A police officer suspended and now accused of murder is forced to join forces with his court-appointed attorney to assemble the pieces of a deadly puzzle to find the missing link before time runs out.
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Title: Physical Evidence (1989)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Burt Reynolds | ... | Joe Paris | |
| Theresa Russell | ... | Jenny Hudson | |
| Ned Beatty | ... | James Nicks | |
| Kay Lenz | ... | Deborah Quinn | |
| Ted McGinley | ... | Kyle | |
| Tom O'Brien | ... | Matt Farley | |
| Kenneth Welsh | ... | Harry Norton | |
| Ray Baker | ... | Strickler | |
 |
Ken James | ... | Hank Carruth |
|
|
Michael P. Moran | ... | Tony Reugger |
|
|
Angelo Rizacos | ... | Tony Sklar |
|
|
Lamar Jackson | ... | Delmar Fraser |
| Paul Hubbard | ... | Burt Knight | |
| Larry Reynolds | ... | Trial Judge | |
| Peter MacNeill | ... | Brannigan | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Extortionist Jake Farley is found strangled, and the clues lead directly to former detective Joe Paris, who insists on his innocence but can't provide an alibi. Public defendant Jenny Hudson gets the case, but has problems unravelling the case, complicated by the fact that virtually everyone hated Farley, and Paris has a few enemies as well. She rejects the prosecution's offers to plea bargain, but meanwhile the witnesses she finds are discredited or silenced, and an unidentified patrol car shadows Paris and Hudson wherever they go. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
Plot Keywords:
murder of a police officer | shooting a police officer | shot in the chest | cohabitation | police officer |Taglines:
If he's innocent, the truth could save him. If he's guilty, the lies could kill her. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
27 January 1989 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Az igazság törvénye See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$17,000,000 (estimated)Gross USA:
$3,560,932Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Joe Paris: I ain't Jose.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Regarding the Jenny Hudson character she plays in "Physical Evidence" actress Theresa Russell said: "What particularly intrigued me about Jenny was that she is as strong as her male counterpart in the film, actually stronger in most ways. He is dependent on her, and that is rare on screen today. "Joe and Jenny have a clear, adult relationship, the kind that seems to be regaining popularity with audiences. They meet, they assess and test each other, and they know they will never change the other". See more »Goofs
When Theresa Russell slides down the stairs headfirst in the climax of the film, she is clearly wearing knee pads. See more »Quotes
Jenny Hudson: [as Jenny's lips get romantically close to Joe's] No way, Jose.Joe Paris: I ain't Jose.
See more »
Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Physical Evidence/Parents/Gone with the Wind (50th Anniversary)/The Dressmaker (1989) See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Former cop Joe Paris (Burt Reynolds) was suspended for pushing his partner through a window after he shot an unarmed suspect. When criminal Jake Farley is founded murdered, Joe is arrested after finding evidence at his apartment. He's bloody, hungover, and can't remember the night before. Jennifer Hudson (Theresa Russell) is his eager new public defender who spent five years in the Peace Corps. James Nicks (Ned Beatty) is the prosecutor. Deborah Quinn (Kay Lenz) claims to be with Joe that night. She had contracted Farley to kill her powerful husband but changed her mind. He refused to pay her back but Joe somehow got the money for her. Jenny wants her to be Joe's alibi but Joe objects.
Michael Crichton as an IP generator is beyond reproach but as a director, he is average at best. This does not raise his average. The narrative flow is lacking. Burt Reynolds is cold which is good for his possible guilt. His innocence is not really in doubt but twists are expected in this type of movies. Russell overacts in a couple of scenes. The pairing is not that appealing. None of the characters are rooting interest material. This is a forgettable thriller.