#vincent baggetta

[loveboatinsanity]

[oldtvlover]

So, tonight DVD time with Shakedown on the Sunset Trip from 1988. Cast: Perry King - Sgt. Charles Stoker Season Hubley - Officer Audre Davis Joan van Ark - Brenda Allen Vincent Baggetta - Sgt. Fuller David Graf - Officer Jack Ruggles Joan McMurtrey - Betty Stoker (Lt. Marsh from S&S) Charles Siebert - Sgt. Gerber and many more 

Story: Based on a true story, this movie perfectly captures an era gone by and transforms a story of corruption into a riveting drama. On the infamous Sunset Strip, an agressive vice cop's pursuit of a notorious Hollywood madam stirs up a deadly hornet's nest of political scandal. Los Angeles in the 1940s - a time when everybody had something to sell and a place where every dimly lit street seemed to hide a secret. Sgt. Charles Stoker sees the takedown of the most prominent madam on the strip as his fast track up the chain of command. With the help of his partner and love interest, Stoker catches the Queen of the Strip red-handed. However, he soon learns her political connections make her nearly untouchable. Ignoring the risks to his career - and his life - Stoker pushes harder for evidence to shut down the prostitution ring, until he realizes that his obsession may have gone too far. (taken from my DVD cover) Thoughts: An obsessed man to get the lady, yet he was ordered to it. Though Charles is separated from his wife, he still seeks her advice and time, especially for his sons and a good colleague, Jack. Betty knows about his affair, yet she only has one wish for him: that he's not a cop. Throughout this whole trial it goes up and down for Stoker, and he certainly feels betrayed by his love interest but he can answer his wife's request. This movie shows an era where all was possible, and to save many bad one good has to go. Unfortunately.

Old times are always fascinating. Well, a cop after a woman who has all in her hands. There was only one end possible.

[abriefingwithmichael]

Hunter 4.16

First half is definitely more enjoyable than the second.

There’s a good mystery to kick things off. A woman finds a dead body in a parked car, but returns later to find the car and the girl gone. Definitely a strong hook, and Frances Lee McCain is great casting.

After that, most of the scenes are devoted to Charles Hallahan as Charlie. He’s great, and it’s enjoyable to see him basically carrying an episode. Unfortunately a lot of what we’ve seen in the middle of the story is stuff we’ve seen before on countless other shows. Charlie wants to lead the investigation, but there is a conflict. He is too close to it and he is being warned off. By everybody. Which means the story doesn’t really advance for a while, as we watch a succession of very predictable conversations.

Plus, we all know Charlie will eventually investigate the case himself, so it’s testing the patience of the audience, having to sit through this.

In the final scenes, the revelations come thick and fast. Too fast. It feels rushed. It would have been better for the episode if they’d cut the scenes of Charlie being reprimanded/chastised and instead had a few more scenes with the suspects. In that way, the surprises (and they are pretty good ones) would have had more impact.

8/10