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A genre film a la Harper (which starred Paul Newman), P.J. (aka New Face in Hell) is a detective thriller movie directed by John Guillermin and starring George Peppard.
The film’s title was changed from New Face in Hell to PJ.
In need for work, New York City private eye P.J. (Peter Joseph) Detweiler becomes a bodyguard to protect Maureen Preble, the mistress of shady millionaire William Orbison.
Orbison takes the family to the Bahamas, where a romantic attachment between P.J. and the married Maureen develops.
When Orbison’s business partner, Grenoble, is shot dead, P.J. is arrested by the police. P.J. realizes he has been set up by the Orbisons, who needed a fall guy.
Released by the authorities, he makes it back to New York, where he confronts the plot’s masterminds
In the bitter end, he observes Orbison and his mistress doing away with one another.
Raymond Burr and Peppard purportedly clashed at first but then got along.
Peppard can’t overcome the shortcomings of the scenario, specifically the misconception of his character, as both tough and comic.
The film was a commercial disappointment.
Like the Frank Sinatra similarly themed The Detective, this movie’s private eye is a rundown bum, who’s particularly nasty towards homosexuals (“fags” in the movie). In one scene, P.J. goes to a leather bar, “Gay Celebration,” where he seems to enjoy harassing and beating its patrons.
Cast
George Peppard as P.J. Detweiler
Raymond Burr as William Orbison
Gayle Hunnicutt as Maureen Preble
Brock Peters as Waterpark
Wilfrid Hyde-White as Billings-Browne
Jason Evers as Jason Grenoble
Coleen Gray as Betty Orbison
Susan Saint James as Linette Orbison
Severn Darden as Shelton Quell
Jane Van Duser as Elinor Silene (as H. Jane Van Duser)
George Furth as Sonny Silene
Barbara Dana as Lita
Herb Edelman as Charlie (as Herbert Edelman)
John Qualen as Poppa Gonowski
Bert Freed as Police Lieutenant
Ken Lynch as Thorson
Jim Boles as Landlord’s Agent
Arte Johnson as Jackie
King Charles MacNiles as Calypso Singer
Credits:
Directed by John Guillermin
Screenplay by Philip H. Reisman Jr. (as Philip Reisman Jr.), Story by Philip Reisman (as Philip Reisman Jr.), Edward Montagne (as Edward J. Montagne)
Produced by Edward Montagne (as Edward J. Montagne)
Cinematography Loyal Griggs
Edited by Sam E. Waxman
Music by Neal Hefti
Production and distribution: Universal Pictures
Release date: February 9, 1968 (Chicago); March 6, 1968 (US)
Running time 109 minutes
Box office $1,000,000 (US/ Canada)
