A Killing Affair (1977 film)

A Killing Affair (also known as Behind the Badge[1]) is a 1977 American made-for-television crime drama film starring Elizabeth Montgomery and O. J. Simpson. The film originally aired on CBS on September 21, 1977.

Not to be confused with A Killing Affair (1986 film).
A Killing Affair
Also known asBehind the Badge
GenreCrime
Screenplay byE. Arthur Kean
Directed byRichard C. Sarafian
Starring
ComposerRichard Shores
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerDavid Gerber
ProducerJames H. Brown
CinematographyAl Francis
EditorKen Zemke
Running time100 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseSeptember 21, 1977 (1977-09-21)

Plot

Elizabeth Montgomery and O. J. Simpson star as homicide detectives pursuing a killer played by Dean Stockwell. While working on the case, the partners begin having a heated romantic affair.[2][3]

Cast
ActorRole
Elizabeth MontgomeryVikki Eaton
O. J. SimpsonWoodrow York
Rosalind CashBeverly York
John MahonDet. Shoup
Priscilla PointerJudge Cudahy
Allan RichCapt. Bullis
Charles RobinsonBuck Fryman
John P. RyanFlagler
Dean StockwellKenneth Switzer
Dolph SweetLt. Scotty Neilson
Todd BridgesTodd York
Fred StuthmanLukens Switzer
John SteadmanCooks
Michael DurrellCabrillo
Stephen ParrSgt. Boyle

Reception

A Killing Affair received generally positive reviews, with particular praise for O. J. Simpson. People called it Simpson's "best dramatic performance to date."[4] John J. O'Connor of the New York Times wrote,

"A Killing Affair" is an odd mixture of cliché and quietly powerful statements and perceptions. With David Gerber as executive producer, it has the invaluable asset of a first-rate production. Mr. Simpson tends to settle into an acting monotone, but his personality is so basically attractive that he is able to get maximum results with minimum effort. Miss Montgomery accomplishes the difficult task of transforming a somewhat hardened and cynical professional into a vulnerable but unsentimental human being. And Rosalind Cash is superb as Mrs. York, uncompromising in her portrait of a loving woman being forced into the role of a shrew. Everything works out for the best in the end, of course, but even the resolution is acceptable and quite moving.[5]

A Killing Affair received a 29% Nielsen rating, finishing second to Charlie's Angels in its time slot.[2]

There was relatively little controversy generated by the interracial romance between the protagonists. Montgomery and Simpson did not receive any significant hate mail, though one Southern CBS affiliate did receive a bomb threat after the film aired.[2]

References
  1. Pilato, Herbie J. (October 7, 2013). The Essential Elizabeth Montgomery. Taylor Trade Publishing. p. 70. ISBN 9781589798250. Retrieved August 8, 2017 – via Google Books.
  2. Kisner, Ronald (December 1, 1977). "TV Breaks Old Taboos With New Morality". Jet. pp. 56–58. Retrieved August 8, 2017 – via Google Books.
  3. Goldberg, Haley (June 12, 2014). "The Hollywood career O.J. Simpson left behind". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  4. McCall, Cheryl (October 17, 1977). "Off the Field". People. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  5. O'Connor, John J. (September 21, 1977). "TV: 'Killing Affair' Packs Power". The New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
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