Blade follows a veteran detective as he investigates the murder of a senator's daughter, exposing a labyrinth of political suspicion and further killings.

Mystery Cult Classic

A psycho-karate killer stalks the city as a weary detective unravels a web of politics and murder.

BLADE

A Psycho-Karate Killer Brutalizes His Victims And Your Emotions!

1973 · 1h 19m · R · Mystery / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

Blade is a veteran private detective who is working on a murder case as a favor to a friend. The murder victim was the daughter of a well-known conservative politician named William Prince, someone who Blade knew long before he was prominent. As Blade works on the case, he becomes more and more disillusioned, and eventually, the prime suspect is someone who is very close to him and may have thought that the murder would benefit the girl's father.

▶ Watch Now Sign In for Trailer My List

Quick Answer

What is Blade about?

Blade is a 1973 American mystery thriller film directed by Ernest Pintoff about a veteran detective investigating the murder of a senator’s daughter amid political suspicion and mounting bodies.

Programmer's Pick

Blade is what happens when a DIRTY HARRY knockoff meets giallo trappings—psycho-karate killers, political entanglements, and a cast that includes John Marley and early-career Morgan Freeman. The plot might juggle more threads than it can handle, but its blend of slasher vibes and political sleaze is pure exploitation-era curiosity.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Blade drops you into a gritty urban landscape where a so-called 'psycho-karate killer' is on the loose, targeting women and stirring up sensationalist headlines. When Melinda Powers is found murdered, her influential senator father is quick to point fingers at her boyfriend, but detective Jimmy Blade is assigned to the case—much to the senator's chagrin. As Blade digs deeper, another murder complicates the narrative, while political aides and police brass maneuver in the shadows. The film blends murder mystery with political intrigue, following Blade as he navigates personal connections, bureaucratic pressures, and a case that becomes more convoluted at every turn.

Details & Specs

Director: Ernest Pintoff
Writers: Ernest Pintoff, Jeff Lieberman
Release: 1973
Runtime: 1h 19m
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Thriller

Cast & Crew

View all →

Director: Ernest Pintoff Writers: Ernest Pintoff +1 more

John Marley Tommy Blade

Jon Cypher Petersen

Kathryn Walker Maggie

William Prince Powers

Michael McGuire Quincy

Morgan Freeman Chris KM Karen Machon Connors RB Raina Barrett Novak

Ted Lange Watson

Marshall Efron Fat Man

Arthur French Sanchez

Steve Landesberg Denbaum JC James Cook Kaminsky JL Jeanne Lange Melinda

Frederick Rolf Medical Examiner MP Michael Pendry Bentley VC Vince Cannon Morgan

Hugh Hurd Attornay

Julius Harris Card Player

Eddie Lawrence Producer

Katherine Squire Aunt Cynthia EB Eric Berry The Bishop

Geri Miller Caldwell

Explore More

Slasher Horror Independent Film Murder Psychotronic Film Violence Death Police Husband Wife Relationship Slasher Father Daughter Relationship Investigation Detective African American Giallo Policeman Slasher Horror Brother Brother Relationship