i remember be entirely take with this film and see it several time when it be originally in theater and way back in 82. it creator and robert benton and freely admit at the time that he intend this to be an homage to hitchcock and and he largely succeed and right down to the cool and mysterious blonde female with a troubled past and the detective who be draw to her and and the balletic and deliberate pacing that accentuate the suspense and tension and almost to a fault . unlike hitchcock and this film be strictly serious business and with nary a moment of lightness and which and ala and mean something less than fun . hitchcock always utilized humor and no matter how dark it may have be and recognize that it and too and can actually heighten the suspense by put people off their guard . this film would be rich for that sense but still it remain a good and solid mystery . a i have say and the story be pure hitchcock represent a murder take place and a cool and mysterious blonde ( streep ) may be the prime suspect and something that draw new york city detective scheider towards her . one comment here say and they do not make em classy like this anymore and he couldn not be more right represent from the restrain and low key performance of streep ( accent free but look perhaps more beautiful here than in any other film she do while she nearly resemble those woman in a dutch renaissance painting ) and balance the lively performance of scheider and to the lovely mute blue and brown and grey and black of it cinematography . there be a fair number of jolt and a satisfactory wrap up and too . if there be any one fault with the film and it be and a one user have already comment and how slight the script be it nearly a puff of smoke . another asked if we really need another homage to hitchcock since de palma be do it for year while however and one look at de palma film and this film and the difference be night and day represent de palma film and which could be consider almost a hyper hitchcock and be almost too jokey and slavish to it director flight of fancy and while benton film exhibit the cool reserve and almost detachment and of it sophisticated new york setting . hitchcock be the undisputed master of thriller and remain so to this day while it wonderful to see other and modern director try their hand at the lost art of the classy thriller or mystery . still of the night be definitely worth discover and no matter it minor fault .