THE GOLDEN GATE MURDERS

US, 1979, 109 minutes, Colour.
Susannah York, David Janssen, Lloyd Bochner, Kim Hunter.
Directed by Walter Grauman.

An average murder suspense telemovie. It has a difference. A priest falls from the Golden Gate Bridge. The subsequent investigation reveals many murders and a madman at work. The film is also complicated the fact that the heroine is Sister Benecia, played by the attractive Susannah York. It is inevitable that questions about vocation, leaving the convent, marriage and romance appear.

This gives some substance to the murder mystery. It is all written and played at a very popular T.V. audience level. There are some good supporting stars, for example Kim Hunter as the mother superior. Direction is by Walter Grauman, whose films are generally workmanlike, not brilliant.

1. An entertaining murder mystery? police story? Puzzle? romance with a difference?

2. The murder mystery geared for the attention and wide acceptance of the television audience? The elaboration of the situation, clues, complexity of characters, range of suspects? The details of police work? The background of convent and nuns? The satisfactory climax and solution?

3. The possibility of the priest committing suicide? The discovery of the range of deaths on the Golden Gate Bridge? The aura of the bridge and the location photography and studio photography? the strange mystique of people dying, on the bridge or from it?

4. David Janssen as Sergeant Silver? His rebellious attitudes and criticism of authority? His rival and his putting him down? his competence in his work? His initial antagonism towards Sister? Escorting her, buying her clothes, protecting her? The growing number of killings and his involvement? His caring for her and protecting her?

5. The solution of the mystery through his interrogation, contacts, visit to the asylum? The finale with the
farewell at the airport - and the elaborate arresting of her to get her from the plane? - their future together?

5. Sister Benecia - Susannah York's style? Accompanying the priest, a modern nun? Her stubbornness about the death of the priest? Her staying in the police precinct? The attitude of the Superior?

6. The mute Sister and her support and farewell? The ultimatum, in the convent? her determination, investigation? attention towards Silver and the dilemma for her - the buying of the clothes, the return to the convent, staying the night? her returning to work in Africa - and her option to join Silver?

7. The range of suspects - the workers on the bridge, the sleazy atmosphere of San Francisco (and Sister Benecia entering into it)? The insane inmates of the asylum? The revelation of insanity and mysterious murders?

8. Incidental characters, the doctor and his comments about insanity, the superior officers, rivalry in the police stations? the superior, her being killed? Coroners? sufficient details of these characters for the plausibility of the murder mystery?

9. The theme of celibacy and religious vocation? Sister's integrity as a nun? Her commitment to know the truth? Her attraction towards Silver and acknowledging it? Her option to go back to the convent? How credible was her final decision?

10. A satisfying murder mystery, romantic melodrama - and the contribution of the cast, the San Francisco backgrounds?