In Broad Daylight (1971 TV Movie) User Reviews

entertaining

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 6 March 2005]

This was a great script from the prolific Larry Cohen, who wrote episodes for "Columbo," "Arrest and Trial" (a forerunner of "Law and Order") and episodes for Kraft Suspense Theater and "The Defenders." He has also written feature films.

I'd love to see this film again - I wish it would come out on video. It stars Richard Boone as a newly-blinded actor and Suzanne Pleshette as his teacher. Though the Boone character puts on a big show for Pleshette of refusing to accept his blindness, he coldly and calculatedly trains himself to act as a seeing man so that, in disguise, he can get rid of his wife and her lover.

It's a suspenseful story, a fascinating character-study and all around great entertainment. For some reason, this kind of TV movie fare has gone out of style and been replaced by women at risk films, rather slow-moving versions of Robin Cook and Mary Higgins Clark novels and the like. But we mystery buffs old enough to remember the '70s remember - with nostalgia - this kind of film.

Framed!

[AlsExGal · 8/10 · 3 October 2021]

This is very much like a Columbo episode. Clocking in at 73 minutes, it was written by Larry Cohen, who later penned quite a few Columbo episodes. If you are a youngster and don't know who Columbo was, he was a raincoat wearing TV cop who looks at the less obvious suspect and wears them down with his "Just one more thing..." questions and his annoying quirky presence until the murderers trap themselves.

Richard Boone plays an actor, Tony Chappel, who recently went blind and is leaving some institute where he has been recovering and relearning basic skills as a blind person. He is being allowed to leave five days early and with his own full time therapist - somebody to help him continue learning how to adapt. This person is played by Suzanne Pleshette. If you have your calculator out and find this sounds all very expensive, first off Chappel was apparently a very successful actor and thus very rich, and plus healthcare costs have grown far faster than the rate of inflation this past fifty years.

On the way home Tony asks the therapist, Kate, if he can stop by his lawyer's apartment and get something without her assistance. He even knows the desk drawer. She relents. Tony actually does find his way up to the apartment and lets himself in with a key that he knows is hidden outside. Once inside, he hears his wife Elizabeth (Stella Stevens) and his lawyer in the bedroom doing bedroomy things with her talking about how exciting he is and what a drag it will be having to take care of Tony once he gets home. Tony leaves undetected but pretends to his therapist that he got lost and never got into the apartment. He immediately and secretly plans to murder his wife by shooting her and set up his attorney for the crime. But how can a blind man shoot anybody? Watch and find out.

Just like in Columbo, relationships are not deeply probed. The focus is on Tony and how he arranges everything to pull off the perfect crime. I've never seen Boone in much but "Have Gun Will Travel" and he did command my attention throughout. As an actor, Tony effectively and continually misleads everybody about both minor and major details and never lets on to his wife that everything between them is anything but perfect.

After the crime, which happens rather ironically itself, "an inspector calls" - John Marley as Lt. Bergman. Marley is rather bland in this part but he is methodical and thorough. But the important thing is from the beginning, he suspects Tony, in spite of evidence that the attorney did do it and that Tony is blind. Suzanne Pleshette, in spite of being second billed, does not have that much to do here.

I'd recommend this. But there is just one thing...never is it revealed HOW Tony became blind. Was it an accident? A disease? It is never mentioned. Also, was Tony's arrest even legal? The aftermath would have made a great episode of Law&Order. It is a very suspenseful made for TV treat and I would recommend it.

Old fashioned melodrama really works as a TV movie.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 15 December 2021]

In studying TV movies of the 1960's and 70's and even into the 1980's, I got tired of the typical theme of someone being in jeopardy while driving cross-country and suddenly encountering danger. After "Duel", there seem to be dozens of movies like this. So when I come across a film like this where you can really get into the plot rather than cover territory you've already seen yet have an idea of where it's going, it becomes thrilling and more of a challenge. Sometimes variations of the ugliness of society can become tiresome when you see in the same tropes over and over again.

I was never a fan of Richard Boone, but he's very good in this melodrama, the type of story that you would see in classic movies of the 1930's and 40's, whether a standard mystery or the later film noir. Edward G. Robinson played at least three roles like this, and here, Richard Boone seems to be playing A variation of the Robinson character in the 1934 Warner Brothers melodrama "The Man with Two Faces". Of course oh, the plot gets outlandish here and there, but that's what makes it fun because you never know where it's going to go from there.

