Presents
A BOB BANNER ASSOCIATES PRODUCTION
WARNING SHOTStarring
DAVID JANSSEN as Sgt Tom Valens
STEVE ALLEN as Perry Knowland
ED BEGLEY as Captain Roy Klodin
JOAN COLLINS as Joanie Valens
LILIAN GISH as Alice Willows
GEORGE GRIZZARD as Walt Cody
CARROLL O'CONNOR as Paul Jerez
ELEANOR PARKER as Mrs Doris Ruston
WALTER PIDGEON as Orville Ames
STEFANIE POWERS as Liz Thayer
GEORGE SANDERS as Calvin York
SAM WANAMAKER as Frank Sanderman
KEENAN WYNN as Sgt Ed Musso
Assistant Director - Howard Roessel Director of Photography - Joseph Biroc
Music by Jerry Goldsmith Art Director - Hal Pereira & Roland Anderson Edited by Archie Marshek
Screenplay by Mann Rubin From the Novel - "Warning Shot -711 Officer Needs Help" by Whit Masterson
Produced & Directed by Buzz Kulik
For Sgt Tom Valens life is never easy! Dedicated to the force, an impending divorce from his neglected wife Joanie and a wounded abdomen from a recent shootout! Whilst staking out an apartment complex, in the hunt for a killer, he shoots a doctor who he believes is the suspect, he is then suspended. The race is now on to clear his name and to find the pistol he was certain the doctor was brandishing. Nothing is what it seems and everyone is a vital witness! Who's got the gun? Freeze! It's a Warning Shot!! |
| DVD sleeve signed by STEFANIE POWERS |
Warning Shot was Joan's first film for a few years as she had put her career on hold to start a family and had two children between roles. She did however make guest appearances on some of Tv's popular shows. She appeared in the Ben Gazzara TV show "Run For Your Life" and the now cult classic "The Man From Uncle", with her old RADA mate David McCallum. She also appeared on the popular game shows "What's My Line" and "Password" with husband Anthony Newley. She had set her sights on starring alongside Tony and Rex Harrison in the lavish screen version of "Dr Dolittle". She really wanted to play the role of Emma Fairfax, as she was sure she could play it well. However Daryl Zanuck had other ideas, as he was now back in charge of Fox and decided on a younger actress, Samantha Eggar, who is also a good friend of Joan's. The star of "Warning Shot", David Janssen had become synonymous with the hit TV series "The Fugitive" and he had hoped this film would have kick started his film career. Paramount had assembled an all star cast of Hollywood veterans, but with so many in the cast, they each had little screentime.Joan played the role of Joanie,the soon to be ex-wife of Janssen's character. She looks as lovely as ever in the film, but only appears in two scenes. Hollywood veteran Walter Pidgeon, who had been a star for forty years, complained at the time to the press about the female stars of that time.
Heaven help us if he was around today! This was Walter's 82nd film!
David enjoyed making the film, as it was a relaxing break compared to the hectic schedule of filming a weekly series. Stefanie Powers was riding high on the sucess of her TV series "The Girl From Uncle", but before the series she had considered leaving the business. Movie legend Lilian Gish only made occasional film appearances, she only accepted scripts she liked. Before this film she had appeared on Broadway in the musical "Anya". "Warning Shot" was originally made for television, but was eventually released to theatres.The film was shot on location in Los Angeles and had the police department as technical advisors. Joan had been a good friend of Janssen and his wife Dani, although David died a few years ago, she still is friendly with Dani, who is famous for her exclusive Oscar party, where only a select group is invited.
(c) 2010 Mark McMorrow..
The Title of this movie is puzzling. Tom Valens didn't fire a warning shot - he shot to kill (like too many cops do now days).
ReplyDeleteThink the idea was to use a catchy phrase and downplay the brute force.