The Black Marble *** (1980, Robert Foxworth, Paula Prentiss, Harry Dean Stanton) – Classic Movie Review 9,435

Harold Becker’s 1980 cop mystery thriller romcom film The Black Marble stars an excellent cast headed by Robert Foxworth, Paula Prentiss and Harry Dean Stanton. 

Director Harold Becker’s 1980 cop mystery thriller romcom film The Black Marble stars Robert Foxworth, Paula Prentiss and Harry Dean Stanton, with Barbara Babcock, John Hancock and James Woods.

Foxworth plays a hard-drinking LA cop Sgt A M Valnikov, who gets a new sexy partner in Sgt Natalie Zimmerman (Prentiss), and we get something different from policeman-turned-novelist Joseph Wambaugh: a romantic comedy, though admittedly concerning police officers and with a bit of crime thrown in.

Foxworth recovers his zest for life and crime thanks to the love of Prentiss and their success in a case where they are out to capture dog kidnapper Philo Skinner (Stanton), who is demanding a ransom from the rich owner.

The excellent cast makes the most of the tasty dialogue, with Wambaugh writing his own screenplay from his 1978 novel, and Becker directs tautly, even if the tale itself is sometimes wobbly. However, Wambaugh won the 1981 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his screenplay.

Also in the cast are Anne Ramsey, Christopher Lloyd, Raleigh Bond, Judy Landers, Michael Dudikoff, Pat Corley, Linda Christen, and Marilyn Chris.

James Woods, star of Wambaugh’s 1979 The Onion Field, has a cameo as a fiddler.

The Black Marble is the second of a Becker trilogy starting with Wambaugh’s The Onion Field and ending with Taps.

The Black Marble was not a hit, costing $3 million and taking $2.5 million at the box office.

The Black Marble is directed by Harold Becker, runs 113 minutes, is made by Black Marble Company, is released by AVCO Embassy Pictures (1980) (US) and Barber Rose Film Distributors (1980) (UK), is written by Joseph Wambaugh, shot by Owen Roizman, produced by Frank Capra Jr, and scored by Maurice Jarre.

The cast are Robert Foxworth as Sgt A M Valnikov, Paula Prentiss as Sgt Natalie Zimmerman, Harry Dean Stanton as Philo Skinner, Barbara Babcock as Madeline Whitfield, John Hancock as Clarence Cromwell, Raleigh Bond as Capt. ‘Hipless’ Hooker, Judy Landers as Pattie Mae, Pat Corley as Itchy Mitch, Paul Henry Itkin as Det. Bullets Bambarella, Richard Dix as Alex Valnikov, Jorge Cervera Jr as Dr Rivera, Marilyn Chris as Marvis Skinner, Doris Belack as Married Woman, Michael Dudikoff as Millie’s houseboy, Lou Cutell as Mr Limpwood, Anne Ramsey as Bessie Callahan, Michael D Gainsborough as Captain Jack Packerton, Robin Raymond as Millie, Billy Beck as Man at Cemetery, Herta Ware as Grand Duchess, Christopher Lloyd as Arnold’s Collector, Adele Malis-Morey as Woman at Cemetery, Jane Daly as Bullets’ Girlfriend, and James Woods as The Fiddler.

Joseph Aloysius Wambaugh Jr was born on January 22, 1937.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9,435

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