Calendar Girl Murders Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Calendar Girl Murders Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 7, 2021

“Calendar Girl Murders” is a film that could only be made in 1984. The made-for-television production attempts to bring elements from the world of Playboy Magazine to the small screen, giving the home audience some cheap thrills as “Paradise Magazine” parades around scantily clad women while the production works on a murder mystery to help support what’s basically a display of beautiful actresses. The teleplay doesn’t put in a significant effort to juice up the detective story, but the production has Tom Skerritt, who delivers a reasonably committed performance, matched well with Sharon Stone, who works hard to keep herself distanced from the ogling nature of the picture.

Detective Stoner (Tom Skerritt) is getting older and growing tired of police work, eager to make a change in his life, pleasing his wife, Nancy (Barbara Bosson). However, when a model from Paradise Magazine is ends up falling from her hotel room balcony, the cops suspect murder, pulling Stoner back into circulation to investigate a possible crime. Dealing with Paradise founder Trainor (Robert Culp), Stoner is introduced to the glamor and seduction of the magazine empire, finding his way to Cassie (Sharon Stone), a former centerfold who previously had an aggressive experience with an obsessed photographer.

“Calendar Girl Murders” isn’t lewd, but it really wants to be, with director William A. Graham in charge of making something slightly titillating for prime time, focusing cameras on Paradise models as they go about their business. There’s a pool party and a sporting competition, with the whole company managing to reach Stoner in an unexpected way, surrounding him with beauty and vulnerability. The actual mystery at the heart of “Calendar Girl Murders” isn’t striking, lacking compelling red herrings and dangerous situations, but what does come through with welcome clarity is flirtation between Cassie and Stoner, with the family man unaccustomed to a full-court-press from a model, helping to blur the line between attraction and protection as more calendar girls are killed. Stone and Skerritt add some chemistry to the endeavor, trying to make their performances count in a movie that’s not terribly interested in thespian precision, with the ensemble also including turns from Rip Taylor and Alan Thicke, who portrays Trainor’s top photographer.

Calendar Girl Murders Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 35mm camera negative, bringing fresh life to a title that likely found its largest audience on television 37 years ago. Dealing with an especially volatile year in fashion, colors are exceptional, generating deep red and blues, also offering hot neon. Greenery is precise for the California story, along with warmer sunshine and hotter lighting. Skintones are natural, and hair color is distinct, especially Stone's blondness. Detail captures bodily displays, offering appreciable skin surfaces. Interiors are loaded with decoration, which is open for survey. Costuming is fibrous, exploring spandex, swimsuits, and business wear. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition, with a few lengthier scratches detected.

Calendar Girl Murders Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does encounter some sibilance issues, but dialogue exchanges remain intelligible. Scoring cues are nicely defined, and offerings of pop instrumentals carry a bit more power, with chirpy synth sounds and electronic beats. Sound effects are clear, dealing with chases and scenes of violence.

Calendar Girl Murders Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Essay (83:00) features film historians Amanda Reyes and Sam Pancake.

Calendar Girl Murders Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Calendar Girl Murders" does delight with its observation of the mid-'80s, offering aerobics imagery, displays of breakdancing, and models posing in spandex, with Graham literally slowing the movie down to make sure viewers get a chance to enjoy the show. Action is attempted with some murder sequences and a late inning car chase, but it's not enough to really amplify the threat level facing Cassie and Stoner, with the picture weirdly having more success with intimate moments between the characters. Perhaps "Calendar Girl Murders" was secretly intended to be a pilot for a cop show featuring Stoner and his 40-year-old take on L.A. scum, but the production doesn't get far enough with procedural elements. After all, police activity only gets in the way of mild network television eroticism.