After constantly coming in well behind CBS and NBC in the ratings, the ABC Network gambled on a weekly anthology series of Made For Television productions in the hopes they could offer some legitimate competition to the two other major Networks. Initially designed as low budget pictures to fit a 90 minute time slot (sometimes a 2 hour slot), the Movie of the Week concept occasionally acted as a testing ground for potential television programs like STARSKY AND HUTCH and the first attempt at launching WONDER WOMAN as a series with Cathy Lee Crosby. Lasting six seasons between 1969 and 1975, some genuine classics (like DUEL and BRIAN'S SONG) were sprinkled among a slew of cult items. After the Movie of the Week finished its lengthy run, ABC continued to produce TV pictures as well as airing theatrical movies or even movies designed for theatrical release but made their world premieres on the small screen. The following list is a selection of some of the best Made For Television productions offered by 'The Big Three' between the years of 1970 through 1985. All films are accompanied by their original TV Guide premiere advertisement where applicable.
1. CROWHAVEN FARM 1970
Debuted November 24th, 1970 as the ABC Movie of the Week from 8:30pm-10:00pm
TV Guide description: "Crowhaven Farm (1970), a Made For TV chiller about witches, death and reincarnation. The drama centers on Maggie Porter, new owner of the farm, who's being tormented by eerie dreams."
After the theatrical success of ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968), the subject of witchcraft and satanism was transferred to the television medium in the form of the Aaron Spelling produced chiller, CROWHAVEN FARM; a sinister tale of revenge and reincarnation that, due to its own unexpectedly huge success, inspired imitations of its own such as the ominous Made For TV two-parter THE DARK SECRET OF HARVEST HOME (1978). A benchmark of TV Movie Terror, the majority of the FARM and the surrounding rural community differs from ROSEMARY'S cityscape coven. Incidentally, the popularity, and also the safety net of the TV movie format gave Polanski's classic horror film a Made For TV sequel in 1976 with LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED TO ROSEMARY'S BABY. CROWHAVEN FARM's cast is crammed full of familiar faces like John Carradine; and even the ultimate Tough Guy William Smith appears in the very last scene to deliver a vaguely menacing message following a twist ending key to why CROWHAVEN is so well remembered. FARM's competition was NBC's fascinating SciFi-Horror-Thriller, HAUSER'S MEMORY about a scientist working for the CIA injecting himself with the cerebrospinal fluid of a dead scientist to preserve his memories on military secrets; only insidious figures wish to have that information. It aired from 9pm-11pm and starred David McCallum, Susan Strasberg and Leslie Nielsen.
2. DUEL 1971
Debuted Saturday, November 13th, 1971 as the ABC Movie of the Weekend from 7:30pm-9:00pm
TV Guide description:"'Duel', a nightmare on a deserted highway. You're doing 55. You floor it to pass a gas truck and it's cler driving ahead. Not quite... minutes later the truck is back, a hulking mass of metal that looms up from behind, shoots around you a missile and cuts you off. The deadly game begins. Dennis Weaver plays the prey in the TV-movie, filmed on location in the rugged Soledad Canyon area of Southern California. The story, published last march in Playboy, was written by horror film veteran Richard Matheson after an encounter with a reckless truck driver. Directed by Steven Spielberg."
Early in his career, Steven Spielberg directed one of the most famous Made For Television thrillers ever produced. Essentially a cat and mouse plot between a guy in a red car and an unseen lunatic in a very big truck, Spielberg extracts the maximum amount of suspense from a simplistic premise. DUEL was so good, additional scenes were shot for overseas theatrical play. Slickly made and bordering on horror, DUEL never feels like a TV production. DUELing for network ratings opposite ABC was NBCs rerun of THE WAR WAGON (1967) starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas. Popular TV actor Dennis Weaver delivers a nerve-jangling performance that, while initially coming off as unlikable, eventually wins over audience sympathy. Weaver starred in two other Tele-Terror productions, the STRAW DOGS inspired TERROR ON THE BEACH (1973) and the ghost revenge horror of DON'T GO TO SLEEP (1982). DUEL's popularity ensured many repeat airings over the course of the next two decades. Spielberg's career would quickly skyrocket after directing JAWS (1975); a directing gig he got because of his phenomenally taut work on this little suspenser shot in Southern California. At the time of its debut, DUEL was not previewed by critics.
3. THE NIGHT STALKER 1972
Debuted January 11th, 1972 as the ABC Tuesday Movie of the Week from 7:30pm-9:00pm.
TV Guide description: "A modern monster story: Darren McGavin stars as a Las Vegas reporter on the trail of a maniac who thinks he's a vampire. This TV-movie was filmed on location."
