| A Killing Affair | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Behind the Badge |
| Genre | Crime |
| Screenplay by | E. Arthur Kean |
| Directed by | Richard C. Sarafian |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Richard Shores |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | David Gerber |
| Producer | James H. Brown |
| Cinematography | Al Francis |
| Editor | Ken Zemke |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | September 21, 1977 |
A Killing Affair (also known as Behind the Badge[1]) is a 1977 American made-for-television crime drama film starring Elizabeth Montgomery and O. J. Simpson. The film originally aired on CBS on September 21, 1977.
Elizabeth Montgomery and O. J. Simpson star as homicide detectives pursuing a killer played by Dean Stockwell. While working on the case, the partners begin having a heated romantic affair.[2][3]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth Montgomery | Vikki Eaton |
| O. J. Simpson | Woodrow York |
| Rosalind Cash | Beverly York |
| John Mahon | Det. Shoup |
| Priscilla Pointer | Judge Cudahy |
| Allan Rich | Capt. Bullis |
| Charles Robinson | Buck Fryman |
| John P. Ryan | Flagler |
| Dean Stockwell | Kenneth Switzer |
| Dolph Sweet | Lt. Scotty Neilson |
| Todd Bridges | Todd York |
| Fred Stuthman | Lukens Switzer |
| John Steadman | Cooks |
| Michael Durrell | Cabrillo |
| Stephen Parr | Sgt. Boyle |
A Killing Affair received generally positive reviews, with particular praise for O. J. Simpson. People called it Simpson's "best dramatic performance to date."[4] John J. O'Connor of the New York Times wrote,
"A Killing Affair" is an odd mixture of cliché and quietly powerful statements and perceptions. With David Gerber as executive producer, it has the invaluable asset of a first-rate production. Mr. Simpson tends to settle into an acting monotone, but his personality is so basically attractive that he is able to get maximum results with minimum effort. Miss Montgomery accomplishes the difficult task of transforming a somewhat hardened and cynical professional into a vulnerable but unsentimental human being. And Rosalind Cash is superb as Mrs. York, uncompromising in her portrait of a loving woman being forced into the role of a shrew. Everything works out for the best in the end, of course, but even the resolution is acceptable and quite moving.[5]
A Killing Affair received a 29% Nielsen rating, finishing second to Charlie's Angels in its time slot.[2]
There was relatively little controversy generated by the interracial romance between the protagonists. Montgomery and Simpson did not receive any significant hate mail, though one Southern CBS affiliate did receive a bomb threat after the film aired.[2]
