The Golden Gate Murders

The Golden Gate Murders
Also known asSpecter on the Bridge
GenreMurder Mystery
Written byDavid Kinghorn
Directed byWalter Grauman
StarringDavid Janssen, Susannah York
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerCarl Foreman
ProducerJerome Davis
Production companyUniversal
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseOctober 3, 1979 (1979-10-03)

The Golden Gate Murders is a 1979 American TV movie. It was the sole television credit for executive producer Carl Foreman who had a long track record in feature films as a writer and producer.[1][2][3]

It received theatrical release in some territories under the title Specter on the Bridge.[4]

Premise

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A detective and a nun, Sister Benecia, investigate the death of a priest on the Golden Gate Bridge. They refuse to believe it is a suicide.[5]

Cast

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Production

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Writer David Kinghorn got the idea while constantly looking at the Golden Gate Bridge from a hospital room when recovering from an accident. It was his first script to be filmed. It was also the first telemovie from executive producer Carl Foreman who said "I'm getting into television for the education. I want to learn the ground rules for television and there's no better time to learn than now."[6] It was Susannah York's American television debut.[7]

Filming began in early January 1979 under the title Specter on the Bridge.[8] The movie was shot in Los Angeles and on location in San Francisco over a three week period.[1]

Foreman says the director did a cut of the film then the producer but both were too long so he did one.[1]

Reception

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The Los Angeles Times called it "great fun to watch".[9] The Californian said "suspense is kept to a minimum."[10]

Foreman intended to make more television shows. However this would be his sole television credit.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Benson, Ray (September 29, 1979). "Big screens move into homes to stay". The Columbia Record. p. 33.
  2. ^ Rosenfeld, Paul (March 4, 1979). "'Have you seen any good novels lately?'". The Los Angeles Times. p. 29.
  3. ^ Thomas, Kevin (September 30, 1979). "Movies of the Week". The Los Angeles Times. p. Television 7.
  4. ^ American screenwriters. Gale Research Co. 1984. p. 108. ISBN 9780810309173.
  5. ^ Marill, Alvin H (1987). Movies made for television : the telefeature and the mini-series, 1964-1986. New York Zoetrope. p. 165.
  6. ^ "Script born in hospital". The Palm Beach Post. September 30, 1979. p. TV17.
  7. ^ "Detective, Nun investigate murder". The Tampa Tribune. September 30, 1979. p. 50.
  8. ^ Tashman, George (January 15, 1979). "Tashman on TV". The Berkeley Gazette. p. 15.
  9. ^ Smith, Cecil (October 3, 1979). "The Golden Gate Murders". The Los Angeles Times. p. 100.
  10. ^ Hanauer, Joan (October 2, 1979). "Pope shouldn't watch this one". The Californian. p. 23.
  11. ^ "'High Noon' Scenarist dead at 69". The Fresno Bee. June 27, 1984. p. 4.
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