Smile Jenny, You're Dead(1974)

Smile Jenny, You're Dead is a detective telefilm starring David Janssen as Harry, a tenacious investigator who becomes entangled with a street-smart homeless girl named Liberty, played by young Jodie Foster. Serving as the second pilot for the Harry O series that would follow, the film showcases Janssen's trademark grit as he navigates the seedier side of the city. Foster delivers a memorable turn as the precocious waif who forms an unlikely bond with Harry, bringing depth to a character far wiser than her years suggest. The telefilm balances crime procedural elements with character-driven drama, anchored by the chemistry between its two leads and the moral complexity of their relationship against the backdrop of urban decay.