''Ladykillers'' is a 1988

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

, directed by Robert Michael Lewis, and starring

Lesley-Anne Down Lesley-Anne Down (born 17 March 1954) is a British actress and singer. She made her motion picture debut in the 1969 drama film '' The Smashing Bird I Used to Know'' and later appeared in films ''Assault'' (1971), '' Countess Dracula'' (1971) a ...

Marilu Henner Marilu Henner (born April 6, 1952) is an American actress and author. She began her career appearing in the original production of the musical ''Grease (musical), Grease'' in 1971, before making her screen debut in the 1977 comedy-drama film ''B ...

Susan Blakely Susan Blakely (born September 7, 1948) is an American actress. She is best known for her leading role in the 1976 ABC miniseries '' Rich Man, Poor Man'', for which she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama a ...

, and

Keith David Keith David Williams (born June 4, 1956) is an American actor. He is known for his deep voice and screen presence in over 300 roles in film, stage, television, and interactive media. He has starred in such films as '' The Thing'' (1982), ''Pla ...

as Abe. The film score was composed by

Mark Snow Mark Snow (born Martin Fulterman; August 26, 1946) is an American composer for film and television. Among his most famous compositions is the theme music for science fiction television series '' The X-Files''. ''The X Files'' instrumental wa ...

. The plot of this film is unconnected with '' The Ladykillers'' (1955) or the 2004 remake of the same name.

Plot

The plot has a male sexualization theme. Performers in a

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

male strip club are being murdered by an unknown female assailant. There are multiple suspects: Morganna King, the owner of the club; Lilah Corbett, the club's promoter; and the head stripper, who has mysteriously disappeared after being fired. Unable to gain a lead, investigating officer Lt. Cavanaugh goes undercover as a stripper in an attempt to trap the murderer, eventually starring in the titular "Ladykillers" show, but he is almost killed in the process.

Critical reception

The film received poor reviews. The ''Los Angeles Times'' deemed ''Ladykillers'' "inept," writing that the script was simply "an excuse for a male flesh parade." ''The New York Times'' called the film "leering" and "prurient."

References

External links

* 1988 films 1988 television films 1988 crime films Crimes against sex workers in fiction Fictional erotic dancers Films scored by Mark Snow Films set in Los Angeles Male erotic dance American police detective films American serial killer films Works about the sex industry 1980s English-language films Films directed by Robert Michael Lewis 1980s American films American crime television films American mystery television films English-language crime films {{1980s-US-film-stub