Play Murder for Me [VHS]

Director: Héctor Olivera
Actors: Jack Wagner, Tracy Scoggins, William Paul Burns, Ivory Ocean, Rodolfo Ranni
Studio: New Concorde
Category: Video

List Price: ~~$14.99~~
Buy Used: $7.56
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Used (10) Collectible (2) from $7.56

Seller: goingoncegoingtwicesold
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

3 reviews
Sales Rank: 24346

Format: Color, NTSC
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 80 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1

ISBN: 6302273005
UPC: 736991438231
EAN: 9786302273007
ASIN: 6302273005

Theatrical Release Date: 1991
Release Date: October 29, 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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Customer Reviews:
3 out of 5 stars

Beneath Olivera's Best, But Still A Worthwhile Effort. February 17, 2005
Rsoonsa (Lake Isabella, California)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Argentinian director Hector Olivera does not always aim his films directly toward a mass audience, as is the case here; however, combined funding from United States and Argentinian origins are decisive in his selection of subject and mood for this English-language effort, shot in Argentina and starring television performer Jack Wagner in his initial feature not made for T.V. For a production not given a theatrical release, Wagner plays Paul Slater, a tenor saxophone jazzman who has drifted into Buenos Aires where he is booked into a small night spot, coming to the attention there of an American mobster and "jazz fan" (William Burns) whose wife Tricia (Tracy Scoggins) is Paul's former lover, and soon the call of lust refuels their affair. Their amorous renascence is heightened when Fred is shot by a gangland rival, and his subsequent wheelchair confinement reduces his social graces to a level where he is physically abusive toward Tricia, and her plight and pleading are instrumental in convincing Paul that he should murder Fred, leading to expected complexities. Olivera's films are marked by tight construction and editing, but here overmuch cutting elides footage important for the storyline, resulting in logic and continuity flaws yet, in spite of these weaknesses, the director, once noted primarily for exploitative movies, manages to create an interesting piece, distinguished by his customary dark and sardonic tone and creative camera and lighting skills.

3 out of 5 stars

"He Made Her Sing. She Made Him Die." April 23, 2003
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Catching one of Paul Slater's (Jack Wagner) jazz shows in a Buenos Aires nightclub, a millionaire and jazz fan named Fred Merritt (William Burns) invites him to play at one of his mansion parties. Unbeknown to Fred, Paul had been lovers with his wife, Tricia Merritt (Tracy Scoggins), five years ago, before she left Paul for Fred, due to Paul's overzealous drinking. Not surprisingly, Paul and Tricia hook up about halfway through the movie, making for some steamy scenes and sexual innuendoes on his tenor sax.

While at the above-mentioned party, Fred is shot, which paralyzes him from the legs down (I'm assuming it's not from the waist down, since he has some function of that area, as I mention below) and confines him to a wheelchair for life. Consequently, Fred does a 180 personality change and becomes highly suspicious of his wife's activities, as well as those around him. He's eager to get revenge on the person who did this to him, so he hires a private investigator/hitman to find him/her, leaving a long blood trail of possible suspects.

Most of the characters in "Play Murder For Me" are pretty seedy and unsympathetic, namely the two male leads: Paul, an alcoholic has-been, and Fred, a paranoid rapist. Tricia I didn't really have a problem with, but the thing that bothered me the most was her out-of-character reaction when her handicapped husband rapes her. The scene was totally unbelievable, almost laughable if it weren't so abusive. Sure, the guy's built for his age, but Tricia is no weakling either. She could have held her own (which is seen at the ending) if they'd kept to her character.

The ending's not too surprising either, seeing how they've given a really big "clue" in the tagline. But if you're looking for an adequate B-grade erotic thriller with a jazz theme, then "Play Murder For Me" certainly delivers--sex/nudity, murder, music, and all.

2 out of 5 stars Steamy 80s Soap Stars star in Movie November 17, 2000
2 out of 6 found this review helpful

First, I am a Jack Wagner fan; so, I liked the movie just for that reason. The movie stars two Aaron Spelling soap stars and the movie is much like a cable soap opera. The combination of no chemistry between the stars, dark sets, cheap jazz music, and steamy night scenes make for a great made for tv type movie. Not for someone who is not a fan of either star.

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