The Midnight Man

It's one of those movies where you should write down names and take down notes because, it has a few suspects, red herrings, and sub-plots. Or, just watch it twice. Almost like Murder On The Orient Express.

How refreshing to discover an unassuming, soft-spoken lawman acting as a security-guard on a quiet college campus! He's not in the police force, yet finds himself irresistibly investigating the demise of a female student. Why would a security guard endanger his parole, his new job and even his life to poke his nose where he should not? Well, that's for You to find out...if you follow the movie yourself! I found myself being sucked ever deeper into the story, as the minutes passed. Maybe You will, too....

Former cop Lancaster is just out of jail on parole after catching his wife in bed with her lover, and killing him. He is now a college nightwatchman and no sooner he arrives on the scene than the daughter of a senator is murdered. That is not all, either: he actually gave the girl a lift home so he was one of the last persons to see her alive. Thankfully, he has a good friend in Cameron Mitchell, who receives him in his house despite having broken a leg; and an even more wonderful parole officer in the stunningly beautiful Susan Clark. And so begins a rollercoaster of events and all is definitely not what it seems in this flick. Joint direction by Kibbee and Lancaster is effective; script is credible, peeling away each layer of the mystery at a leisurely pace; photography is competent, standard 1970s fare; and acting by Lancaster and Clark is exceptionally good. Mitchell, Yulin, Splawn and Lauter prove more than adequate in the supporting roles. I ended up enjoying MIDNIGHT MAN a darned sight more than I had expected. 8/10

"The Midnight Man" refers to Burt Lancaster's new job as a college security guard, working the midnight to 8:00am shift. The murder of a pretty coed immediately draws Lancaster into the investigation by way of his ex cop instincts. He buts heads with the police chief over an obvious suspect, and then the picture begins to spiral out of control. A multitude of suspects, each with a rather obscure motive begins to cloud the water. Although the cast is very good, character development is sacrificed in favor of rapidly moving from one person of interest to the next. By the conclusion, the viewer is unable to keep up with the story line. In fact, Lancaster in the end gives a long summary of who did what to whom, too little effect, since the names he throws out really don't help. The movie is very watchable, but second, or even third viewings might be required to bring clarity. - MERK