The Preppie Murder (1989)

This is the story of a young woman who was found dead. Now the police investigate, and evidence points to a man she was seen leaving a party with. Now when questioned, he claims that her ... See full summary »

Director:

John Herzfeld

Writers:

Irv Roud (story), John Herzfeld (teleplay),

Stars:

Danny Aiello, William Baldwin, Joanna Kerns

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Danny Aiello	...	Det. Mike Sheehan
William Baldwin	...	Robert Chambers
Joanna Kerns	...	Linda Fairstein
Lara Flynn Boyle	...	Jennifer Levin
Dorothy Fielding	...	Phyllis Chambers
James Handy	...	Detective Joe Brady Quinn
William Devane	...	Jack Litman
Allan Arbus	...	Arnold Domenitz, Grandfather
Christine Healy	...	Ellen Levin, Mother
Herb Mitchell	...	Robert Chambers Sr.
J.C. Quinn	...	Jack Dorrian
Alan Blumenfeld
Thalmus Rasulala	...	Judge Bell
Alan Rosenberg	...	Dan Levin, Uncle
David Spielberg	...	Steven Levin, Father

Storyline

This is the story of a young woman who was found dead. Now the police investigate, and evidence points to a man she was seen leaving a party with. Now when questioned, he claims that her death was accidental, as a result of rough sex. Now her family doesn't believe this, so they press the district attorney's office to try him for murder, but he has a good lawyer who plays his defense right down to putting the dead girl on trial.

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Plot Keywords:

death | sex | trial | murder | police | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

24 September 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Asesinato en Central Park

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jack Grossbart Productions, Preppie Productions, Spectacor Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

"Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak is featured in several scenes, including discos and Robert playing it in his bedroom, but the song was not released until 1989, 3 years after the murder.

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Connections

Features A Current Affair (1986)

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Soundtracks

"Self Control"
Performed by Laura Branigan

User Reviews

Nice Face, Shame About the Acting

I just saw this film for the first time, and I must agree with the previous reviewer - Alec's l'il bro was seriously miscast in the role of a remorseless murderer! While cute during the first 27.8 seconds of the movie, Billy's Basset Hound StaresT grew a little - no, make that extremely - tiresome in very short order. His good looks didn't make up for the fact that he couldn't act his way out of a paper bag, something the producers might have considered when they were looking for someone to play the role of a sociopath.

The only actor worth watching here was Danny Aiello; in fact most of those who played cops did so with amazing credibility. The interrogation scenes were a joy to watch and actually made you believe that this is what it must really be like (unlike the usual TV in-your-face all-anger-all-the-time TV cop shows).

In the end, though, I was left with the feeling that if a good actor had played the lead it may have been a better film.