The film Pendulum came out when use of the Miranda decision was fairly new and
police departments all over the nation were still grumbling about it as convictions
were being overturned. Such a conviction overturned was that of rapist Robert
F. Lyons and that really bothers the arresting officer George Peppard.
Still Peppard is ready for a career change. He's been appointed to the staff of the
crime committee of US Senator Paul McGrath. By the way McGrath is one
smooth politician and definitely not one to be in a foxhole with.
Peppard is going to need all the friends he can get because he is accused of
murdering his wife Jean Seberg and her boyfriend Harry Lewis while catching
them in the act. I've always found it amazing that some of the biggest law
and order types when they get in a jackpot always want to make sure those
rights are available.
Still of all the lawyers he could have picked Peppard chooses civil libertarian
Richard Kiley, the same man who got Lyons's conviction reversed. That has
all his cop buddies raising their eyebrows like Charles McGraw, Frank Marth,
and Dana Elcar.
Pendulum concentrates on its ironical message to the extent that it really
forgets to put in a good mystery. No doubt who is the doer of this deed from
the gitgo.
A lot of familiar faces are in Pendulum, but possibly the best performance in
the film is from Madeline Sherwood. As Lyons's much put upon mother she
has an aura of quiet desperation in her role and her scenes with Lyons and
Peppard really count.
Nice picture with a message that is still relevant today.
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