Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Back Stab

  • 19901990
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
235
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Back Stab (1990)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
An architect goes to bed with a seductive stranger only to awaken beside the corpse of his boss.An architect goes to bed with a seductive stranger only to awaken beside the corpse of his boss.An architect goes to bed with a seductive stranger only to awaken beside the corpse of his boss.
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
235
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jim Kaufman
  • Writer
    • Paul Koval
  • Stars
    • James Brolin
    • Dorothée Berryman
    • Meg Foster
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jim Kaufman
  • Writer
    • Paul Koval
  • Stars
    • James Brolin
    • Dorothée Berryman
    • Meg Foster
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos42

    Back Stab (1990)
    Back Stab (1990)
    Back Stab (1990)
    Back Stab (1990)
    Back Stab (1990)
    Back Stab (1990)
    Back Stab (1990)
    Back Stab (1990)
    Back Stab (1990)
    Back Stab (1990)
    Back Stab (1990)
    Back Stab (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Brolin
    James Brolin
    • Cliff Murphyas Cliff Murphy
    Dorothée Berryman
    Dorothée Berryman
    • Juliet Powellas Juliet Powell
    Meg Foster
    Meg Foster
    • Sara Rudnickas Sara Rudnick
    June Chadwick
    June Chadwick
    • Mrs. Chambersas Mrs. Chambers
    Brett Halsey
    Brett Halsey
    • Ken Updikeas Ken Updike
    Isabelle Truchon
    • Jenniferas Jennifer
    Robert Morelli
    • Steve Howeas Steve Howe
    Terrence Labrosse
    • Mr. Chambersas Mr. Chambers
    Norris Domingue
    • Stanleyas Stanley
    Bronwen Mantel
    • Judgeas Judge
    James Rae
    James Rae
    • Ad Executiveas Ad Executive
    Tom Berry
    Tom Berry
    • Court Clerkas Court Clerk
    Brian Dooley
    Brian Dooley
    • J.H. the Guardas J.H. the Guard
    Robert Ozores
    • Prisoneras Prisoner
    Charles S. Doucet
    • Cop at Stationas Cop at Station
    • (as Charles Doucet)
    Alexander Chapman
    • Bob the Guardas Bob the Guard
    Yvon Charette
    • Pathologistas Pathologist
    Dorian Joe Clark
    • Court Cop #1as Court Cop #1
    • Director
      • Jim Kaufman
    • Writer
      • Paul Koval
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Jezebel's Kiss
    4.2
    Jezebel's Kiss
    Tripwire
    5.0
    Tripwire
    Shadowchaser
    4.4
    Shadowchaser
    Hidden Fears
    4.4
    Hidden Fears
    Stab 4: Fresh Blood
    6.0
    Stab 4: Fresh Blood
    The Wind
    5.0
    The Wind
    Night of the Juggler
    6.5
    Night of the Juggler
    Future Kick
    3.9
    Future Kick
    Diplomatic Immunity
    4.6
    Diplomatic Immunity
    Final Stab
    3.6
    Final Stab
    The Todd Killings
    6.0
    The Todd Killings
    Immortal Combat
    4.9
    Immortal Combat

    Storyline

    Edit
    Cliff Murphy is a lonely widow architect still grieving the death of his wife Anne. On the day the company where he works is sold to Mr. Chambers, a very wealthy man, his co-worker and friend Juliet Powell convinces him to join the other colleagues in a celebration in a bar. He reluctantly goes and he meets the gorgeous Caroline being harassed by a strong blonde guy. He stays with her and they have a hot intercourse in the back seat of her car. On the next day, Caroline calls him in the office and invites him to go to a restaurant. Then, they go in two cars to her house. After some kisses and hugs, Cliff meets Mr. Chambers back stabbed and dead on the bed in the master bedroom. Cliff goes to Juliet's flat and calls Sara Rudnick, a lawyer and former friend of Anne, asking her to defend him. She tells him to turn himself in to the police. He is put in jail and in the preliminary audience for the trial, Caroline is another woman. Cliff's world and defense turns upside down and he finds that someone has trapped him. But who? —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • architect
    • montreal quebec canada
    • fugitive
    • bistro
    • murder plot
    • 6 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Last night he fell in love with her. Today he's being framed for murder. Only she could save him... And she has disappeared.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      When the bartender hands Juliet her drink and Cliff's, he says "Here's your drinks!", but his lips do not match what he is saying.
    • Quotes

      Cliff Murphy: God, it's funny.

      Jennifer: What?

      Cliff Murphy: You can go months and months waiting for some kind of a change in your life. And when you least expect it, it just tumbles in right out of the blue. You know what I mean?

      Jennifer: Sure. I know what you mean.

    • Alternate versions
      Isabelle Truchon's and James Brolin's nude scenes were re-shot for television with their respective clothes and underwear on. A small portion can be seen in the film's trailer.
    • Soundtracks
      Touch
      Written by Daniel Barbe and Marty Simon

      Performed by Radar

      Courtesy of Polygram Music Publishing Inc.

    User reviews4

    Review
    Top review
    4/10
    Almost good in spite of itself, but the script works against it.
    As the story opens, architect Cliff Murphy (James Brolin) has retreated into his profession after the death of his wife. He joins his co-workers who have gathered at a local bar to signal the sale of his employers' firm to a new set of partners. The celebrants soon miss Cliff's presence and for good reason: he has scampered off with a splendrous young blonde, Jennifer (Isabelle Truchon). Apparently lacking self-denial, the duo soon consummate their newly-hatched relationship within the cramped bounds of Jennifer's automobile. This affair of the loins turns equivocal for Cliff during the passionate pair's follow-up date the next evening when, after their common interest results in a soft porn living room floor encounter, Jennifer disappears and Cliff finds himself to be alone, but for an upstairs and very fresh murder victim. Cliff then pays a visit to a friend and criminal attorney, Sara (Meg Foster) whom he must convince of his innocence. We are then tasked, alongside the beleaguered architect, with recalling any clues that might bring about his freedom. If one would care to bother with analysing the scenario, it will soon become palpable that an ongoing flux of coincidences fancifully moves the paranoia based action. The film is paced to a quick beat, and the largely capable cast generally avoids over emoting, with specially good work from Foster. Brolin, whose hirsute predilections for this production give him the appearance of a latter-day Wolfman, is not obligated to perform beyond his circumscribed aptitude, and his customary combination of perplexity and outrage is appropriate for his character. Talented Dorothee Berryman manages to make something interesting of her role, but June Chadwick cannot seem to figure out hers, and is undone in the attempt. Director Jim Kaufman induces some excellent turns from his cast but his endeavours cannot handle by half the absurdities of the screenplay, by Paul Koval and the film's editor, Paul Ziller. Montreal's suburbs in autumn are served well by a blend of skills from cinematographer Rodney Gibbons and set designer Richard Tasse, but the score by Marty Simon is consistently intrusive. In sum, this is a piece which moves along smartly and provides choice moments from some accomplished performers, but the jarring elements stemming from an overstrained and oft silly narrative ultimately lay it low.
    helpful•4
    3
    • rsoonsa
    • Aug 2, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 3, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Backstab
    • Filming locations
      • Montréal, Québec, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Allegro Films
      • CFCF-TV
      • Cinegems International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.