MURDER ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is very interesting in that it attempts to present a "film noir" movie in the present. It works for the most part. Unfortunately, in the fast-cut TV/MTV world in which we live, we are not used to handling the (frequently) lingering camera looks and the generally slow unfolding of the story. It needs tighter editing. That said, the acting in most cases is very strong. One wishes that Ross Hagen's direction had matched the strength of his acting. His hard-bitten detective is the epitome of the stereotype, but with a depth of humanity that lifts the portrayal above the mundane. Ken Butler plays the tough-as-nails cop to very good effect. And it was a joy to see Nancy Kwan again! She's as beautiful as ever. The most exciting feature of the film is the cinematography. Gary Craver's photography, lighting and effects are superb, making it a beautiful experience. If you can adjust your viewing and mood to the slow pacing and tempo, this is a beautifully filmed and fun movie to see.

This was a wonderful who-done-it murder mystery that keeps you guessing throughout the film as to who the murderer actually is. The chemistry between actors Ken Butler, playing Detective Joe Patterson, and Ross Hagen, as Joe's former partner and now a P.I., was terrific. The scenery dovetails beautifully with the suspenseful story and helps to create a true sense of the darker side of Hollywood. The music score was also terrific, with its haunting melodies, sleek orchestrations, and a wonderful theme song. What was nice was watching a great murder mystery that didn't have and didn't need any gratuitous sex, violence, or mind numbing chase scenes. This movie was truly wonderful cinematic experience.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the film and the performances given by the actors. The story brought me back to the movies of yesteryear and I was held captive until the end, which took me by surprise.The roll of Joe Patterson, strongly portrayed by Ken Butler, was the ticket that kept the film rolling and me glued to the screen. The music was wonderful and really lent itself to the story. The film reminded me so much of the old black and white films that were so popular years back. The characters were right out of a Raymond Chandler novel and the actors were riveting in their performances. I would highly recommend this film to anyone and also tell them to not miss any movie that Ken Butler was in.

This film was both a treat and a surprise. It brought me back to those great "who done it's" based on real suspense, solid performances, artistic cinematography and a straightforward plot. The film was not filled with what we see every day - blood and violence, an overload of special effects, extreme sexual content and bad acting. The performances were strong; one that especially stood out for me was that of Joe Patterson, played by Ken Butler. He was terrific and really added to the film. After seeing this film, I would definitely make it a priority to see Ken Butler in his future efforts. Another aspect that really stood out for me was the score. The music was wonderful, never overpowering or distracting, but really complimenting the film. I would recommend this film to everyone of all ages. It's not very often that someone can take their kids along to see a smart, well-acted and beautifully filmed movie.