08.26.09 | John Tartaglia | Staff NotesPrint this Post
Tags: Jill Clayburgh, TV Shows
These days made-for-TV movies on network and basic cable channels are relegated to the Lifetime network (television for women… and gay men) and mostly continue the practice of the “women in jeopardy” genre, often with "fatal" or "deadly" in the title. But the TV movie and mini-series were staples of network programming in the '60s and '70s, and they didn't just exist to provide work for Barbara Eden, Barbara Feldon, or Karen Valentine. They attracted movie stars (Bing Crosby in Dr. Cook’s Garden, Bette Davis in Madame Sin) and also let the small screen favorites of the day flex their acting chops in different kinds of roles (Bewitched star Elizabeth Montgomery in A Case Of Rape and The Legend of Lizzie Borden or Andy Griffith in Savages). Sometimes they were pilots for potential series (Kojak was spawned from The Marcus-Nelson Murders and Peter Falk’s detective Columbo came from Prescription: Murder). And sometimes they were just a fun ride (think Connie Stevens in Call Her Mom or Clint Walker battling an alien-controlled bulldozer in Killdozer).
They also tackled the social and political issues of the day (teenage drug abuse in Go Ask Alice, multiple personality with the Emmy-award winning Sybil, and Alzheimer’s disease in Do You Remember Love). Alex Haley’s Roots became a national phenomenon and started a national dialogue on race relations (Oh, how far we’ve come…not!). What eventually killed the TV film was the networks’ preoccupation with the “disease of the week” genre. You almost expected to see Paper Cuts: One Woman’s Nightmare appear next, and in the '90s the titles given these "dramas" just got worse: "She Woke Up Pregnant" or "Mother May I Sleep With Danger".
For a while though, the small screen produced some fine films. Here’s a small list of some of the best TV movies or mini-series that are currently available on DVD.
Helter Skelter: Creepy adaptation of prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi's book about Charles Manson and his hippie “family” who were responsible for one of the most shocking series of murders in Southern California in August 1969. Actress Sharon Tate (who was pregnant by director-husband Roman Polanski) was one of the victims. Steve Railsback is eerie as cult leader Manson and Nancy Wolfe channels follower Susan Atkins to disturbing perfection.
Trilogy of Terror: Three separate horror stories all starring Karen Black. The last (and the best one) is about a woman being terrorized in her apartment by an African tribal doll that comes to life. Directed by Dark Shadows creator Dan Curtis, it also stars DS alumni John Karlen and James Storm.
Maybe I’ll Come Home In The Spring: This film might seem very dated now, but when it aired in 1971 it packed a wallop. Sally Field (effortlessly erasing her Gidget persona) stars as a young girl who returns to her suburban home after living a “hippie” lifestyle. Eleanor Parker and Jackie Cooper are her clueless parents (cocktails good, marijuana bad) who are doomed to repeat the same parenting mistakes with younger daughter Lane Bradbury, and David Carradine is Field’s commune boyfriend, who comes searching for her. One big negative in the film is a fantasy sequence with animation that just doesn’t belong there. But the ending is still killer, man.
The Girl Most Likely To... : Stockard Channing is a mistreated homely girl who after an accident is transformed by plastic surgery into a looker. She still has issues though and starts murdering those who did her wrong in the past. Ed Asner is the enamored cop investigating the case and the supporting cast includes future Love Boater Fred Grandy and Annette O’Toole. Written by Joan Rivers. Hmm…plastic surgery…Joan Rivers…who would have thought?
Not available but should be:
The Winter Of Our Discontent: Based on John Steinbeck’s novel and starring Donald Sutherland and Teri Garr (both in excellent form). Sutherland plays a model husband and father who has to make some hard moral choices about his business and his family. Also stars Tuesday Weld as a woman with whom he has a flirtation and Richard Masur as a mentally handicapped neighbor. Your heart bleeds for the always underrated Sutherland as his world comes crashing down.
Playing For Time: Playwright Arthur Miller penned this Holocaust drama about women prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp who survive by playing classical music for their captors. The cast includes Vanessa Redgrave, Jane Alexander, Christine Baranski and a pre-thirtysomething Melanie Mayron.
