The Black Marble (1980)

A romantic comedy which explores the pressures on police officers.

Director:

Harold Becker

Writers:

Joseph Wambaugh (novel), Joseph Wambaugh (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Foxworth, Paula Prentiss, Harry Dean Stanton

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Foxworth	...	Sgt. A.M. Valnikov
Paula Prentiss	...	Sgt. Natalie Zimmerman
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Philo Skinner
Barbara Babcock	...	Madeline Whitfield
John Hancock	...	Clarence Cromwell
Raleigh Bond	...	Captain 'Hipless' Hooker
Judy Landers	...	Pattie Mae
Pat Corley	...	Itchy Mitch
Paul Henry Itkin	...	Det. Bullets Bambarella
Richard Dix	...	Alex Valnikov
Jorge Cervera Jr.	...	Dr. Rivera
Marilyn Chris	...	Mavis Skinner
Doris Belack	...	Harried Woman
Dallas Alinder	...	Chester Biggs
Elizabeth Farley	...	Receptionist

Storyline

Pragmatic Sgt. Natalie Zimmermann is paired with Valnikov, a romantic detective of Russian origin who is going through a midlife crisis. They fall in love while solving the case of the kidnapping of a socialite's pet dog.

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Plot Keywords:

color in title | vodka | russian orthodox | kidnapped animal | dog show | 

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Taglines:

JOSEPH WAMBAUGH'S DONE IT AGAIN. But he has never done it like this.

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Genres:

Crime | Romance | Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 March 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

La canica negra

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$2,500,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,500,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Black Marble Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joseph Wambaugh won the 1981 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his screenplay for this movie.

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Connections

Featured in Sneak Previews: Going to the Movies: Revisited (1981)

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Soundtracks

Ochi chyornye
(Dark Eyes)
Written by Florian Hermann and Adalgiso Ferraris

User Reviews

Lovely "little" movie that gets bigger & better on each viewing

A very underrated film that can be called a cop movie, a buddy movie or an odd couple movie; mainly, one that's funny, human & absolutely beguiling. And it gets better each time I see it. The scene in which Robert Foxworth seduces Barbara Babcock (or vice versa) saying again & again, "I'll find your doggie"; the scene in which Paula Prentiss hilariously seduces him as a Russian gypsy song plays in the BG; Harry Dean Stanton as a dog lover who doesn't want to harm the dog he must harm to be credible as a blackmailer; James Woods' violinist who wants to stop playing & pee; the Russian restaurant; Foxworth's drunken opening scene in a Russian church--all are so wonderful & so well acted that the movie is an absolute delight. It's not to everyone's taste, but it sure is to mine. At first, it was a lovely surprise. Now, it's like an old friend.