Bert I. Gordon did not just do giant creature films, though we do love those monster films. Today we look at a gritty, twisted, and prurient crime drama in which he cast former Los Angeles Dodger and Boston Celtic star, Chuck Connors as the psycho. This early 1970s thriller has a "Dirty Harry" feel to it especially when it comes to the Andrew Robinson psycho. Even worse, the mad bomber character is not the seediest, most depraved creep in this movie. Our feature today is 1973's "The Mad Bomber" (aka "The Police Connection"), directed by Bert I. Gordon.
As our film begins, Dorn (Connors) puts a homemade bomb in the halls of a Los Angeles high school. Boom! Many children are blown to bits and we see the awful carnage. Dorn, is a tall fanatical character who is very anal about politeness and following the law to the letter. Next up, he blows up a hospital nearby. Many die. Uh oh...a witness. Here's a problem, she is mute and never saw the bad guy. The bad guy? No, not the bomber, but the creep who raped her. The young woman raped was mute and can't provide Detective Minelli (Vince Edwards) any information. Minelli figures out that whoever raped the young woman in a hospital storage closet also saw the bomber. Now Minelli is looking for a very perverted and active rapist...in order to gain his cooperation. The rapist? Fromley (Neville Brand). Fromley rapes beautiful young women in nice L.A. neighborhoods in a very vicious manner.
Minelli now has to turn into a vice cop in order to get a witness who can identify the bomber. Meanwhile, Dorn continues his carnage. Is there a pattern to the bombings? Yep, but it won't be readily apparent to Minelli or the police psychologists. Fromley is an easier catch and eventually Minelli busts him. With dozens of aggravated rapes under his collar, Fromley is not eager to help Minelli. Minelli turns into Harry Callahan and finally gets somewhere. Dorn? He is getting more ambitious and his backstory is slowly revealed. Even more interesting, Dorn is aware that the cops have a witness against him.
Will Fromley decide to cooperate with Det. Minelli? Why is Dorn blowing up places filled with lots of people and is there a pattern that will help the cops know the next target? Will Detective Minelli refrain from murdering the perverted rapist long enough to let him identify the mad bomber? This is a gory one and Bert I. Gordon will have no qualms about showing you children blown to bits. For a vicious police thriller, see "The Mad Bomber."
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