A Killing Affair (1977 film)
{{Distinguish|A Killing Affair (1986 film)}}
{{Infobox television
| alt_name = Behind the Badge
| image =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| genre = Crime
| screenplay = E. Arthur Kean
| director = Richard C. Sarafian
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Elizabeth Montgomery
- O. J. Simpson
- Rosalind Cash
- John Mahon
- Todd Bridges
- Priscilla Pointer
- Allan Rich
- Charles Robinson
- John P. Ryan
- Dean Stockwell
- Dolph Sweet
}}
| composer = Richard Shores
| country = United States
| language = English
| producer = James H. Brown
| executive_producer = David Gerber
| editor = Ken Zemke
| cinematography = Al Francis
| runtime = 100 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
- Columbia Pictures Television
- David Gerber Productions
}}
| network = CBS
| released = {{Start date|1977|09|21}}
}}
A Killing Affair (also known as Behind the Badge{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VUxPAQAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PA30 |title=The Essential Elizabeth Montgomery |last=Pilato |first=Herbie J. |publisher=Taylor Trade Publishing |isbn=9781589798250 |page=70 |date=October 7, 2013 |access-date=August 8, 2017 |via=Google Books}}) is a 1977 American made-for-television crime drama film starring Elizabeth Montgomery and O. J. Simpson. The film originally aired on CBS on September 21, 1977.
Plot
Elizabeth Montgomery and O. J. Simpson star as homicide detectives pursuing a killer played by Dean Stockwell. While working on the case, the partners begin having a heated romantic affair.{{Cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2UIDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56 |title=TV Breaks Old Taboos With New Morality |last=Kisner |first=Ronald |magazine=Jet |pages=56–58 |date=December 1, 1977 |access-date=August 8, 2017 |via=Google Books}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-hollywoods-oj-simpson-before-the-white-bronco-20140612-story.html |title=The Hollywood career O.J. Simpson left behind |last=Goldberg |first=Haley |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 12, 2014 |access-date=August 8, 2017}}
Cast
| class="wikitable"
! Actor !! Role | |
| Elizabeth Montgomery | Vikki Eaton |
| O. J. Simpson | Woodrow York |
| Rosalind Cash | Beverly York |
| John Mahon | Det. Shoup |
| Priscilla Pointer | Judge Cudahy |
| Allan Rich | Capt. Bullis |
| Charles Robinson | Buck Fryman |
| John P. Ryan | Flagler |
| Dean Stockwell | Kenneth Switzer |
| Dolph Sweet | Lt. Scotty Neilson |
| Todd Bridges | Todd York |
| Fred Stuthman | Lukens Switzer |
| John Steadman | Cooks |
| Michael Durrell | Cabrillo |
| Stephen Parr | Sgt. Boyle |
Reception
A Killing Affair received generally positive reviews, with particular praise for O. J. Simpson. People called it Simpson's "best dramatic performance to date."{{Cite magazine |url=http://people.com/archive/cover-story-off-the-field-vol-8-no-16/ |title=Off the Field |last=McCall |first=Cheryl |magazine=People |date=October 17, 1977 |access-date=August 8, 2017}} John J. O'Connor of the New York Times wrote,
{{Blockquote|"A Killing Affair" is an odd mixture of cliché and quietly powerful statements and perceptions. With David Gerber as executive producer, it has the invaluable asset of a first-rate production. Mr. Simpson tends to settle into an acting monotone, but his personality is so basically attractive that he is able to get maximum results with minimum effort.
Miss Montgomery accomplishes the difficult task of transforming a somewhat hardened and cynical professional into a vulnerable but unsentimental human being. And Rosalind Cash is superb as Mrs. York, uncompromising in her portrait of a loving woman being forced into the role of a shrew. Everything works out for the best in the end, of course, but even the resolution is acceptable and quite moving.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/09/21/archives/tv-killing-affair-packs-power.html |title=TV: 'Killing Affair' Packs Power |last=O'Connor |first=John J. |author-link=John J. O'Connor (journalist) |work=The New York Times |date=September 21, 1977 |access-date=August 8, 2017}}}}
A Killing Affair received a 29% Nielsen rating, finishing second to Charlie's Angels in its time slot.
There was relatively little controversy generated by the interracial romance between the protagonists. Montgomery and Simpson did not receive any significant hate mail, though one Southern CBS affiliate did receive a bomb threat after the film aired.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0076266}}
{{Richard C. Sarafian}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Killing Affair, A}}
Category:1977 television films
Category:Films about interracial romance