As the pair dig into the mystery, a pathetic sub-plot tries to add a touch of romance to the simmering potboiler, but it fails to bring up the tepid nature of the material. Brenner and Sunhill go through the motions as everyone around them wants to cover up the death of the general's daughter. General Campbell has political ambitions to consider. His loyal dog of an assistant, Colonel Fowler, is busy clearing his path. Mix in an MP Colonel to get in the way and the dead girl's kinky commanding officer, and you have a overflowing stew of mis-matched ingredients.
Some scenes are more embarrassing than others.
The initial confrontation between Brenner and Colonel Moore includes dialogue more suitable to a pair of bickering lovers than a detective and a suspect in a murder mystery. There are other dialog nightmares. Brenner makes a speech about his Vietnam commander that is totally out of place, but as Simon West explains it on the commentary, was needed to explain Brenner's admiration for General Campbell. The huge pool of acting talent play it like harried rush hour workers racing to the subway on an ice pond. I can imagine them flailing their hands in panic desperately trying to get off the set of The General's Daughter.