EDITOR’S NOTE: Twilight of Honor was on the CBS Late Movie on February 16 and June 5, 1972, April 11, 1974 and January 14, 1976.

Boris Sagal directed The Omega Man and died while making the miniseries World War III when he got out of a helicopter the wrong way in the parking lot of the Timberline Hotel in Portland — where The Shining exteriors were filmed — and the blades hit him in the head. He died five hours later. He also made this movie, which was written by Henry Denker and based on the book by Al Dewlen.

David Mitchell (Richard Chamberlain) is a widowed lawyer in a small city in New Mexico who is called in to be the public defender for an alleged murderer named Ben Brown (Nick Adams) who has been charged with murder. He’s up against Norris Bixby (James Gregory), with whom he shares a mentor, Art Harper (Claude Rains). No one gives Ben a chance, not even David, as he’s already confessed to the crime and in a small town like this, no jury will listen to him.

Harper reveals that he’s the reason why David got the case, as he’s too ill to try the case, but thinks that Ben deserves justice. Art’s daughter, Susan (played by Joan Blackman, also known for her role in Pets), serves as his secretary and love interest; she has pined for him ever since he was married.

After meeting the wife of the defendant, Laura-Mae Brown (Joey Heatherton), David learns that she was abused by him and hopes he dies in the gas chamber. But what is the truth? Yes, Ben may have killed off-duty cop Cole Clinton (Pat Buttram), but the cop was making time with Mrs. Brown, which could make this a justifiable homicide. But since the town loves Clinton and most of his wealthy friends are serving on the jury, there’s no way this can be won.

Mrs. Clinton (Jeanette Nolan) asks to meet David and reveals that yes, her husband slept around. If he drops the adultery charge, she will ask for mercy for the accused. She wants to keep her daughter (Linda Evans) from finding out what kind of man her husband really was. The lawyer refuses.

The truth is complicated, especially given that Laura received the reward for turning in her husband and is now sleeping with a member of the state’s legal team. Ben may have his issues — being suicidal, maybe loving the wrong woman — but he’s not guilty.

Chamberlain was a big star from the Dr. Kildare TV show, so this was his first role on the screen. It was controversial, as the novel was considered too adult for the clean-cut actor. As for Nick Adams, he excels in this role and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. He went on one of the highest-profile campaigns ever, but lost to Hud actor Melvyn Douglas. The public embarrassment led to Adams being offered fewer roles, an increase in the actor’s depression and may have played a role in him ending his life.

In the UK, this was renamed” The Charge Is Murder and was paired with Children of the Damned for one weird double!

You can watch this on YouTube.