Blinded in an accident, Boone is an actor returning home from the hospital with therapist Suzanne Pleshette and discovers that wife Stella Stevens is fooling around on him with his best friend, lawyer Fred Bier. Boone takes his time in deciding what he's going to do and eventually decides that he's going to kill them both. Like Robinson in that 1934 movie, he uses a wig and mustache to make himself look completely different to set up the crime, and it's absolutely thrilling.

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Murder", Boone bellows, and in his determination to commit the perfect crime, the audience almost wants to see him get away with it. Stephens play quite a few of these tramp wives in TV movies and on the big screen, so it's obvious that she could do it in her sleep. Pleshette is absolutely lovely, and watching her as always a pleasure. But this is Boone's movie, and whether discussing "The Man who Came to Dinner" or "Oedipus", or counting every step to figure out his next psychological step, he's brilliant, and I couldn't even see John Barrymoore doing a better job as that seems to be whom Boone is emulating.

Very enjoyable...though completely far-fetched.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 26 January 2017]

"In Broad Daylight" is an enjoyable made for TV movie, but in order to get the most of it you really need to suspend that nagging voice within you telling you how ludicrous the story really is. This is not a huge problem...but the story is very difficult to believe.

Tony (Richard Boone) is a famous actor who recently lost his sight. As a result, he's working with a therapist (Susanne Pleshette) to learn to adapt to everyday life. However, during this time Tony learns that his wife is cheating on him and so he concocts a complicated plan. First, he starts pretending to do poorly with his rehab--pretending to get lost and having great difficulties finding his way outside his apartment. In reality, he's VERY adept at such things. Second, he works out an intricate plan to go to his lawyer's apartment and kill his wife since that's her lover. But to do this, he dons makeup and pretends to be a nice Greek man who can see just fine. While it seems to work very well, a cop investigating the case (John Marley) is determined to find out who killed Tony's wife.

There are 1001 different problems which could have arisen during the complicated drip to and from the lawyer's home. Yet, inexplicably, Tony does a near perfect job...something a blind person MIGHT be able to pull off but unlikely....and even more unlikely since he only recently lost his sight. Additionally, the umbrella angle came off as a bit silly--particularly when Tony goes to retrieve it. Still, despite all this, it's an interesting little made for TV film and never bores.

suspenseful and enjoyable

[myriamlenys · 7/10 · 2 February 2020]

A middle-aged actor of some fame goes blind. By coincidence, he discovers that his beautiful wife is cheating on him with a mutual friend. Determined to kill her, he coolly and patiently plans the perfect crime...

"In Broad Daylight" is an enjoyable thriller built on a clever, though not entirely plausible plot. It looks and feels very much like one of the more ambitious episodes of "Columbo". It even partakes in one of the main characteristics of the "Columbo" series : it's got an experienced, intelligent police inspector who -bingo ! - immediately hones in on the right man, although there might be five or six equally promising suspects walking around.

It's a good thriller but it might have been wise to add some additional twist or complication. Or why not give the guide dog something to do ? As it now stands, this faithful canine has little else to do than look nice. (Am I right in supposing that this is a white Canadian sheepdog ? Delightful animals !)

People with a great fear of heights may want to skip the scene where our blind anti-hero descends the fire escape...

"It's Just Routine, Sir!"...

[azathothpwiggins · 29 August 2022]

Having recently lost his eyesight, actor Tony Chappel (Richard Boone) finds that blindness is only one of his problems. While he was away in rehab, his beautiful wife (Stella Stevens) has gotten a bit too friendly with Tony's attorney. Now, Tony sets out on a seemingly impossible revenge scheme.

IN BROAD DAYLIGHT is a satisfying made-for-TV thriller with a simple, yet ingenious storyline. Written by the great Larry Cohen, it's a novel twist on the crime drama. Boone is convincing in his sightless role. His barely contained outbursts of temper are perfectly executed. Suzanne Pleshette plays Kate, Tony's kindly rehabilitation instructor, and John Marley is Lt. Bergman, the determined cop on the case.

The final act might be a tad predictable, but it's still a fitting denouement...

Blind man makes unfaithful wife pay

[adrianovasconcelos · 7/10 · 14 May 2024]

John Marley must have played his role in IN BROAD DAYLIGHT just before his most famous role of all as Jack Woltz in THE GODFATHER. As is well known, criminals always think themselves cleverer than the policemen investigating them, and that is exactly the case here: Richard Boone, portraying fairly convincingly an actor and movie director who has gone blind, catches his wife having intimacy with his best friend and decides to ice her and make the adulterous pal the culprit.

Needless to say, a blind man is bound to make more mistakes than a normal person, even one of poor eyesight, and in this instance he makes the mistake of taking his therapist's umbrella.

