rcjensen-67-706757 Interesting plot, good acting by Virginia Madsen and Tommy Lee Jones. And probably the best rendition of Danny Boy classic (by JB White), that I have ever heard. The story revolves around the Private Eye (Jones), hired by the wealthy man, to find the ghost of his deceased wife (Madsen), whom he buried 10 years earlier. She asked to be buried naked, with her jewels. Her husband initially obliged, only to dig her up later on, to retrieve the jewels. Now the ghost of his wife has returned to hound him. Soon the ghost is found, but the detective is convinced that the woman is real (which she obviously is not) and falls in love with her. There is a bit of nudity and implied sex in the film ... and in the end ... the ghost gets her jewels (which turn out to be a paste), the detective is told that having sexual intercourse with a ghost is detrimental to his health .... and the ex-husband is back, where he started. All very intriguing.I have seen the film back in 1989, on TV in UK ... and later on, when I wanted to buy the DVD, I could not find it anywhere, till now .... on Amazon. It has been released in NTSC format only, so you will need the multi-region DVD player to watch it if you live within EU.

L P I'm not certain how I missed Fonvielle's 'Gotham' (or 'The Dead Cant Lie', TV 1988) when it came out in the late 80's...I found this by accident, and enjoyed watching it late one night. I can't agree more with the other comments/reviews already listed praising this film. I have two suggestions though...one viewers can do nothing about, and one you can. Sadly the format is (made-for-TV) full-screen, and there are many instances during the film when it's painfully obvious that a wide-screen format would add immensely to the atmosphere and mood. There's not much you can do about that though; however, what you can do, is turn your TV's 'Color' off, or desaturate the color, and add a little 'Contrast', to enjoy this film in B/W ('film noir'). As for Fonvielle, his 'The Mummy' (1999) is also a fun-filled thrill not to be missed, and 'Cherry 2000' (1987) has Melanie Griffith in her finest form (maybe ever!). His other writing credits are worthy of mention, but both 'The Bride' (1985) and 'The Lords of Discipline' do not seem to have been given the production, or directorial justice, that Fonvielle's work deeply deserved. Watch 'Gotham' as an 80's tribute to classic film noir, and/or as an intriguing preview to 'A Prairie Home Companion' (2006).

cbeavin20 Virginia Madsen is up for an Oscar.I remembered her role in the Movie Gotham with Tommy Lee Jones. For those who would like to enter a different reality enjoy! I see that it was a TV movie I recommend this movie for all mature audiences.Tommy Lee Jones was fantastic and you see another side of his acting style. Virginia Madsen carried the movie and does not disappoint!The setting takes place in New York in the night with lighting and sets that are spare and allow the actors to fill the night with their mysterious liaison.If I cannot make the 10 line minimum it would be a shame i don not want to "give" the movie away. The mystery is the movie.I hope someone will see the movie and be able to fill in the needed ten lines to entice others to watch!

pjmyers What REALLY happens inside a man when he "falls in love"? If you want to begin to get a clue, or - better yet - if you are tearfully trying to grasp what on earth has happened to you in particular, you should see "Gotham" - again and again. It is an American classic of the Inner Landscape.I wonder how much idea Tommy Lee Jones and company had of just what they were enacting. Only as much as writer/producer/director, Lloyd Fonvielle, was able or willing to tell them. Siskel & Ebert, etc., totally missed the point. Why? Because people in our culture are not prepared for a movie whose plot/premise barely holds together as a tale of what occurs in the world but which, as an inner story (dream- or myth-like), works quite beautifully. (In that sense the movie's plot is rather like our lives!)Your enjoyment/comprehension of this movie will be much enhanced if you have at least some familiarity with the Jungian Anima (I mean conceptually - we men all do experientally, although depressingly few know much about, or acknowledge, Her!). If you don't, I don't want to put you off. It will do quite nicely if a woman's image has - in whatever way - just devastated you, or some man you know, inside. I've never seen a movie where this is so graphically depicted. The decline and Fall. "How will I find you?" Eddie quaveringly asks. "Don't worry," she wryly replies, "I'll find YOU." Oh, yes.This movie is incredibly rich in symbols and insight, and really repays multiple viewings. Even if you don't understand why Eddie's name is Mallard; why Rachel's face has suddenly become chalky white as she turns and emits her spine-chilling anger when challenged by Eddie on a matter of historical accuracy; the Doorman; why it is death to "sleep with a ghost"; what the pirate's sword is all about (re-read your Tristan & Isolde, the chapel); why She MUST emerge from the mist, at the brazier, to warn Eddie not to embark on his own destruction, before herself taking the executive role in bringing it about ("I've KILLED you, Eddie…and I'm GLAD I did!"); the role of the psychic detective (that's you - or could be); the splitting of the male psyche into Charlie and Eddie, as separate disastrous approaches to Her; the jewels (and this IS pretty murky!); the themes of watery immersion, pugilism, paganism vs Christianity, etc., EVEN THEN…something will scratch at you as watch this movie.As you can probably tell, I'd love to bend your ears with a full-scale analysis, but the 1000 word limit protects you from people like me! Feel free to e-mail me if you want to talk about Gotham, I never found anyone on my wavelength (what a shock).