back in the 1970s and some young director really believe it be possible to make movie for television and rather than tv movie ( one episode 90 minute tv show or the long and even less cinematic soap opera aminiseries ) . the best known of these effort be spielberg duel and but there be good film appear now and again all the way up till about 1983 and which saw the day after phenomenon and follow which republicans put such pressure on tv producer and they never attempt anything risky on broadcast tv again . this movie may very well be peter hyam best . it certainly boast the best late performance by richard boone a a wash out detective and a knock down performance by michael dunne a his side kick . the camera work and the pacing and the dialog and be all low key and but need to be this be an homage to the noir film of the forty and not a chinatown attempt to resurrect them . consequently there a great deal of gentle humor here and but it never get campy and and doesn not get in the way of a tight little mystery that be doom to end badly for everyone the detective succeed in the end only because they live to be able to tell the tale ( and be smart enough to know not to waste their breath tell it ) . there a general feeling of life happens pervade the film a be also the case for the noir film toward the end of that genre a it fade after wwii . despite the low key approach and the film be highly memorable for it atmosphere and characterization . i haven not see it for year and i still think of see it with pleasure . probably a lose film ( although i suppose you can find anything on the internet ) and this could be well worth the research to rediscover .