A Killing Affair (1977)

The Age of Commercialism

Sadly Over-hyped

Absolutely the worst movie.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Pretty routine TV Movie of the week, watch this for Liz Montgomery and a creepy performance by Dean Stockwell. Otherwise, thin plot about some murder that Liz and O.J. are working on. Liz's character is supposed to be the type that only goes after rich men who drive Jaguars. She ends up falling for the Juice (no pun intended) O.J. Simpson, that is. Trouble is he is married to Rosalind Cash who is the type of wife that probably makes the mice jump on chairs when she walks into the kitchen. I love Liz and think she should have won Emmys for "A Case of Rape" AND "Lizzie Borden" but she is miscast as a cop. Dean Stockwell, however is quite creepy (or at least his hair is here!) as a cold blooded killer. How ironic O.J. leaves his Black wife for a blonde white chick here (just like he did in real life)....for 1977 the clothes are pretty tasteful, just some of those awful oversize sweaters in puky colors. There is some great L.A. location shooting here...not a horrible movie but not as good as some of Liz's previous or later work.

I like Elizabeth Montgomery, but she is miscast as a police detective who has an affair with her black partner O.J. Simpson. Her performance seemed detached and forced and the two stars have absolutely no onscreen charisma. In 1977 America, trying to make an edgy movie about biracial issues was not surprising but in order to make it work you must have characters who generate compassion and sympathy for their plight. Neither of these feelings came through for me. The writing was awful and Elizabeth could not pull off the "hip" language of the time. O.J. once again showed us why he never won any trophies for acting. Overall, an awful script and worse presentation but look for a cute , young Todd Bridges as O.J.'s son.

I saw this forgotten TV movie just once, on a cloudy, muggy summer evening 20 years ago. It struck me as one of the oddest and creepiest things I had ever seen on TV. I don't remember too much of the storyline, but I vividly recall its bleak, bad- dreamy moral and physical atmosphere. The direction was extremely artsy for a TV movie. Like a Welles or Hitchcock wannabe did it. Especially memorable was a shooting in some greasy spoon, with dramatic close-ups of eyeglasses flying and ketchup bottles shattering. Also, Elizabeth Montgomery's tough-gal detective character, when threatened with death, was not above whimpering and blubbering and begging for her life. It was a little TOO realistic. A far cry from Emma Peel. Don't recall OJ at all.

The "Killing Affair" is a 1977 tv movie where OJ Simpson plays a cop. And Elizabeth Montgomery as his seasoned world weary "new" partner. As time goes by they develop an attraction and have an affair. No big problem except, OJ is married. And his son is Todd Bridges.There's nothing really special about "A Killing Affair," although Montgomery is quite good. This movie is mostly a curio, for those that are still Simpson obsessed. Also it's interesting to see a young Todd bridges as well. All in all it's not really bad entertainment, particularly if you have nothing to do on a friday night. It might even be fun.