P.J. (film)

P.J.
P.J.
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	John Guillermin
Screenplay by	Philip Reisman Jr.
Story by	Philip Reisman Jr.; Edward J. Montagne;
Produced by	Edward J. Montagne
Starring	George Peppard; Gayle Hunnicutt; Raymond Burr; Wilfrid Hyde-White; Brock Peters; Susan Saint James;
Cinematography	Loyal Griggs
Edited by	Sam E. Waxman
Music by	Neal Hefti
Color process	Technicolor
Production; company	Universal Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	March 27, 1968 (United States);
Running time	109 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1 million (US/Canada rentals)

P.J. (UK re-release title: New Face in Hell) is a 1968 American neo-noir mystery film directed by John Guillermin and starring George Peppard.

Plot

New York City private eye P.J. (Peter Joseph) Detweiler needs the work, so he accepts an offer to be a bodyguard to protect Maureen Preble, the mistress of shady millionaire William Orbison.

Orbison takes the family to the Bahamas, where a romantic attachment between P.J. and Maureen seems to be growing. Orbison's business partner, Grenoble, is shot dead and P.J. is arrested by the police. It becomes clear to P.J. that he has been set up by the Orbisons, who wanted to rid themselves of Grenoble and needed a fall guy.

P.J. is released by the authorities and makes it back to New York, where he confronts the masterminds of the plot. About all he can do is stand by as Orbison and his mistress end up doing away with one another.

Cast

George Peppard as P.J. Detweiler
Raymond Burr as William Orbison
Gayle Hunnicutt as Maureen Preble
Brock Peters as Waterpark
Wilfrid Hyde-White as Billings Browne
Jason Evers as Jason Grenoble
Coleen Gray as Betty Orbison
Susan Saint James as Linette Orbison
Severn Darden as Shelton Quell
Jane Van Duser as Elinor Silene (as H. Jane Van Duser)
George Furth as Sonny Silene
Barbara Dana as Lita
Herb Edelman as Charlie (as Herbert Edelman)
John Qualen as Poppa
Bert Freed as police lieutenant
Ken Lynch as Thorson
Jim Boles as landlord's agent
Arte Johnson as Jackie
King Charles MacNiles as calypso singer

Production

The film was originally called Criss Cross. Peppard's casting was announced in November 1966.^[2] John Guillermin agreed to direct shortly afterwards.^[3] In January 1967, Gayle Hunnicutt was cast as the female lead. She made the film under a non-exclusive two-picture deal with Universal.^[4]

Filming started in January 1967. It was reported that Peppard's earnings for four films he made for Universal—this, Tobruk, Rough Night in Jericho, and What's So Bad About Feeling Good?—came to $1.6 million plus percentages.^[5] Raymond Burr and Peppard purportedly clashed at first but then got along.^[6] The film's title was changed to New Face in Hell then in September 1967, the title was changed from New Face in Hell to PJ.^[7]

Reception

The Chicago Tribune called it "routine".^[8] The New York Times called it "fun". A reviewer for FilmInk wrote, "[the film] seems to have been made with one eye on being a new Harper (1966) – only it doesn't have Ross Macdonald, William Goldman, an all star cast or Paul Newman ... George Peppard is an ideal private eye but the film seems unsure how tough or comic to make his character – one minute he's a clown, the next a smart arse, the next a tough guy, the next someone who gets beaten up by patrons of a leather bar."^[9]

Home media

Kino Lorber released the film in North America on DVD and Blu-ray on October 6, 2020.

References

^ "Big Rental Films of 1968". Variety. January 8, 1969. p. 15.
^ MOVIE CALL SHEET: Peppard to Star in 'Criss-Cross', Los Angeles Times, November 21, 1966: p. c-21.
^ Martin, Betty. MOVIE CALL SHEET: 'Criss Cross' for Guillermin", Los Angeles Times, November 26, 1966: p. 18.
^ Martin, Betty., "Pact for UCLA Graduate", Los Angeles Times, January 10, 1967: p. d-11
^ "Criss Cross' Next on Peppard Slate", The Washington Post and Times-Herald (1959–1973); Washington, D.C. [Washington, D.C], January 27, 1967: p. D-9.
^ Muir, Florabel. "Mia Joins Sinatra in 'The Detective'", The Washington Post and Times-Herald, August 1, 1967: p. C-10.
^ "Steiger Gets 'Sergeant' Role", Los Angeles Times, September 9, 1967: p. 19.
^ Clifford, Terry. "'P. J.'—Routine Private Eyeful", Chicago Tribune, February 12, 1968: p. b-17.
^ Vagg, Stephen (November 17, 2020). "John Guillermin: Action Man". FilmInk.