This adaptation of the Joseph Wambaugh novel (scripted by the author himself) is an offbeat, poignant combination of romance and crime drama set in L. A. Robert Foxworth ("Syriana") is wonderful as A. M. Valnikov, an L. A. P. D. detective with a drinking problem who's been transferred from homicide to robbery. The delightful Paula Prentiss ("The Parallax View") is Natalie Zimmerman, a fellow detective who's very unhappy to be newly partnered with this guy. But the more she comes to know him, the more she likes him. They are a true odd couple: she's a cynic and he's an utter romantic who was troubled at having to deal with the dark side of human nature.

Meanwhile, a hard-luck dog groomer named Philo Skinner (a typically marvelous Harry Dean Stanton ("Alien")) is desperate to pay back a loan shark, so he kidnaps Vicky, the champion Schnauzer belonging to Madeline Whitfield (Barbara Babcock, 'Hill Street Blues'),and holds the dog for ransom.

"The Black Marble" is highly offbeat, original, and affecting not only as it charts the progress of the Valnikov / Zimmerman relationship, but as it explores the idea of people who often seem to get the short end of the stick. Its characters are by and large engaging and worth getting to know: for one thing, Valnikov is very proud of his Russian heritage. It's also touching the way that Valnikov reaches out to lonely people like Madeline, and the way he desperately hopes to avoid being as cynical as his late former partner was. Skinner, meanwhile, is so pathetic that as an antagonist you can't really hate him too much. Even when he does occasionally hurt or maim an animal, you can tell that it eats him up inside.

The first-rate ensemble also includes John Hancock ("The Bonfire of the Vanities"),Raleigh Bond ("Pennies from Heaven"),Judy Landers ('Madame's Place'),Pat Corley ('Murphy Brown'),Michael Dudikoff ("American Ninja"),Lou Cutell ("Pee-wee's Big Adventure"),and Anne Ramsey ("The Goonies"),with cameo roles for Christopher Lloyd and James Woods, who'd been in the film version of "The Onion Field" previously.

"The Black Marble" receives deft direction from "The Onion Field" director Harold Becker, and is nicely shot (by Owen Roizman) and scored (by Maurice Jarre). It's an appealing story that has been somewhat forgotten over time, but is worth seeking out for interested viewers.

Eight out of 10.

This is a delightful black comedy that within the first 15 minutes I truly thought I was going to hate. It involves a dog napping of all things, with police detectives Robert Foxworth and Paula Prentiss called to the home of a wealthy Barbara Babcock who desperately wants her dog back no matter what the cost. While Foxworth, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, is desperate to help her get her dog back, partner Prentiss is quite the opposite in feelings. In fact, she thinks it's a stupid case and makes her feelings very known. The kidnapper is a rather deranged pet shampooer, played by one of the most demented favorite character actors, Harry Dean Stanton. He gets into a curse fight with none other than Anne Ramsey, seven years before "Throw Momma from the Train", and if you thought the Kathleen Freeman cursing scene in "Dragnet" was hysterical, wait till you see Ramsey and Stanton go at it.

It's the attraction of opposites for Prentiss and Foxworth, with Prentiss quite strong-willed and opinionated, a true ballbuster, and Foxworth, having been through enough emotional turmoil in his life, is quite passive in every way. He is as far from Chase "Falcon Crest" as he could possibly be, absolutely hysterically nebbish and so big-hearted that he'd risk his life to save a bowl of goldfish in a burning building, and not care about the outcome. Stanton so hysterically funny that you want to see him, and end up in a prison comedy star. He is just delightfully wild. I can't believe how good the screenplay is, so consistently catchy that it makes me want to go back and re-watch the first 20 minutes but I did not like.

Based on the book by Joseph Wambaugh, and adopted by him, it is very literary and intelligent, and it's easy to see how Prentiss can begin to lighten up being around Foxworth, while the villainous Stanton steals every moment that he's on screen, even just ranting on the phone. This is a type of comedy where you have to expect to happen what you least expect to happen, so many wonderful twist that it really keeps you guessing. In addition to the great script and direction by Harold Becker, the photography is excellent and even the constantly used setting of Los Angeles becomes fun to look at. This is a comedy for intellect, maybe not something for modern audiences, but sophisticated and witty and definitely of a dark nature. A nearly perfect movie.

Burnt-out alcoholic romantic Russian homicide detective A. M. Valnikov (a wonderful and engaging performance by Robert Foxworth) gets transferred to robbery and partnered with hard-nosed cynic and divorcee Natalie Zimmerman (superbly played with delicious tartness by Paula Prentiss). The pair fall in love while investigating a dognapping case involving desperate dog groomer Philo Skinner (the always terrific Harry Dean Stanton) and financially strapped rich lady Madeline Whitfield (a spot-on sultry portrayal by Barbara Babcock).

Director Harold Becker relates the enjoyably idiosyncratic story at a leisurely pace while also offering a tasty blend of quirky humor and stark drama. Joseph Wambaugh's witty and perceptive script not only astutely captures the raw desperation of broken-down people trying to eke out a meager existence on life's fringes, but also nails how the thankless job of being a police detective can drive someone to a near breaking point.

This film further benefits from a rich rogue's gallery of colorful and/or seedy secondary characters: John Hancock as no-nonsense sergeant Clarence Cromwell, Judy Landers as Skinner's sweet bimbo assistant Pattie Mae, Anne Ramsey as irate hotel owner Bessie Callahan, Pat Corley as antsy used car salesman Itchy Mitch, Cristopher Lloyd as a sinister collector, and James Woods as a fiddler in the park. The central romance between Valnikov and Zimmerman proves to be both charming and moving in equal measure. A real sleeper.