Warning Shot features a grimly determined David Janssen trying to find out why a respected doctor pulled a gun on him and he was forced to fire and kill him. Janssen is a cop and he's got District Attorney Sam Wanamaker just itching to put him away. Janssen and partner Keenan Wynn were on stakeout looking for a serial rapist and they were both anxious enough on that assignment. Now suspended Janssen has to rely on his own instincts in pursuing his own\ investigation for vindication.Besides those already mentioned Warning Shot has a galaxy of film names of many generations going all the way back to Lillian Gish down to Joan Collins playing Janssen's estranged wife. As the film progresses these folks move in and out with some memorable and some perfunctory cameos.Janssen who carries the film handles the burden well. I have to say that Warning Shot does not carry all that much suspense in that the real villain of the piece is obvious from when we first meet the character. Still it belongs on a list of fine made for television films

***SPOILERS*** Practically unknown and forgotten little gem staring David Janssen as LA policeman Sgt. Tom Valens a cop who's been trying to get his nerve back since he came back on duty from an almost fatal gunshot wound. Staking out the Seacape Apartment Complex one foggy evening for an on the loose serial murder Tom and his partner Sgt. Ed Mussco, Keenan Wynn,see this man sneaking along the complex swimming pool. Valens confronting the man and telling him to halt has him pulls a gun out of his jacket and is shot dead by the the undercover policeman.Checking out his wallet the dead man turned out to be the respected Dr. James Ruston, Donald Curtis,a pillar of the community a philanthropist and champion of the poor and downtrodden in the L.A Mexican community and former Man of the Year of San Roserio to who's people he's considered to be a saint. Not finding Dr. Ruston's gun that Tom says he pulled on him has Sgt. Tom Valens suspended from the police force and set to be tried for manslaughter in Dr. Ruston's death.The movie goes through a number of side stories about Dr. Ruston and the people who knew him including Mrs. Alice Willows, Lillian Gish, who Dr.Ruston was seeing the evening that he was shot and killed. Tom trying to get to the bottom of Dr. Ruston's strange actions that night comes across in number of contradicting facts about about Dr. Ruston that has to do mostly with his trips to Baja Mexico to help the poor there every Wendsday and then his seeing Mrs. Willows, making weekly night house calls to her, the next evening on a Thusrday? Mrs Willows seems to have a advanced case of Alzheimer's and can't help Tom in his trying to find the reasons for Dr. Ruston's visits to her besides her diabetic condition, which didn't need his immediate attention. There's also the fact that Dr. Ruston was the person who got the old and senile Mrs. Willows the apartment at the Seacape Complex; was the man that much of a saint or were there far more cynical reasons behind his actions? With his incitement imminent Sgt. Valens needs to find evidence to prove his innocence, by first finding Dr.Ruston's missing gun, before he's locked up behind bars. It dawns on Sgt. Valens that there's a connection to Dr. Ruston's trips to Baja that lead to his strange actions of him getting shot and killed but what exactly is it? There's also the fact that Dr. Ruston almost broke and bankrupt three years ago is now independently wealthy with no evidence of him having falling into any large inheritance so just where did Dr, Ruston's money come from? his many philanthropic ventures to and from Baja Mexico? Things get even worse for Sgt, Valens when after seeing Dr. Ruston's secretary Liz Thayler, Stepanie Powers, she's later found murdered and he's the prime, and only, suspect in her death. There's also an attempt to murder Valens at his home by spiking his bottle of butter milk, medication for is ulcers because of him getting shot,and then turning on the gas range while he was out cold. With Sgt. Valens and Mrs Willows next door neighbor, and his friend and licensed pilot, Walt Cody, George Grizzaed, planing to fly down to Baja to uncover Dr. Ruston's secret activities Valens suddenly changes his mind after Liz's murder realizing that the evidence to clear himself is not in Baja Mexico but right here in L.A County. That night with an all out city and state police search for him, in both Dr. Ruston & Liz Thayers deaths, Sgt. Tom Valens goes to the spooky and deserted L.A's "Eternal Rest" Pet Cemetery to dig up the evidence that not only will clear his name, form pending manslaughter and murder charges, but his consciences as well.

David Janssen, much like Richard Crenna or Robert Wagner, was an actor ideally suited for the small screen. His stern, quiet authority and low-key personality made him a great TV detective, but in theatrical films like "Warning Shot", his hard-boiled, ambling charm didn't really come through. This '60s crime thriller involves an L.A. stakeout which goes awry for police sergeant Janssen after he shoots a nervous doctor. Janssen swears the doc pulled a gun, yet all the evidence points to the contrary. From Whit Masterson's book "711--Officer Needs Help", this must have looked awfully bland in theaters, what with a cheesy production and a tame, late-night-TV supporting cast which includes Stefanie Powers, Carroll O'Connor, Keenan Wynn, and Joan Collins. Despite these names, there's not a trace of camp value to be savored, mostly because the filmmakers have not a shred of good, dark humor. *1/2 from ****

It's a definite cult classic - that's all that I can say. But it does have an incredible cast, filled with once and future stars. The direction is quite stylish, and the theme is still timely. In many ways, _Warning Shot_ is rather like a film-noir shot in color. Like DOA, there's the theme of one man against the entire world - and the forces of time, also. There is emphasis on his need to prove himself - because he is a man. Like all noirs, the actual plot is irrelevant, although Whit Masterson (Touch of Evil) did think up some good twists. It's the atmosphere that you take away with you from this one.