The Black Marble

Overview

A jaded, alcoholic police veteran is reluctantly assigned to work with an idealistic female police officer on his latest case. Based on the novel by Joseph Wambaugh, this crime drama focuses less on the crimes under investigation as the developing relationship between the two extremely different partners.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/06/2021
UPC:	0738329254117
Original Release:	1979
Rating:	PG
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Language:	English
Time:	1:53:00
Sales rank:	25,424

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Robert Foxworth	Sgt. A.M. Valnikov
Paula Prentiss	Sgt. Natalie Zimmerman
Harry Dean Stanton	Philo Skinner
James Woods	Fiddler
Barbara Babcock	Madeline Whitfield
John Hancock	Clarence Cromwell
Raleigh Bond	Capt. Hooker
Judy Landers	Pattie Mae
Pat Corley	Itchy Mitch
Paul Henry Itken	Dr. Bambarella
Richard Dix	Alex Valnikov
Lidia Kristen	Russian Woman
Marilyn Chris	Marvis Skinner
Doris Belack	Married Woman
Dallas Alinder	Chester Biggs
Elizabeth Farley	Receptionist
Michael Dudikoff	Millie's Houseboy
Lou Cuttell	Limpwood
Anne Ramsey	Bessie Callahan
Ion Teodorescu	Iosif
Michael Gainsborough	Capt. Packerton,Capt. Packerton
Christopher Lloyd	Actor
Lou Cutell	Limpwood
Jane Daly	Bullets' Girlfriend
Robin Raymond	Millie
Herta Ware	Grand Duchess
Maurice Jarre	Composer
Didier Vasseur	Composer

Technical Credits

Joseph Wambaugh

Harold Becker	Director
Frank Capra Jr.	Producer
Joseph Wambaugh	Screenwriter
Nicole Boisvert	Producer
Alfred Sweeney	Producer
Eddy Matalon	Producer
John Dunning	Producer
Jeff Wexler	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Whenever The Black Marble settles into its own particular groove, it grabs the viewer and provides a glimpse of what a special film it could have been. The problem is that it rarely finds that groove, and when it does, it can't manage to stay within it for more than a few moments at a time. Marble is both a black comedy and a serious look at the difficult lives of typical policemen, and every now and then these two aspects come together and create a shocking, enthralling few moments. But when they don't come together, the two genres are warring with each other, creating a film that is fairly engaging but also frustrating. Due to all of this, Marble never builds up enough steam to make it a truly satisfying viewing experience, and there are times when director Harold Becker's attempts at trying something just a little different in terms of timing and pacing result in slipshod sequences that just keep missing. However, Marble is beautifully cast. Robert Foxworth and Paula Prentiss are in top form as the unlikely duo that inevitably finds each attracted to the other, and both of these actors come up with lovely, telling bits and inventive takes on their characters that make them live and breathe. And Harry Dean Stanton's wonderfully observed villain is a delight.