Suzanne Pleshette plays that therapist - a small and largely meaningless part, rather sad to watch. She helps with advice and a guide dog, but ends up compromising her client twice by speaking too much and coming back searching for her brolly.

That is where Marley proves the superior intelligence of the copper, immediately pouncing on the fact that Pleshette had lost her umbrella and linking it to the Greek fella who went into Boone's wife's hotel with the umbrella that only the porter saw. (Puzzled as to the reason for linking a missing brolly to a fellow no one could identify? So am I!)

Of course, blind Boone makes the classical mistake of returning to the scene of the crime... and catching the wrong taxi.

Passable TV entertainment that does not tax your brain cells.

Worthy Early 70s Crime Drama

[secragt · 9/10 · 17 September 2003]

Must disagree with the previous reviewer, who apparently only accepts Ingmar Bergman and Fellini as art and can't appreciate a good meat and potatoes thinking man's thriller when he sees it. IN BROAD DAYLIGHT isn't Fellini but it is definitely a suspenseful and rewarding early 70s crime drama featuring a memorable turn by Richard Boone as a blind man who pretends to be sighted in order to kill his philandering wife. Solid cast includes the timeless Stella Stevens, Suzanne Pleshette and Whit Bissell, all of whom turn in good performances. Perhaps there aren't the requisite car chases and gunplay associated with typical 70s crime drama, but this quieter revenge story is still absorbing and compelling from start to finish. More than anything, though, this is a character study of Boone's blind man coping with the realization of his betrayal and coldly calculating how to transform his helplessness and hatred into advantage and revenge. The clever premise is bolstered by real tension throughout and a satisfying Ulmeresque Detour-like ending, despite the previous reviewer's odd dismissal.

This was actually a TV-movie produced by Aaron (LOVE BOAT, CHARLIE'S ANGELS, MELROSE PLACE, etc.) Spelling before he took up the lowest common denominator jiggly soap opera / action adventure mantle which built his 250-room Palace of Versailles in Beverly Hills. Too bad Aaron didn't continue down this darker, less commercial but more intriguing road, which tells the bleak story of a bright man who refuses to live his life in the dark. Spelling might not have built his huge palace making movies like this, but he'd certainly still have wound up with a couple ten bedroom mansions and a beach house, and we'd have a far superior filmography to enjoy. 8.5 /10

B level Columbo Episode - with Flaws

[eddielouie-1 · 6/10 · 16 January 2023]

As others have noted this is a pretty decent movie that is in the style of Columbo. Interesting to note that it aired after the two Columbo pilots in 1968 & March 1971 and after the first two episodes but before it was a bona fide, iconic smash. Hard to know if this was coincidence or a knock-off with that timing. There are two major plot flaws that keep it from being better 1) All the victim - his wife - had to do when confronted by Tony pointing a gun is to silently and/or quickly move out of the way since as blind man he could not know where she went - at least not enough to accurately shoot her. She could have gone behind the desk or the chair or just ducked down. Instead she stood in place and threw a picture frame at him - stupid. 2 ) The "Columbo" of the story played by John Marley of Godfather horse-head fame solves the case WAY too easily. He figures out Tony was the killer in a matter of minutes and also the clue needed to prove it. And then he manages to capture him just as he returns to the scene of the crime. At least Columbo would require 90-120 minutes. The movie is still clever in parts but these plot holes are distracting.

Excellent 70's Thriller

[filmguru-42105 · 9/10 · 13 April 2018]

I saw this in the 1970's and recently viewed it again...it is still enjoyable. Richard Boone is great as a blind actor who plots revenge on his unfaithful wife played by Stella Stevens. Suzanne Pleshette and John Marley also play key roles. There is lots of suspense and LA scenes.

Smart plot!

[RodrigAndrisan · 8/10 · 12 March 2021]

Also original! Of course I won't tell the movie, like most others do. I will only say this: it's absolutely worth seeing! Richard Boone, an actor I love, is excellent. Stella Stevens, when she was attractive and sexy, is no less good in the role of the adulterous wife. There is also the sweet Suzanne Pleshette in the role of a caregiver. John Marley, was much more convincing in "Love Story" (1970) and "The Godfather" (1972) here, as a detective cop is not perfectly credible. Instead, a very beautiful and very smart dog is also in the cast. Robert Day, the English director, was a good craftsman, directing episodes of famous TV series such as "The Avengers", "The Invaders", "The Streets of San Francisco", "McCloud", "Kojak", "Dallas". He also directed "She", the boring "cult" film with Ursula Andress. This "In Broad Daylight" is perhaps his best film.