That Certain Summer: Hal Holbrook (who should have won the Oscar for Into The Wild) is a divorced father, Martin Sheen his partner and Scott Jacoby (Emmy Award winner) the teenage son who becomes suspicious about their relationship. Hope Lange is the anguished ex-wife who tells Sheen "If you were a woman, I would know how to compete with you" (see 6:30 in the video below). This film was considered groundbreaking at the time for tackling homosexuality with compassion and honesty, but like other gay-themed films of the era, homosexuality equaled heartache.
Death In Canaan: Based on the book by Joan Barthel (played in the telemovie by Stephanie Powers), Death In Canaan is the true story of Peter Reilly, a Connecticut teenager accused of murdering his mother. The mishandling of the case by police leads the townspeople to rally around the young man. A young Conchata Ferrell (Two and a Half Men) is a standout as one of his supporters in Tony Richardson’s small- screen directing debut.
Some other notable titles that I’d like to see released on DVD or at least aired again are Tribes with Jan-Michael Vincent and Darren McGavin, The Neon Ceiling with Gig Young and Lee Grant, Ann-Margret in Who Will Love My Children?, and The Two Mrs. Grenvilles., Fatal Vision with Gary Cole and Karl Malden, Murder in Texas with Farrah Fawcett and Andy Griffith, and Daughter Of the Mind with Ray Milland. Some smart TV executive (guess that’s an oxymoron) should start a TV Movie network (A TCM for the telemovie) and open those vaults.
What TV films would you like to see again?
Here's a shout-out for "Choices of the Heart," the long-unavailable, "based on a true story" 1983 TV-movie with Melissa Gilbert playing El Salvador missionary Jean Donovan. "Movie Irv," where is this movie?
I learned alot and enjoyed reading this. Thank you so much.
Very entertaining and well written!
A death In Canaan I have not been able to find on DVD. Please email me at above email address or please call 805-279-6257. My father was in that movie. Really need a good production quality uncut version.
Thank you.
I truly enjoyed this article and was reminded of some of the excellent tv movies that have seemed to disappear. The two Ann Margaret movies were especially excellent. Another one that should be released to a dvd is Love Among the Ruins with Laurence Olivier and Katharine Hepburn which showcases both of these stars at the height of their mature careers. I dont understand how full mediocre tv series are being constantly released yet quality tv movies are ignored.
Have been waiting for years to replace my VHS copy of "The Early Years" mini series staring Elizabeth Montgomery. There are certainly many more programs of note we have mostly forgotten about but would enjoy seeing again. EG. East of Eden, North South, Empire. Your idea of a TV movies chanell has merrit and something I would watch.
"Love Among the Ruins" was/is the very best. Love that movie. Also there was a scary one with Pamela Franklin; can't remember the title but something about a twin sister that died when they were kids. Came out in the early 1970's. Anybody remember this one?
The old movies can bring back a lot of memories.
What about "Duel," based on the crackling short story by Richard Matheson, starring Dennis Weaver, and (last but not least) directed by a young Steven Spielberg?
Great article! I would love to see some of those old made for TV movies! "Go Ask Alice" was so good, I first saw it as a teenager and found it very moving. I'd also like to see these old TV movies, Born Innocent with Linda Blair, Lisa Bright and Dark, The People, Bad Ronald and Don't Afraid of the Dark, just to name a few. Are any of these movies available anywhere? Also does any one remember the name of made for TV movie starring Hope Lange that had to do with her being a witch? Really good and scary. Thank you.
Hi Ellen,
Bad Ronald and Don't be Afraid Of The Dark and Go Ask Alice are available on our website. The Hope Lange film is Crowhaven Farm but sadly that is not available on DVD as of yet.
Thanks for the comment.
John Tartaglia
Here are my favorites:
"The Night Stalker (1971) Vampire loose in Las Vegas! What a great film.
"Dragnet 1967" The pilot of the reincarnation of Dragnet. Deals with a series of murders of women from a lonely hearts club.
"Brotherhood of the Bell" Creepy film with Glenn Ford and Dean Jagger
"The Ratings Game" Very funny movie with Danny Devito and her his wife Rhea Perlman
"Black Noon", 1971, Roy Thinnes, Yvette Mimieux, Ray Milland. Preacher comes upon a band of pilgrims who are not what they seem.
