The Corpse Had a Familiar Face

1994 television film by Joyce Chopra

Derek Marlowe
Dennis Turner

Directed byJoyce ChopraStarring

Elizabeth Montgomery
Dennis Farina
Yaphet Kotto
Audra Lindley

ComposerPatrick WilliamsCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishProductionExecutive producers

Deborah Blum
Tony Ganz
Doug Chapin
Barry Krost
Robert M. Sertner
Frank von Zerneck

Producers

Terence A. Donnelly
Randy Sutter

CinematographyJames GlennonEditorRobert FlorioRunning time93 minutesProduction companies

Blum-Ganz Productions
Von Zerneck-Sertner Films
Touchstone Television

Original releaseNetworkCBSReleaseMarch 27, 1994 (1994-03-27)

The Corpse Had a Familiar Face is an American crime drama television film directed by Joyce Chopra and written by Derek Marlowe and Dennis Turner. It is suggested by the autobiography of the same name by Edna Buchanan. It stars Elizabeth Montgomery as Buchanan, with Dennis Farina, Yaphet Kotto, and Audra Lindley in supporting roles. The film premiered on CBS on March 27, 1994, and received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for its title song "Something Is Out There".

Plot

Cast

Elizabeth Montgomery as Edna Buchanan
Dennis Farina as Detective Harry Lindstrom
Yaphet Kotto as Detective Martin Talbot
Audra Lindley as Monica / Edna's Mother
Branscombe Richmond as Rodriguez
LuAnne Ponce as Jennifer Nicholson
Matthew Posey as Sam
David Spielberg as George
Lee Horsley as Ben Nicholson
Silvana Gallardo as Mrs. Sanchez
Kamar de los Reyes as Puerto Rican
Carey Scott as Billy
Kevin Patrick Walls as Stephen Hollings
Hugh Gillin as Stanley
Michael Ray Miller as Sal
Steven Meek as Tom
Stephen Peace as Rookie
Rebecca Hahn as Cynthia
Jessica Cole as Marcia
Yavone Evans as Paula Nicholson
David J. Partington as Alan

Reception

Critical response

Drew Voros of Variety concluded his review by stating, "The Corpse Had a Familiar Face may seem to be a painful stretch of believability."^[1] David Hiltbrand of People called the film "a play in two distinct acts, neither of them terribly cohesive."^[2]

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
1994	46th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards	Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics	"Something Is Out There" Arthur Hamilton, Patrick Williams	Nominated	^[3]

References

^ Voros, Drew (March 28, 1994). "The Corpse Had a Familiar Face". Variety. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
^ Hiltbrand, David (March 28, 1994). "Picks and Pans Review: The Corpse Had a Familiar Face". People. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
^ "The Corpse Had A Familiar Face". Television Academy. Retrieved May 10, 2023.