Physical Evidence (1989)

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.

Director:

Michael Crichton

Writers:

Steve Ransohoff (story), Bill Phillips (story)

Stars:

Burt Reynolds, Theresa Russell, Ned Beatty

1 win.

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

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.

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Plot Keywords:

murder of a police officer | shooting a police officer | shot in the chest | cohabitation | bare chested male | 

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Taglines:

A suspect. His lawyer. Between the evidence and the passion lies innocence or guilt.

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was a Columbia Pictures release in the United States and Canada, with Rank Film Distributors Ltd. handling foreign distribution. It was one of the motion pictures made as a result of a venture producer Martin Ransohoff formed in 1986 with Columbia Pictures, Rank Film Distributors Ltd., and Vestron Video.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 27 mins) It is night when the cop brings food to the cruiser. But, seconds later it is clearly daytime.

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Quotes

Jenny Hudson: [as Jenny's lips get romantically close to Joe's] No way, Jose.
Joe Paris: I ain't Jose.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Physical Evidence/Parents/Gone with the Wind (50th Anniversary)/The Dressmaker (1989)

User Reviews

1989's Physical Evidence, Theresa Russell & 1988's Switching Channels, Kathleen Turner could pass as Sisters

So we agree that 'Physical Evidence' actress Theresa Russell turns in a sub-bar performance acting along side Legendary Burt Reynolds. However any hollywood fan would agree that actress Theresa Russell and actress Kathleen Turner could pass as sisters with Kathleen being the 'sinister one'. So, why is it that on 1988's 'Switching Channels' film with Burt Reynolds, Kathleen Turner, and Christopher Reeve, that Kathleen suffered Put-down and insult from Burt Reynolds to the Point that Superman had to intervene and tell Burn to 'stop it'. If Ms. Turner and Ms. Russell look like mirror images of each other, and Burt go along great with Ms. Russell, then why didnt he get along great with Ms. Turner. Obviously due to Ms. Turners' tough-woman anti-Man stance that she gloriously display in 1989 'War of Roses' film with Michael Douglas....unlike her 'Romancing the Stone' superb acting film appearance. Hence, we all agree that Ms. Turner was a better actress than Ms. Russell.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Az igazság törvénye

Filming Locations:

Tobin Bridge, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,777,358, 29 January 1989

Gross USA:

$3,560,932

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,560,932

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, The Rank Organisation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1