One more entry. Actually a mini-series.
"Washington Behind Closed Doors" Fictionalized account of Watergate from a book by Watergate figure John Ehrlichman. Robert Vaughn won an Emmy for his role of a White House Chief of Staff. Very underated in its day.
One of my favorite TV movies was "Katherine" (telecast 10/5/75) starring Art Carney, Sissy Spacek and Henry Winkler. It was based on the Patty Hearst case.
For anyone interested in early TV movies I recommend "Movies Made for Television" (third edition) by Alvin H. Marill. It covers 2,069 telefeatures and mini-series telecast between 10/7/64 and 12/29/86.
The Last Convertible was a great mini series that had a great story, and good stars.
There was an excellent TV movie called Sunshine, about a young woman who cleans up her messed-up life, has a child and finds a good man to love, then dies of cancer. It may sound awful, but it wasn't. It was based on the woman's journals and starred a fine actress named Christina Raines.
The song by John Denver was played over the closing credits. There is no way to deny it is a tearjerker, but it is way less icky than Love Story.
This is not a regular movie but was on Dupont Theater. The one I am referring to is "Ethan Frome"
and it starred Sterling Hayden. I forget who the lead lady was but it was one I have never gotten out of my mind and would really like to find on DVD. Some of the hourly shows were just as good as the made for tv movies.
Death Car on the Freeway with former Charlie's Angel Shelly Hack. Menace on the freeways of California .I believe Hal Needham was the director of it too.
I was in an excellent miniseries GEROGE WASHINGTON and its sequel FORGING OF A NATION, both starring Barry Bostwick and Patty Duke. The VHS (if you can find it) goes for a lot of money. It was set for release on DVD but the new owners (I think SONY) decided no further releases from before 1986. Pity, it was a gem and I was proud to be a part of it.
Oh my gosh! Crowhaven Farm was a movie that scared me silly as a kid. Hope Lange was FAB as the young wife & mother. I think it still ranks as one of the creepiest movies EVER. And no gratuitous gore! I'm so glad others remember this film! And the 2001-ish opening credits for the ABC Movie of the Week...
how about theNIGHT THAT PANICKED AMERICA. an aii star cast [for the day] about war of the worlds radio brodcast of 1938 one of my all time faves.
The Screaming Woman with Olivia de Havilland;
Death Takes a Holiday with Monte Markham;
Killer Bees starring Gloria Swanson, Edward Albert, and Kate Jackson; You'll Never See Me Again with David Hartman; One of My Wives Is Missing with Elizabeth Ashley and Jack Klugman; and Live Again, Die Again, starring Donna Mills, Mercedes McCambridge, Walter Pidgeon, and Mike Farrell!
The list of the films in the article did bring back a lot of great memories. What about Brian's Song with James Cann and Billy De Williams or Tom Tyron's Harvest Home with Bette Davis?
There were some terrific made-for-TV films but ABC ran Movie of the Week for 90min. so without commercials these are approx 72min. long and there is no outlet for this length anymore -- all cable channels are set up for a 2hr movie and thats too bad.
Remember Milton Berle in SEVEN IN DARKNESS about the plane full of blind people going to a conference and it crashes on the mountain and they have to get down -- the alternative title was probably The Blind Leading The Blind.
Another Elizabeth Montgomery vehicle was MRS. SUNDANCE with Etta Place's version on the Butch and Sundance saga -- the movie where she met her real life husband Robert Foxworth, who co-starred.
A SHORT WALK TO DAYLIGHT about the NYC subway derailed and they have to get out; including going under the East River. Sly Stallone did a movie called DAYLIGHT in the 90's(?) that was so reminiscient of this film that the original writers should have been given credit!
HIT LADY with Yvette Mimieux (sp?) that I believe is available on DVD.
UNWED FATHER about just that subject.
HOUSE ON GREENAPPLE ROAD, a murder mystery with the most gruesome opening credits of any movie to date.
HOW AWFUL ABOUT ALLAN with Norman Bates himself, Tony Perkins with Julie Harris also.
