The Rosary Murders

The Rosary Murders
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Fred Walton
Written by	William X. Kienzle Elmore Leonard Fred Walton
Produced by	Robert G. Laurel
Starring	Donald Sutherland Charles Durning Belinda Bauer Tom Mardirosian Mark Margolis Addison Powell Anita Barone Jack White
Cinematography	David Golia
Edited by	Sam Vitale
Music by	Bobby Laurel Don Sebesky
Distributed by	The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release date	August 28, 1987 (1987-08-28)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1,730,337

The Rosary Murders is a 1987 American neo-noir mystery film starring Donald Sutherland as Father Koesler, based upon the novel by William X. Kienzle. Kienzle received screenplay credit, as did Elmore Leonard.

Plot

The story involves a series of murders in which the victims are all either Roman Catholic priests or nuns, each of whom is found with a black rosary. Father Koesler goes in search of the murderer but is caught in a quandary when the murderer confesses the crimes to him. He is unable to break the seal of confession by going to the police.

Cast

• Donald Sutherland as Father Robert Koesler
• Charles Durning as Father Ted Nabors
• Josef Sommer as Lt. Walt Kosnicki
• Belinda Bauer as Pat Lennon
• James Murtaugh as Javison
• Addison Powell as Father Killeen
• Anita Barone as Irene Jimenez
• Tom Mardirosian as Detective Fallon
• Jihmi Kennedy
• Mark Margolis
• Rex Everhart
• Lupe Ontiveros as Sophie

Production

The film was shot in Detroit, Michigan at Holy Redeemer parish, a century old Roman Catholic church on Detroit's Southwest side. Musician Jack White also makes an uncredited appearance as a young altar boy.

Reception

In the Los Angeles Times, film critic Kevin Thomas wrote:

The Rosary Murders is an instance of good writing matched by firm, understated direction and some splendid playing from a large cast. In contrast to Walton’s spine-tingling When a Stranger Calls, The Rosary Murders is low-key yet can jolt you out of your seat--even on a second viewing. Sutherland, his hair silvered and close-cropped, radiates intelligence in one of the most substantial, reflective roles of his career. No matter that Durning always seems perfect casting as a priest, for he’s so skillful that he makes each time seem the first.

The Detroit Free Press named the film #32 of "the 50 most essential movies set in Michigan."

External links

• The Rosary Murders at IMDb
• The Rosary Murders at the TCM Movie Database
• The Rosary Murders at AllMovie
• The Rosary Murders at Rotten Tomatoes