The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1986) (TV)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Jeannot Szwarc

Writers:

Edgar Allan Poe (story)
David Epstein (teleplay)

Release Date:

7 December 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Horror

Plot:

A detective comes out of retirement to help his daughter's fiance prove that he did not commit a series of murders.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Retirement | Detective | Paris France | Retired Policeman

Cast

George C. Scott	...	Auguste Dupin
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Claire Dupin
Ian McShane	...	Prefect of Police
Neil Dickson	...	Adolphe Le Bon
Val Kilmer	...	Phillipe Huron
Maud Rayer	...	Melle L'Espanaye
Maxence Mailfort	...	Inspector Alphonse
Fernand Guiot	...	Dupar
Patrick Floersheim	...	The Sailor
Roger Lumont	...	Sergeant Marcel
Erick Desmarestz	...	Inspector Bec
Yvette Petit	...	Laundress
Serge Ridoux	...	Prison Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mak Wilson	...	Ape, performed by

Also Known As:

Le tueur de la Rue Morgue (France) (video title)

Runtime:

100 min | Germany:92 min (TV version)

Country:

USA | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:PG | UK:15 | USA:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

International Film Productions S.A.

Quotes:

Phillipe Huron: Have you thought about him?
Auguste Dupin: And that's when I said he would not have stood for it. Suppose that unlike me,
Auguste Dupin: [Clearing his throat] he would not have allowed himself to be pensioned off without a battle.
Phillipe Huron: My thought precisely. I'm sorry, Gust.
Auguste Dupin: Don't feel badly. I often wonder why I accepted it without a fight. I've seemed to have lost all stamina - all forcefulness. Ted, my boy, you don't know what it's like not having a job without work.
Auguste Dupin: [Angrily] The humiliation! The uselessness! The fear of not having a roof over your family's head! And the rage! The absolutte powerless rage!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Version of The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1914)

Just Didn't Deliver

Considering the fine start in this film, the movie overall was a huge disappointment. Part of that great beginning was the cinematography, a real eye-grabber particularly in the first 5-10 minutes.

The story begins to drag after awhile and it wasn't worthwhile sticking with it all the way - even though I did - because the ending is very unsatisfying.

I didn't recognize Rebecca deMornay, she looked so young. Val Kilmer, too, must have been at the beginning of his career. Being a TV movie, the language was pretty tame, which was nice, but the story just didn't deliver. It's not something I would give a second look.