GRIFFIN LOVES PHOENIX: a love story, starring Peter Falk and Jill Clayburgh that takes the more famous Love Story with Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal to the absolute ultimate level (I won't spoil it, but you'll never see the ending coming).
I could go on and on! Gems on film when actors took chances with roles and studios took chances on new directors! With todays huge budgets could we ever see these days again?
I don't know how I forgot to include She Lives! starring Desi Arnaz, Jr. and Season Hubley, and two Lindsay Wagner favorites, The Two Worlds of Jenny Logan, and The Incredible Journey of Dr. Meg Laurel. The love theme from She Lives! was my introduction to the music of Jim Croce. Both of the Lindsay Wagner telefilms are available at high prices on VHS, but neither has been released to DVD.
Brian Dennehy scared me silly in the mini-serries To Catch A Killer when he played John Wayne Gacy. I wish I could find it. Also Chiefs, a great mini-series about three different chiefs of police in a small town. Wayne Rodgers and Billy Dee Williams were two of the stars. If anyone knows where to find these two series on DVD or even VHS I would appreciate a heads up.
Stephanie powers was in an early '70s tv film where four women were trapped on a island with a killer. If anyone knows the title of film and if available on dvd.
Escape to Athena is only available in Region 2 on DVD.
I would love to see "I love a Mystery" with David Hartman and Ida Lupino and a cameo by Don Knotts
The title of the telefilm with Stephanie Powers was "Five Desperate Women." It was 90 minutes, directed by Ted Post and telecast by ABC on 9/28/71. It also starred Anjanette Comer, Bradford Dillman, Joan Hackett, Denise Nichols, Julie Sommars and Robert Conrad.
I would love to see two tv movies that starred Vince Edwards. They are DIAL HOT LINE; THE COURAGE AND THE PASSION. I have been searching forever. Thanks.
[...] [...]
There were a lot of good ABC movies, but here is a rather obscure one I would like to see again... Two for the Money with Mercedes McCambridge, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Hooks.
How about The Tenth Level starring William Shatner, as well as John Travolta's first movie appearance? The movie is based on Stanley Milgram's obedience experiments at Yale in the early 60s.
Also, I remember a movie, mostly I remember the ending, about a women's commune living on a mountain. A young man arrives, disrupting all, and one of the younger women falls in love and is planning to leave and marry him. So the rest of the women plan a going away feast and prepare a mushroom dish (his favorite) but use poison mushrooms. It ends with them carrying his body into the woods for burial and a voice-over from the broken-hearted girl.
Let's not forget three great Martin Sheen vehicles. That Certain Summer with Hal Halbrook was an early TV look at homosexuality. The Execution of Private Slovik, on the first American execution of a soldier for desertion since the Civil War, co-starred Ned Beatty and Gary Busey. My favorite, Sweet Hostage, had Sheen as a 30ish mental patient who takes a pretty teen (Linda Blair) hostage as part of his escape, and they fall in love before the authorities arrive to rescue her. The ending got me every time!
I would like to see "Teacher, Teacher" with David McCallum, and also "Hauser's Memory".
There was a "Dragnet" TV movie starring Jack Webb and Ben Alexander which has never been available on video or DVD. It was based on a real-life serial killer case, and is considered by many to be the best Dragnet full-length movie made.
Does anyone remember two outstanding movies from the '70s: The Man in the Iron Mask and The Count of Monte Cristo, both starring Richard Chamberlain? Other members of the cast included Sir Ralph Richardson, Louis Jordan, Trevor Howard, Tony Curtis, Kate Nelligan, Donald Pleasence, Patrick McGoohan, Jenny Agutter and Ian Holm. I have both films on VHS, but have yet to find them on DVD. I'm disappointed that superb acting such as this is not available to a wider audience, especially since the movies are based on two of Alexandre Dumas' most famous works.
There are SO MANY unforgettable made-for TV movies. Remember the great song/intro to ABC Movie of the Week?
That theme was written by Burt Bacharach and was called "Nikki" after his daughter.
Here are some nominations:
"The Victim" -- another Elizabeth Montgomery suspense thriller about a woman looking for her missing sister in an Old Dark House.
