In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders (1988) (TV)

Director:

Dick Lowry

Writer:

Tracy Keenan Wynn (writer)

Release Date:

27 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Action | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Florida 1985: A series of brutal robberies and murders keeps the F.B.I busy. Although all crimes seem to be comitted by the same group...

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ronny Cox	...	Agent Benjamin 'Ben' Grogan
Bruce Greenwood	...	Agent Jerry Dove
Michael Gross	...	William "Bill" Russell Matix
Doug Sheehan	...	Agent Gordon McNeill
David Soul	...	Michael "Mike" Lee Platt
Ronald G. Joseph	...	Ed Mireles
Teri Copley	...	Vickie
Richard Jenkins
Peter McRobbie	...	John Hanlon
Anne Lange
Katie Layman		(as Kathleen Layman)
Deborah May
Becky Ann Baker
Randal Patrick
Ashton Wise
Jaime Tirelli
Geoffrey Deuel	...	Agent Gilbert M. Orrantia
Craig Thomas
Ann Kymberlie
Lisa Rieffel
Jeanne Tanzy Williams
Silvio Luciano
Dorothy Keller
David Orr
Cameron Pratto
Daniel Fern
Loren Peele
Dave Corey
Boaz
Grant Foster
B.J. McQueen
Ed Montgomery
Elliott Fried
Jan Carr
Tracy Roberts
Carole Nease
Terri Cobb
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ron Stone	...	FBI Agent (uncredited)

Directed by
Dick Lowry

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Tracy Keenan Wynn		writer

Produced by
Doris Bacon	....	associate producer
David R. Kappes	....	producer
Kenneth Kaufman	....	executive producer
Michael Lepiner	....	executive producer
Ooty Moorehead	....	associate producer
Mark Sennet	....	associate producer
Tracy Keenan Wynn	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Laurence Rosenthal

Cinematography by
Mike Fash

Film Editing by
Anita Brandt-Burgoyne		(as Anita B. Burgoyne)
Byron 'Buzz' Brandt

Art Direction by
Guy Barnes

Costume Design by
N. Deborah Hazlett

Makeup Department
Kathryn Bihr	....	hair stylist
Kathryn Bihr	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Linda Brachman	....	second assistant director
Doug Metzger	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Christopher Assells	....	sound editor
Stacy Brownrigg	....	boom operator
Bob Costanza	....	sound effects editor
Mortesa Rezvani	....	sound mixer
Rob Whitehurst	....	second boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Vincent Montefusco	....	special effects: pilot-pyro
Ken Speed	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
David S. Campbell	....	assistant camera
Troy Pressley	....	second assistant camera
David Sinrich	....	grip
Richard Speed	....	electrician

Other crew
Richard Borrego	....	government liaison
Dulanie M. Ellis	....	script supervisor
Kevin Franklin Gieb	....	assistant production coordinator
Ken Speed	....	armorer

Production Companies

• Telecom Entertainment Inc.
• World International Network (WIN)

Distributors

• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1988) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• New Films International

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Germany:18 | UK:15

Company:

Telecom Entertainment Inc.

Goofs:

Factual errors: While briefing the other agents in the parking lot, Agent Ben Grogan tells them to be on the look out for a black '79 Monte Carlo. The car the bad guys are in is actually a 1974 Monte Carlo. The FBI would not make this kind of mistake since they questioned the owner of the car earlier and know exactly what year and make it was.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'Tremors' (1998) (V)

Excellent, chilling movie

I first saw this TV movies years ago, and was as intrigued as everybody else by the casting of David Soul and Michael Gross.

Although I haven't seen it for some years, and didn't know the name, I felt compelled to hunt it down on IMDB to make a comment. As well as being outstanding in the action sequences, particularly the ultimate shootout, it was particularly notable for portraying the wrongdoers as unsentimental killers. These murders live with one years after having seen the movie. The makers achieve this not by lingering over the badness of the villains, but by showing them dispatching their victims lightly, unhesitatingly.

Good, skillful movie.