Review of Darker Than Amber

Girl hustler, working Ft. Lauderdale with two musclebound thugs, is tossed off an overpass into the river with a weight strapped to her foot...fortunately, part-time detective Travis McGee is out fishing with his buddy and comes to her rescue. Crime drama, adapted from the novel by John D. MacDonald, has plenty of over-the-top action and tough talk, but it loses all credibility by the second-half as McGee formulates a revenge plot aboard a cruise in the Bahamas. As McGee, Rod Taylor--jowly but agreeably brawny--hasn't lost his twinkle, and bleached-blond William Smith is a scary-cool adversary. Directed with swagger and an artistic eye by Robert Clouse. John Parker is responsible for the offensive music score. ** from ****