10 to Midnight (1983)

An LAPD detective and his rookie partner are on the trail of a psychopathic young man who is murdering young women.

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writer:

William Roberts

Stars:

Charles Bronson, Lisa Eilbacher, Andrew Stevens

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Bronson	...	Leo Kessler
Lisa Eilbacher	...	Laurie Kessler
Andrew Stevens	...	Paul McAnn
Gene Davis	...	Warren Stacy
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Dave Dante
Wilford Brimley	...	Captain Malone
Robert F. Lyons	...	Nathan Zager (as Robert Lyons)
Bert Williams	...	Mr. Johnson
Iva Lane	...	Bunny
Ola Ray	...	Ola
Kelly Preston	...	Doreen (as Kelly Palzis)
Cosie Costa	...	Dudley
Paul McCallum	...	Lab Technician
Jeana Keough	...	Karen (as Jeana Tomasina)
June Gilbert	...	Betty

Storyline

In Los Angeles, the rookie Detective Paul McAnn teams up with the veteran Detective Leo Kessler to investigate the murder of Betty Johnson and her boyfriend that were stabbed by a naked serial-killer in a park. Detective Kessler recognizes the victim, who lived in the same neighborhood many years ago and childhood friend of his daughter Laurie Kessler. The killer Warren Stacy goes to the funeral and overhears Betty's father telling Detective Kessler that his daughter had a diary. Warren breaks in Betty's apartment and stabs and kills her roommate Karen Smalley trying to find the diary. But Karen had already delivered the journal to Detective Kessler. Leo Kessler is sure that Warren is the serial-killer and her plants a false evidence in his apartment. However, Warren's defense lawyer presses Detective McAnn accusing him of perjury and Warren is released. Now Warren is stalking Laurie to revenge against her father.

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Plot Keywords:

female victims | exploitation film | female nudity | bare breasts | giallo | 

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Taglines:

BRONSON is back on the streets!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ten to Midnight

Filming Locations:

Thrifty - 11321 National Boulevard - Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,520,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,050,225, 13 March 1983

Gross USA:

$7,175,592

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,175,592

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cannon Films, City Films, Y & M Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The French title, "Le Justicier de Minuit", reinforced the wrong impression that the film belonged to the "Death Wish" franchise. The word "Justicier" (meaning "righter of wrongs") was indeed strongly attached to the two previously released "Death Wish" features.

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Goofs

Instead of simply losing his job, Kessler would have been immediately arrested and charged for planting evidence.

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Quotes

Laurie Kessler: [answering phone] Hello?
Warren Stacy: [making obscene call using Spanish accent] Hi, baby, what's doing? How you been?
Laurie Kessler: Oh, it's you again.
Warren Stacy: How about we get together? What you say?
Laurie Kessler: [playing along for McAnn, who is tracing the call] Well, I don't usually go out with strangers. What did you say your name was?
Warren Stacy: Call me Pedro. That means Peter. I got the biggest one you've ever seen.
Laurie Kessler: That's nice to know. What do you have in mind, Pedro?
Warren Stacy: I take you to a motel, we do it every way there is. How you like it? Up, down, ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

Warren's killings are done with him nude. In television broadcasts these scenes have Warren with flesh-colored briefs. Later scenes in the movie have inconsistencies in the color of briefs he wears. The wearing of any clothing is inconsistent with his alibis throughout the movie, as well.

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Connections

References Blonds Have More Fun (1979)

User Reviews

The Best Charles Bronson Movie Ever

Sure, some will throw they're vote to Death Wish or Telefon, but 10 to Midnight provides such a rich tapestry of Bronson cop movie cliches that to my mind it is all one need see.

The film has minimal Bronson action, the best Bronson lines (choice sample You know what this is for, Warren? It's for JERKING OFF! and moves along at a clip.

Another of those fascist post-Dirty Harry cop roles where the viewers' is sealed early as the movie goes to great lengths to make it clear that the killer is guilty even before we see Bronson.

Fantastic Bronson stuff.