George C. Scott, Rebecca De Mornay, Ian McShane, Val Kilmer are the Cast in this Lackluster and Somewhat Flat TV-Movie, another in the Many Versions of the Edgar Alan Poe Short Story, that is Usually Credited as the 1st Detective Story, and an Inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes".
Retired Private Detective (often consulted by Police), Aguste Dupin, is Reluctant to Engage in the Bizarre, Mysterious, and Brutal Double-Murder that has Authorities Baffled.
But After His Daughter's (De Mornay) Fiance is Arrested for the Murders, Dupin, Becomes Involved, and Brings Along His Protege (Kilmer).
The Film's Strengths are the Carefully Beautiful Sets and Costumes, Scott's Screen Presence, and a Faithful Rendering of Poe's Prose.
But the Glaring Weakness is the "On-Screen" Presentation of the Murderer that is Somewhat Amateurish and a Let-Down, and the Police Capt. (Ian McShane) Character is a Waste, and Untrue to Dupin's Ready and Appreciated Cooperation with the Authorities.
One More Negative, and this is for Horror-Fans, because it's a TV-Movie, Poe's Gory-Murder Story is Whitewashed and Shoved Off-Screen and Left to the Imagination, That's Not Poe.
Overall, Delivers a Watchable, if Toned-Down Version of the Classic Tale that Looks-Great, is Well Acted, but What's Missing is More than Felt, it is Wanting.
Retired Private Detective (often consulted by Police), Aguste Dupin, is Reluctant to Engage in the Bizarre, Mysterious, and Brutal Double-Murder that has Authorities Baffled.
But After His Daughter's (De Mornay) Fiance is Arrested for the Murders, Dupin, Becomes Involved, and Brings Along His Protege (Kilmer).
The Film's Strengths are the Carefully Beautiful Sets and Costumes, Scott's Screen Presence, and a Faithful Rendering of Poe's Prose.
But the Glaring Weakness is the "On-Screen" Presentation of the Murderer that is Somewhat Amateurish and a Let-Down, and the Police Capt. (Ian McShane) Character is a Waste, and Untrue to Dupin's Ready and Appreciated Cooperation with the Authorities.
One More Negative, and this is for Horror-Fans, because it's a TV-Movie, Poe's Gory-Murder Story is Whitewashed and Shoved Off-Screen and Left to the Imagination, That's Not Poe.
Overall, Delivers a Watchable, if Toned-Down Version of the Classic Tale that Looks-Great, is Well Acted, but What's Missing is More than Felt, it is Wanting.