"You're wrong about this country...some people are very nice."

[moonspinner55 · 4/10 · 2 April 2017]

Blinded actor in Hollywood overhears his lusty, lying wife cheating on him with his lawyer; he concocts an elaborate plot to do her in. Aaron Spelling-produced TV-movie of infidelity and revenge was written by Larry Cohen, who had previously scripted "Daddy's Gone A-Hunting" in 1969 (another settle-the-score drama). Cohen's idea of a clever twist--utilizing the blind man's former profession to play up the theatricality of his murder plot--allows star Richard Boone a few colorful moments, but otherwise it feels like cheap gimmickry. Technical aspects and photography are about on-par for a low-budget movie of the week, though "guest star" Stella Stevens plays a shrew like nobody's business, and Suzanne Pleshette does well with the thankless role of Boone's therapist.

the best whodunit in years. Will it be back on tv again?

[gparislbfan · 10/10 · 20 September 2000]

I saw this movie back in the 70's and never forgot it. It was just so good. I only seen it once. I look in tv guide all the time to see if it would come on again or may on TNT or AMC on cable . please find it and show it again

Very good

[Delrvich · 8/10 · 20 April 2020]

Got a bit tense towards the end. Felt as good as a Columbo episode. Bravo!

A nice thriller

[GOWBTW · 9/10 · 17 August 2020]

A whodunit film for the ages. An actor who recently lost his sight, an unfaithful wife who is later murdered. Not bad. Richard Boone from "Have Gun-Will Travel" plays actor Tony Chapel, a recently blind man who has to learn his way around him. Stella Stevens plays Elizabeth, his wife who spent a lot of times with his lawyer friend. Suzanne Pleshette, plays Kate, his therapist. Tony is known for his over-the-top performance. His outbursts of knowing his wife's unfaithfulness, and his feelings of having a seeing eye dog. Unlike the reaction of his wife's indiscretions, he takes the liking of the dog. A year before his big part of the bedroom scene of "The Godfather", John Marley played the police lieutenant who investigated the murder of the wife. A lot of clues to be found, this TV movie is out of sight, literally. Boone played his character out well. It would be hard to be a murderer if you a blind. Everyone was seriously in their work, and it was made well. Liked what Aaron Spelling did. It's a keeper. 2 out of 5 stars

70s Noir

[simonhecubus · 8/10 · 11 August 2020]

Enjoyably Far-Fetched. As someone pointed out, this was written by Larry Cohen, which explains the Columbo-esque feel to the movie. Whereas, Columbo is 25% planning and murder and 75% Columbo harrassment, this one is visa.

Despite the well-to-do characters and sunny scenery, this film is quite noir, especially the frenetic last 1/3 or so. And the ending is Noir As F___!!

I really love these old Movies of the Week!!

Blind Angle makes for only a Slight Twist in Typical TV Fare

[rwint · 21 July 2001]

Recently blinded actor Boone (we are never told why he is blinded except that it was a 'accident') finds out that his wife is being unfaithful. Comes up with a elaborate plan to kill her by posing as a 'sighted' man. Not really as imaginative as you'd might expect from a Larry Cohen script. Has what some might consider a 'surprise' ending, but it's really on a very minor level. Stevens (who else?) makes a great sleazy wife.

Post Card Colour!!

[kidboots · 8/10 · 28 October 2018]

Also found this a fabulous movie. I've seen a few of these tele-movies, most seem to have a twist but then twist again!! This has an almost post card colour (were early 1970s movies always as garish as this)?? Richard Boone plays a once great actor who is already blind by the movie's start but that doesn't stop him carefully plotting the murder of his delectable wife (played by the delectable Stella Stevens, who else??). The beginning has almost nail biting suspense as he finds his way to his best friend's flat - only to realise his wife is already there!! The rest of the movie involves his elaborate murder scheme. Unbeknownst to his therapist (lovely Susanne Pleshette in a thankless role), she also becomes involved as he gets her to take him all over the city mainly by public transport and taxi's, ostensibly because he wants to be able to relearn ordinary every day life but in reality he is meticulously plotting to be able to get to his friend's flat unaided. I didn't think he was deliberately posing as a sighted man, it just seemed people (taxi drivers, young lad and doorman) took it for granted.

Richard Boone (looking very Walter Matthauish) is good as the over the hill actor although it's hard to imagine what bright, vibrant Stella Stevens once saw in him. For once Pleshette has the pedestrian role as the therapist, it would have been nice to see her in a role more worthy of her.