his release by the authorities, he makes it back to New York to confront the masterminds of the plot. Shifting location between the Big Apple and the Caribbean, the film is colourfully shot. Peppard slips well into the PI role and Burr has fun as the tight businessman who hires him. Where the film falters is in its uneasy mix of humour from its cast of caricatures and the often sadistic violence. Guillermin seems unsure as to whether he wanted to make a straight-ahead gritty thriller or a pastiche. He ends up somewhere between, so whilst the film remains engaging, and offers a few thrills, it fails to gel as a whole. Neal Hefti provided the groovy score. The film marked Susan Saint James’ movie debut, as a kooky niece to Burr. UK title: NEW FACE IN HELL.
