Night Moves

source: Night Moves

Trailer—Night Moves

Night Moves

"Night Moves" was a surprise to me. I assumed it could be a far more simple mystery/action film, but the whole thing caught my attention and really amazed me. What a great study in murder, infidelity, cruelty, sex, and relationships between strangers. A kind of film noir with dark overtones and a slow but effective suspense, the story starts as a simple investigation about a runaway teenager, but grows more and more into a complex drama plenty of unexpected twists. Gene Hackman is superb as the rude detective, the rest of the cast is also in fine form, but the real shock is to see a very young, hot (and naked) Melanie Grifith doing a terrific performance. James Woods is also here, with less impact but great to see too. An excellent film, one of the finest 70's underrated movies.

Harry Moseby (Gene Hackman) is a terribly flawed L.A. private detective and former football star. His wife Ellen is having an affair. He gets a case from Arlene Iverson looking for her missing 16 year old daughter Delly Grastner (Melanie Griffith). He discovers that failed actress Arlene needs Delly for her trust fund left to her by her late studio mogul father. Her friend Quentin (James Woods) reluctantly sends Harry to stuntman Marv Ellman. Harry follows the clues to the Florida Keys to her stepfather Tom Iverson and a mother figure in Paula. Harry and Paula are on a boat with Delly diving when she finds a dead man in a crashed plane. This is a lesser known gem from Hackman in the same era as his classic 'The Conversation'. He brings out another compelling character. There is a murky story but the central story is never lost. There are a couple of future stars including a very young Melanie Griffith. This is a world of murky morality and paranoia of secrets.

Night Moves is an underrated Film Noir. Directed by Arthur Penn (Bonnie & Clyde) it is an absolutely outstanding genre piece. Gene Hackman plays an L.A. gumshoe who is hired by a well to do ex-actress to find and bring home her runaway daughter (Melanie Griffith in her first role!). What seems to be routine detective work soon turns out to be a complicated case which finally ends in murder and mayhem. There are some remarkable stunt and underwater sequences, well photographed by Bruce Surtees (Director of Photography of many Clint Eastwood action movies). Not only Melanie Griffith but also another of today's stars, James Woods, gave his screen debut in this film. See it, it is worth the while!