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Post by ripper on May 26, 2014 14:36:29 GMT
I was wondering if anyone remembers the US made-for-TV films that used to turn up regularly on ITV during the 1970s and 1980s. These productions would typically run for around 75 minutes, to fit into a 90-minute slot with commercials. Almost all genres were covered: drama, comedy, romance, thriller, war, western and, of course, horror. Casts would feature TV actors, second-string film actors and those whose career was winding down (Bette Davis being a good example of the last category). The films in the horror/supernatural genre are the ones that I can remember the best. Below, in no particular order, are a few that may bring back memories.
The Night Stalker (1972)
The Night Strangler (1973)
The Norliss Tapes (1973)
Trilogy of Terror (1975)
Don't be afraid of the Dark (1973)
Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981)
Sole Survivor (1970)
Crowhaven Farm (1970)
Satan's School for Girls (1973)
Curse of the Black Widow (1977)
Satan's Triangle (1975)
Horror at 37,000 Feet (1973)
The House that would not Die (1970)
Gargoyles (1972)
The Initiation of Sarah (1978)
There were many more.
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Post by andydecker on May 26, 2014 20:27:07 GMT
I remember some of them. A few were sold abroad and done years later at the begining of the video boom. I think there was Trilogy of Fear and The House That would not die which I remember particulary lame.
Of course I must have seen The Night Stalker, but I can't for the live of me not remember anything about it. I really have to buy the Kolchak series some day. |
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Post by jamesdoig on May 26, 2014 21:19:33 GMT
I was wondering if anyone remembers the US made-for-TV films that used to turn up regularly on ITV during the 1970s and 1980s. I remember them well - they scared the crap out of me as a kid watching late night horror on tv in Australia: the last Trilogy of Terror part when Karen Back is possessed by the demon in the zuni fetish doll, the Norliss Tapes with Angie Dickinson, Don't be Afraid of the Dark - that had those thingies living in the fireplace didn't it, with the evil voices, and Satan's Triangle was the Bermuda Triangle movie I think: they escape in the helicopter at the end but the woman is possessed or something? And of course, the Night Stalker movies - loved the show back then, but it hasn't held up well, apart from those two telemovies. |
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Post by mattofthespurs on May 27, 2014 6:48:47 GMT
I've got The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler on a double DVD. Bought it when I got The Night Stalker TV series. The first one, which proceeds the tv series I believe, is very good.
Trilogy of Terror I remember fondly too, as do most people, for the final story. Have that on DVD somewhere too.
Dark Night of the Scarecrow I remember catching late one night in the early 80's on ITV and it scaring me a fair bit. Re-watched it on the Horror Channel a few weeks ago. It has not aged well.
Seem to remember Horror at 37,000 feet (starring William Shatner) as being good but it's been years since I saw it. I see there is a region 1 DVD available. Might have to make a purchase.
The Gargoyles I had as an off-air recording for many years on VHS which I dumped when I moved house 8 years ago. Again there is a region 1 DVD available but Amazon has new copies listed at an eye watering £77! Even the used copies at £22 are over priced in my opinion.
The rest ring no bells but I shall endeavour to Google them. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
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Post by ripper on May 27, 2014 11:43:03 GMT
Andy: The original Night Stalker film is very good indeed, and I am quite fond of its sequel. Sadly, the Kolchak TV series didn't reach the heights of the Films, though it certainly had its moments, and McGavin is very watchable.
James: That last part of Trilogy of Terror is very memorable and definitely the best story. The Norliss Tapes was a pilot for a series that never got commissioned. Pity, as it was very dark, much more so than the Night Stalker filmes which it had similarities to. Roy Thinnes, though a good actor, was rather dour, and his character lacked the likeability of McGavin's Kolchak. Yes, there were those little goblin things living in the fireplace that menaced Kim Darby in Don't be afraid of the Dark. Satan's Triangle was, indeed, about a helicopter crew attempting to rescue a boat in the Bermuda triangle, and had a downbeat ending if I remember correctly.
Matt: It was, indeed, William Shatner in Horror at 37,000 Feet. It was not bad, about average for a TV-movie, I thought. Gargoyles was good fun with some creepy effects. The DVDs of these things do command scary prices, though surely reasonably-priced box sets would sell well.
A few more that came to me:
Killdozer: Clint Walker takes on a bulldozer possessed by an alien force.
Moon of the Wolf: David Jansson tracks down a werewolf in rural America.
The Spell (?): A girl takes revenge on school bullies, Carrie-style.
Scream of the Wolf: Peter Graves in another werewolf-stalking flick.
Death at Love House: Robert Wagner and Kate Jackson investigate the house where a silent movie star vanished.
Scream, Pretty Peggy: Bette Davis in a Psycho-style psychological horror.
A Cold Night's Death: Eli Wallach faces an alien force in an arctic--or antarctic--base.
I remember these movies turning up either early evening or after News at Ten for the darker ones. One that I remember as enjoying greatly, though not a horror film, was Trapped starring James Brolin. He is mugged in a shopping mall rest room and wakes up when everything is locked up for the night. Not too much of a problem except that there are a number of ferocious guard dogs that prowl the mall.
