When police captain Frank Matthews is accused of murdering his adulterous wife and her lover he avoids arrest and sets out to find the killer.When police captain Frank Matthews is accused of murdering his adulterous wife and her lover he avoids arrest and sets out to find the killer.When police captain Frank Matthews is accused of murdering his adulterous wife and her lover he avoids arrest and sets out to find the killer.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
- Effie
- (as Isabell Sanford)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring location filming in Washington, DC, Martin Luther King was assassinated. The resulting riots in the capital caused the shooting company to wrap early and return to Los Angeles. Visible in the rear window of the cab during Jean Seberg's ride through the city, buildings are burning and smoke is obvious.
- GoofsIn the opening sequence, under the main titles, the taxicab starts out as a 1964 Plymouth. Upon arrival at its destination, the car has changed to a 1968 Plymouth.
- Quotes
Judge Kinsella: On your last appearance before me, Mr. Sanderson, it was my unpleasant duty to sentence you to death in the electric chair. Now, the duty I have before me now is in some respects even more unpleasant. I have no quarrel with the principle of law involved, it's a good and wise application of our constitutional guarantees, but in this case, it results in turning loose upon society a degraded and immoral person.
Judge Kinsella: [he continues] There's no doubt that in the first half of the twentieth century, we - and I mean the press and the public as well as the courts - had looked the other way as our police, in the name of law and order, showed a patent disregard for individual liberties as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. But it seems now that the pendulum is swinging a little too far the other way.
[sighs heavily]
Judge Kinsella: Well there is hope; gravity will bring it to rest at some point where the interests of both individual liberty and the community as a whole are best served. Motion is granted.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the '70s (2012)
- SoundtracksThe Pendulum Swings Both Ways
Music by Walter Scharf
Lyrics by Mack David
Sung by The Lettermen (as The Letterman)
The major subject of the film is the discussion and issue of the death penalty. A sexual murderer is released on insufficient evidence although everybody knows more than well what crimes he has committed and will be able to continue to commit, but no one can deny him the very natural and basic human right of a lawyer. Even the lawyer has problems with him, but since he is the best of lawyers he gets him out, and he is free to start all over again as he pleases, if he pleases.
Of course his highest wish is to take out his revenge on his number one enemy, the police officer who remained relentless in his case insisting on capital punishment, but he never dreamed of putting George Peppard into such a jam as he eventually finds himself into without anyone intending it.
Jean Seberg can make any film priceless for her presence, and so she does here as the wife, and the only thing you regret about this film is that you were not allowed to see more of her.
It's an ace of thrillers, one of the best in the 60s, and only a top rate is possible.
- clanciai
- Aug 22, 2018
- How long is Pendulum?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1