Warning Shot (1967)

During a stakeout, an L.A. cop kills a doctor who presumably pulled a gun but the coroner's inquest finds no gun, forcing the cop to look for it to clear his name.

Director:

Buzz Kulik

Writers:

Whit Masterson (based on the novel "711--Officer Needs Help" by), Mann Rubin (screenplay by)

Stars:

David Janssen, Ed Begley, Keenan Wynn

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Janssen	...	Sgt. Tom Valens
Ed Begley	...	Capt. Roy Klodin
Keenan Wynn	...	Sgt. Ed Musso
Sam Wanamaker	...	Frank Sanderman
Lillian Gish	...	Alice Willows
Stefanie Powers	...	Liz Thayer
Eleanor Parker	...	Mrs. Doris Ruston
George Grizzard	...	Walt Cody
George Sanders	...	Calvin York
Steve Allen	...	Perry Knowland
Carroll O'Connor	...	Paul Jerez
Joan Collins	...	Joanie Valens
Walter Pidgeon	...	Orville Ames
Vito Scotti	...	Designer
David Garfield	...	Police Surgeon (as John Garfield Jr.)

Storyline

Police Sergeant Tom Valens (David Janssen) kills a man who pulls a gun on him during a stakeout. But the dead suspect is a respected doctor with no criminal record and the man's gun cannot be found, and the Sergeant is charged with manslaughter. The Sergeant works to clear his name and determine where the gun went and why the doctor was there at all.

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Plot Keywords:

year 1966 | lapd | police sergeant | fog | stakeout | 

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Taglines:

What's a little bullet between friends?

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Initially developed as a made-for-television movie, it was subsequently considered too violent and the subject matter too mature for television, so it was released as a theatrical feature.

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Quotes

Mrs. Doris Ruston: I'm not your picture of a bereaved widow, am I? You would have preferred someone draped in black and weeping softly to organ music. Frankly, I've got nothing to cry about. Strange, my admitting that to you, the man who killed him. Jim was a blob, a jellyfish... umm, aren't I terrible? Am I any worse than you, ogling his widow? You see, Mr. Valens, you're no more noble than I am - We're two of a kind.

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Connections

Referenced in Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the '70s (2012)

User Reviews

" Then my only option is to prove Dr. Rustin was no saint "

It seems the late, great actor, David Jansen always chased fame during his cinematic life. On television he was 'the fugitive' and due to its popularity, became not only a household name, but a fixture in American language. On screen, his movies are a thin veneer of what he really could have achieved. As one of his most ardent fans, I always believed he would one day peak. In this film called " Warning Shot " he came awful close to the mark. Within the story he plays Sgt. Tom Valens, a veteran L.A. police officer with a serious approach to his job. However five years prior, he tried to arrest a scared young punk who fired his gun hitting Valens in the gut, leaving him apprehensive about future suspects with guns. As a result, when Valens is assigned to a stakeout at an exclusive apartment complex, he confronts another frightened suspect and orders him to halt. The suspect instead runs suspiciously and when cornered draws what appears to be a pistol, prompting Valens to shoot first. It is later learned the man Valens' killed was not only a revered and social philanthropist, but a highly respected doctor, catering to the poor. Sadly, no gun can be found. Suspended from duty and placed on leave, Valens is advised to enlist a high profile attorney who like most others, advises his client to plead guilty and ask for leniency. Valens states he is a sore looser and opts instead to prove the good doctor was not so saintly as everyone seems to think he was. The film is highly underrated and with the star power has become a cult favorite. Ed Begley who plays Capt. Roy Klodin, Keenan Wynn who plays Sgt. Ed Musso, Carroll O'Connor, Steve Allen, George Sanders and Walter Pideon are among the most notable stars who have bit parts in the film. Together, along with the haunting theme by Jerry Goldsmith they are the reason why this film succeeds in becoming a David Jansen Classic. ****

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Warning Shot

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bob Banner Associates

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1