The Midnight Man (1974)

An ex-con, once a cop, now working as security in a college, decides to investigate the murder of one of the students, a daughter of a senator.

Directors:

Roland Kibbee, Burt Lancaster

Writers:

David Anthony (novel), Roland Kibbee

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Susan Clark, Cameron Mitchell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Lancaster	...	Jim Slade
Susan Clark	...	Linda Thorpe
Cameron Mitchell	...	Quartz
Morgan Woodward	...	Clayborne
Harris Yulin	...	Casey
Robert Quarry	...	Dr. Prichette
Joan Lorring	...	Judy
Lawrence Dobkin	...	Mason
Ed Lauter	...	Leroy
Mills Watson	...	Cash
Charles Tyner	...	Ewing
Catherine Bach	...	Natalie
Bill Lancaster	...	King (as William Lancaster)
Quinn K. Redeker	...	Swanson
Richard Winterstein	...	Virgil

Storyline

An ex-con, once a cop, now working as security in a college, decides to investigate the murder of one of the students, a daughter of a senator.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | written and directed by cast member | murder mystery | lesbian | time in title | 

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Taglines:

The score is one dead, ten witnesses to go.

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Genres:

Mystery

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 June 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Mitternachtsmann

Filming Locations:

Anderson, South Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Norlan Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filming took place in and around Clemson University campus.

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Soundtracks

Come On Back Where You Belong
Lyrics by Morgan Ames
Music by Dave Grusin
Sung by Yvonne Elliman

User Reviews

His Own Sense Of Integrity

Burt Lancaster's last attempt at directing was in this sadly neglected film, The Midnight Man. I was lucky enough to catch it theaters back in the day and a few times on television. Why it was panned by so many critics is as big a mystery as the one Burt Lancaster has to solve.

In The Midnight Man Lancaster plays a former police detective who did a stretch for homicide himself, he killed his wife's lover. Now released from prison and on parole, he gets a job courtesy of an old police buddy Cameron Mitchell as a campus security guard at a small southern college. No sooner does he arrive there than the murder of a pretty and popular coed occur and an incriminating diary she kept goes missing.

Of course this is the job of the local sheriff Harris Yulin, but Lancaster's instincts just take over and before long three other murders occur. Of course they all arise out of the initial incident.

The Midnight Man is a good and complex tale of murder and blackmail and was shot on Clemson College campus on location for a good ring of authenticity. Lancaster and co-director/writer Roland Kibbee put together a very good cast. Note the following roles besides those I've already mentioned: Morgan Woodward as a southern senator and father of the first victim, Susan Clark as a faculty member who takes a romantic interest in Lancaster, and Ed Lauter and Mills Watson as a pair of Deliverance type inbreds who are working for someone who really wants Burt out of the way. Burt's son Bill Lancaster is in the cast as another college student who also winds up a murder victim.

Some of the results will surprise you and what I like about the film is that Lancaster probably could have covered for a couple of the perpetrators, but his own sense of integrity wouldn't let him do that. Best scene in the film for action fans is his escape from those Deliverance types who capture him and are awaiting instructions. At least we know they're no good. Who else winds up on the wrong side of the law will surprise you and you will keep guessing until the end.