"A Cold Night's Death" -- Eli Wallach and Robert Culp as two scientists experimenting on monkeys in a cold mountain aerie -- but is someone (or something) experimenting on them?
"Crowhaven Farm" -- Hope Lange and Paul Burke as a young couple who inherit a farm and move there hoping that the rural setting will help their marriage. Worse marriage counseling move *ever*!
and finally >sigh<
"The Snow Goose" -- possibly the best, loveliest, and most heartbreaking TV movie of all time, with Jenny Agutter as a young orphan and Richard Harris a crippled lighthouse keeper, who are drawn together to care for an injured bird -- sadly locked away apparently thanks to a perverse directive in Paul Gallico's will. There is a print available at UCLA's film library, but oh, how I wish this were on DVD -- I'd even settle for a clear print on VHS!
A few of my "oldies but goodies" TV favorites, of which I've never been able to find legitimate releases, and which never seem to even pop up anywhere on cable anymore...
In no particular order:
Summer Of My German Soldier (with the always-awesome Bruce Davison)
The Gathering / The Gathering Part II (Ed Asner in the first; Bruce Davison in both)
This House Possessed (schlocky, but creepy fun nonetheless)
The Strange And Deadly Occurrence (that dressmakers dummy totally creeped me out!)
Rich Men, Single Women (better than the title would suggest)
Massacre At Central High ('Heathers' possibly owes a bit of a nod to this one)
Something For Joey (one of the all-time tearjerkers)
Dark Night Of The Scarecrow (very effectively creepy)
And the John Jakes miniseries: The Bastard / The Rebels / The Seekers (which I do have on VHS but would love to see become available on DVD)
Ah...so many more over the years, but this is the instant "top of my head" list... (All on permanent TiVo Wish List, of course! One can always hope!)
And, a couple of other goodies which HAVE been released on home media:
Sand Castles (Jan Michael Vincent)
The Death Of Richie
I just like to say it how I see it. Take care.
I am trying to find a movie, possibly '50-60's about a retarded girl who met a boy. I think it was in Italy. I thought it had Piazza in the title or Palazoo.
I would love to see "Seven in Darkness" again, as well as the one--can't recall the title--based on the Kitty Genovese killing (the infamous sixties assault-murder of a young woman whose neighbors heard her screams but did nothing to help her). Also "How Awful About Allan", and "Five Desperate Women"... and I vaguely remember "Crowhaven Farm" coming on but not bothering to watch! (I was 13; some programming went right past me in those years).
@ Linda: I think you're thinking of "A Light in the Piazza" starring Yvette Mimieux, George Hamilton and Olivia de Havilland as the over-protective mother, but I'm pretty sure this was a feature film, not a made-for-tv movie, unless there was a tv remake.
Oh--and does anyone remember the scary "Love, Hate, Love" starring Ryan O'Neal, Leslie Ann Warren and Peter Haskell? I think it came out the same year as Eastwood's "Play Misty For Me" with a similar theme of unhinged, obsessive love. Creeped me out plenty, I'll tell ya.
I TOTALLY AGREE that the heyday for the made for TV movie was in the 60's and 70's. Although an occasional one shows up on regular TV (such as "V"). the majority and best end up on HBO or Showtime.
Others for HONORABLE MENTION
include "Celebrity", "The Glass House", "My Sweet Charlie", "King", "Carter's Army", "The Blue Knight", "Seventh Avenue", "The Dane Curse" and many others I can't think of at this moment.
And it WOULD be a great idea to have a channel that only featured old made for TV films. Many of these movies were time capsules within themselves and reflected America and its ideals within the 60's and 70's. Its also a kick to see how later superstars got their starts and older greats give a last hurrah and show that they "still got it".
I've been looking everywhere for Summer of my German Soldier, and Lisa Bright and Dark. They are nowhere to be found sadly.
Trying to find Home for the Holidays...4 sisters come home to be with their dad, one is his killer. Sally Field and Elenor Parker are among the cast.
Also looking for The Smith Family, starring Henry Fonda.
Old VHS copies of "Home for the Holidays" are usually available on Amazon for under $15 - but if you check Ebay, they tend to be $30-$50.
Another classic TV movie that should be produced on dvd.
thank you Chris B.