P.J. (film)


P.J. is a 1968 neo noir crime mystery film from Universal Pictures. It stars George Peppard, Raymond Burr, and Gayle Hunnicutt and was directed by John Guillermin.

Plot

New York City private eye P.J. Detweiler needs the work, so he accepts an offer to be 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 seems to be growing. Orbison's business partner, Grenoble, is shot dead and P.J. is arrested by the police. It becomes clear to P.J. that he has been set up by the Orbisons, who wanted to rid themselves of Grenoble and needed a fall guy.
P.J. is released by the authorities and makes it back to New York, where he confronts the masterminds of the plot. About all he can do is stand by as Orbison and his mistress end up doing away with one another.

Cast

The film was originally called Criss Cross. Peppard's casting was announced in November 1966. John Guillermin agreed to direct shortly afterwards.
In January 1967 Gayle Hunnicut was cast as the female lead. She made the film under a non exclusive two-picture deal with Universal.
Filming started in January 1967. It was reported that Peppard's earnings for four films he made for Universal--this, Tobruk, Rough Night in Jericho and What's So Bad About Feeling Good?--came to $1.6 million plus percentages.
Raymond Burr and Peppard purportedly clashed at first but then got along.
The film's title was changed to New Face in Hell then in September 1967 the title was changed from New Face in Hell to PJ.

Reception

The Chicago Tribune called it "routine". The New York Times called it "fun."

Home media

This film has yet to be released in North America on VHS or DVD, but is scheduled to be released by Kino Lorber on Blu-ray in October 2020.