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Post by mattofthespurs on May 27, 2014 16:43:16 GMT
Killdozer is the only one that rings a bell from that list.
A cross between Jaws/Duel/The Car?
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Post by mattofthespurs on May 27, 2014 16:48:19 GMT
Just ordered Moon of the Wolf for £1.79.
Even at that price I may regret it!
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Post by ripper on May 27, 2014 18:20:46 GMT
Matt, Killdozer is, indeed, quite similar in concept to Duel and The Car. Apparently, Theodore Sturgeon co-wrote the teleplay. I remember it as being quite cheesey but still entertaining. I hope you enjoy Moon of the Wolf. It's not bad at all imo, about average for a 70s made-for-TV horror. David Jansson--I liked him a lot in Harry O--is ably supported by Bradford Dillman, who turned up in not a few of these productions.
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Post by jamesdoig on May 27, 2014 21:09:25 GMT
I hope you enjoy Moon of the Wolf. It's not bad at all imo, about average for a 70s made-for-TV horror. David Jansson--I liked him a lot in Harry O--is ably supported by Bradford Dillman, who turned up in not a few of these productions. Watched this not long ago on youtube and enjoyed it - I think it's based on the Leslie Whitten novel, an occasionally neglected Vaultish writer. There's a guy in it who was also the gravedigger in Salem's Lot who gets chomped by the kid in that great scene. |
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Post by ripper on May 28, 2014 11:30:31 GMT
James, I think you are right about Moon of the Wolf having a literary origin, though I have not read the book.
In 1976, a made-for-TV sequel to Rosemary's Baby was made titled Look what's happened to Rosemary's Baby. I can only remember this one very hazily, having only seen it once when it was screened on UK TV. Broderick Crawford was in the cast and he played similar roles to Bradford Dillman; between the two, they must have appeared in a fair few of these 70s Made-for-TV films.
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Chuck_G
Crab On The Rampage
Posts: 32
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Post by Chuck_G on Sept 24, 2014 15:30:50 GMT
I remember so many of these movies! I thought my friend Tim and I were the only people in the world who every saw Killdozer. Don't be Afraid of the Dark scared the crap out of me as a kid. A couple of years ago my daughter and her friends watched the remake during a sleepover and thought it was scary. Another made for TV werewolf movie is Death Moon (1878). I don't remember much about it except it took place in Hawaii and featured Debra Lee Scott from Welcome Back Kotter.
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Post by ripper on Sept 25, 2014 7:15:36 GMT
Hi Blindcat. I don't remember seeing Death Moon, though so many TV films were shown here in the UK that some have slipped from my memory. I haven't seen the Don't be afraid remake, but those little creatures in the original were very creepy.
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Post by Michael Connolly on Jul 31, 2021 11:36:55 GMT
I was wondering if anyone remembers the US made-for-TV films that used to turn up regularly on ITV during the 1970s and 1980s. These productions would typically run for around 75 minutes, to fit into a 90-minute slot with commercials. Almost all genres were covered: drama, comedy, romance, thriller, war, western and, of course, horror. Casts would feature TV actors, second-string film actors and those whose career was winding down (Bette Davis being a good example of the last category). The films in the horror/supernatural genre are the ones that I can remember the best. Below, in no particular order, are a few that may bring back memories. The Night Stalker (1972) The Night Strangler (1973) The Norliss Tapes (1973) Trilogy of Terror (1975) Don't be afraid of the Dark (1973) Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) Sole Survivor (1970) Crowhaven Farm (1970) Satan's School for Girls (1973) Curse of the Black Widow (1977) Satan's Triangle (1975) Horror at 37,000 Feet (1973) The House that would not Die (1970) Gargoyles (1972) The Initiation of Sarah (1978) There were many more. Bad news. I've just discovered that William F. Nolan who, among many other works, adapted two of the Richard Matheson stories for Trilogy of Terror died on July 15: locusmag.com/2021/07/william-f-nolan-1928-2021/He also wrote for Trilogy of Terror II (1996). Also directed by Dan Curtis, I didn't even know it existed: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilogy_of_Terror_II |
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Post by helrunar on Jul 31, 2021 13:01:18 GMT
That is sad news, Michael.
I started watching Trilogy of Terror II a couple of years ago and found the first story so awful I couldn't manage to continue with it. That film featured Lysette Anthony who was terrible as an Angelique right out of 'Allo 'Allo in the 1991 remake of Dark Shadows... I could never recover from the fact that one "terrifying" speech she had began with the words, "'Ear meee, Bahrnabas..." I blamed the director or, more likely, Dan Curtis himself, who sometimes pushed forward disastrous decisions on his projects.
With the original ToT, when I last saw it (at a special theatrical screening these wealthy friends of mine put on for a party), I liked the first two stories much better than the famous one with the silly animated fetish doll.
But then, it's been noted that I have odd opinions.
cheers, Hel
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Post by helrunar on Jul 31, 2021 13:15:14 GMT
Satan's School for Girls (1973) is a good introduction to this sub-genre. The first five minutes are a classic example of this type of film. www.youtube.com/watch?v=otbBuvmPT1UH.
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