THE NIGHT STALKER, a ghoulishly stylish horror movie, was at one time the highest rated film made for television. It beget a TV-movie sequel, THE NIGHT STRANGLER (1973), that debuted nearly a year to the day in January of the following year. Surprised and impressed by the ratings bonanzas of the two films, ABC bankrolled a TV series titled KOLCHAK, THE NIGHT STALKER (1974) which, unfortunately, survived for only a single season. The same fate awaited a 2005 reboot series. Dan Curtis, fresh off DARK SHADOWS (1966-1971) and two theatrical films based on that popular soap opera (1970s HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS and 1971s NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS), produced and John Llewellyn Moxey (CITY OF THE DEAD) directed. Dan Curtis would quickly become synonymous with small screen horror as well as its master.
Aside from Darren McGavin's infectious Carl Kolchak, who always seems to rub everyone the wrong way, the movie benefits from a ravenously energetic vampire villain played by Barry Atwater. An abundance of action and stunts elevate the film above the usual TV standards. THE NIGHT STALKER was released to theaters overseas and, in traditional fashion, was spared Judith Crist's critical wrath prior to its debut. Other than a 60 minute special on NBC titled SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN about the effects of violence on the youngsters in war-ravaged Northern Ireland, THE NIGHT STALKER dominated prime time.
Aside from Darren McGavin's infectious Carl Kolchak, who always seems to rub everyone the wrong way, the movie benefits from a ravenously energetic vampire villain played by Barry Atwater. An abundance of action and stunts elevate the film above the usual TV standards. THE NIGHT STALKER was released to theaters overseas and, in traditional fashion, was spared Judith Crist's critical wrath prior to its debut. Other than a 60 minute special on NBC titled SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN about the effects of violence on the youngsters in war-ravaged Northern Ireland, THE NIGHT STALKER dominated prime time.
4. GARGOYLES 1972
Debuted November 21st, 1972 as the CBS Tuesday Night Movie from 9:30pm-11:00pm
TV Guide description: "Special effects such as flying monsters steal the show in 'Gargoyles', a horror fantasy about half-man, half-reptile creatures planning to wipe out the human race. Cornel Wilde is the anthropologist out to stop them. This TV movie was filmed in Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico."
Thoroughly entertaining and showcasing impressive monster suits that belies its television production origins, GARGOYLES is fun stuff for the Drive-in crowd and still holds up today. Another plus is the aura of cross-country Americana with its roadside attractions that's all but extinct today. Future Oscar winning FX master Stan Winston did the monster makeups. Bernie Casey (HITMAN; DR. BLACK AND MR. HYDE) plays the leader of the cave-dwelling creatures. Giving GARGOYLES a run for its ratings was a repeat of the Made For Television Emmy winning drama BRIAN'S SONG (1971) from 8:30pm-10:00pm; while NBC countered with a repeat of 1961s award-winning WEST SIDE STORY from 8pm-11pm. As was often the case, GARGOYLES was unseen by critics prior to airing. Additionally, there was no advertisement for the picture's premiere.
5. A COLD NIGHT'S DEATH 1973
Debuted January 30th, 1973 as the ABC Tuesday Movie of the Week from 8:30pm-10:00pm.
TV Guide description: "A Cold Night's Death, starring Robert Culp and Eli Wallach as scientists trapped in a snow-bound research station. Worse: they're under attack by some unknown force terrorizing them to the brink of insanity. The electronic background score was composed by Gil Melle who scored Andromeda Strain."
One of the most chillingly creepy films you're likely to see, television director Jerrold Freedman (1972s KANSAS CITY BOMBER) and writer Christopher Knopf (1957s 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH) utilized the budgetary limitations of network productions to their advantage with a single locale and a limited cast. The arctic isolation is frightening and the mesmerizing performances of Robert Culp and Eli Wallach hold your attention till the final, terrifying reveal. Competition for this Cold Night came in the form of BAFFLED, an occult-themed thriller on NBC starring Leonard Nimoy; and over on CBS was the crime drama BIRDS OF PREY starring David Janssen. As was often the case with most TV movies with creepy subject matter, A COLD NIGHT'S DEATH was unavailable for preview to critics; nor did TV Guide feature an advertisement for the film's debut. Like a lot of quality TV pictures, this one played theaters overseas. Ice-cold horror in the vein of Campbell's 'Who Goes There?', Freedman's blood-freezing slow burn is small-screen horror at its finest.
6. THE NORLISS TAPES 1973
Debuted February 21st, 1973 as the NBC Wednesday Night Movie from 7:30pm-9:00pm
TV
Guide description: "'The Norliss Tapes', a pilot for a possible series,
stars Roy Thinnes a a writer investigating the supernatural. First up:
the case of a walking dead man. Filmed in Los Angeles, San Francisco and
Carmel, CA."
Dan Curtis's underrated spooker was his
second TV Movie directing gig after THE NIGHT STRANGLER (1973), which
debuted a little over a month earlier. Designed as a potential weekly
series about the search for an occult investigator who left behind a box
of tapes of his paranormal explorations, it never made it past the
pilot stage; so what became of David Norliss remains a mystery. Had the
film rivaled the wild success of THE NIGHT STALKER (1972), then likely
we'd of gotten at least a seasons worth of the supernatural. ABC's
7:30pm competition was in a similar vein with AND NO ONE COULD SAVE HER
(1973), about Lee Remick's search for her husband who boarded a
plane for Ireland and never got off. Unlike ABC's offering, NBC's THE NORLISS
TAPES was kept from critical nitpicking prior to its premiere.
7. DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK 1973
Debuted October 10th, 1973 as the ABC Wednesday Night Movie from 8:30pm-10:00pm
TV Guide description: "Mysterious, demon-like creatures are the chilling forces in 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark.' For some unknown reason, the evil urchins are trying to terrorize a woman to death. John Newland ('One Step Beyond') directed this 1973 TV movie."
One of the most famous TV Terror's, DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK wrangles some genuine, if minor, chills in its 74 minute running time. This was also the week Dan Curtis's DRACULA was to have debuted (more on that
elsewhere in this article). Judith Crist showed anticipation for that
one due to her love of Jack Palance but spared DARK, which was not available for review, any scathing remarks. Many who saw the film as kids upon its TV debut vividly remember the whispering little monsters scaring the hell out of them. Like some other titles on this list, DARK is one of those film's that stays with you. The forgettable 2010 remake from Guillermo Del Toro (a huge fan of the original) pales in comparison with its dull narrative and plodding pacing. The short-lived (only 4 episodes) cop drama, TENAFLY (1973-1974) starring James McEachin, had its debut pilot episode in the same time-slot. A big spooky mansion, hidden passageways, and minuscule, murderous
monsters backed by a nicely eerie score by Billy Goldenberg (DUEL) make
for a tasty Halloween treat for nostalgia lovers.
8. FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY 1973
Debuted November 30th, 1973 as the NBC Friday Night Movie from 9:00pm-11:00pm. Part 2 debuted the following night in the same time-slot.
TV Guide description:"Frankenstein--without a monster. This two-part adaptation has all of the Gothic trappings of Mary Shelley's novel, but the creature who comes off the doctor's table tonight is a handsome youth with an inquisitive mind. With an accent more on characterization than terror, the drama revolves around the 'father-son' rapport between Dr. Frankenstein and his creation, a relationship that takes a dark turn when the creature's body mysteriously begins to deteriorate. Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy wrote the literate script. John Geilgud, Margaret Leighton, and Ralph Richardson have brief roles in the work. Part 2 is telecast tomorrow night at this time."
TV Guide lavished quite a bit of praise for this epic, surprisingly gory production even though the finished film was not made available to resident stuffy critic, Judith Crist. A five page color article covering the novel and the new film was featured along with several photos from the movie. The usually condescending Crist had this to say: "And for something less contemporary, there's the first two-hour installment of a two-part Frankenstein: The True Story, so termed, we're told, because adapters Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy have returned to the Mary Shelley original that got lost along the Karloff-monster-movie way. Leonard Whiting is the doctor, Michael Sarrazin the 'creature' in this one. Another network tried some of the same in January, you may recall. It's not so much a matter of getting the real Frankenstein to stand up, it seems, as getting all the others to lie down."
The other Frankenstein picture she references was another two-parter that debuted Tuesday January 16th and concluded Wednesday the 17th. Simply titled FRANKENSTEIN, this was a shot on video production penned by Dan Curtis with the first part airing as the ABC Late Movie (ABC Wide World of Entertainment) from 11:30pm-1:00am, the same night as Curtis's THE NIGHT STRANGLER (1973) made its debut. Starring Robert Foxworth, Susan Strasberg and Bo Svenson as the Monster, is not as well remembered. THE TRUE STORY, which had the night to itself, is easily among the best adaptations of the classic novel of science gone awry.
9. THE CAT CREATURE 1973
Debuted December 11th, 1973 as the ABC Tuesday Night Movie from 7:30pm-9:00pm.
TV Guide description: "Murder and witchcraft make for eerie moments in 'The Cat Creature', about a series of mysterious deaths somehow linked to an ancient order of Egyptian priests. Veteran actor John Carradine appears in a cameo role as a skid-row hotel clerk."
One of the better cat-creature features, Curtis Harrington's curse-filled spooker finds Meredith Baxter (later the mother on FAMILY TIES [1982-1989]) embroiled in an ancient Egyptian curse involving mummies and vampiric creatures. Harrington also helmed QUEEN OF BLOOD (1966), THE KILLING KIND (1973), and RUBY (1977). THE CAT CREATURE was not previewed for critics. Three days earlier at 7:30pm on Saturday night, ABC debuted another feline fear flick titled MANEATER, about a madman setting two Bengal tigers loose on four vacationers; directed by Vince Edwards (BEN CASEY [1961-1966])! As for THE CAT CREATURE, the cast is a good one--including David Hedison, Keye Luke, and Special Guest Star, Stuart Whitman. TV Guide's notoriously picky critic Judith Crist said, "described as 'an old fashioned horror film' that might well be one since it's written by Robert Bloch, one of the best in the business--all the evil emanates from an ancient cat-shaped amulet." And old-fashioned is exactly how it feels--in the vein of a Universal Horror picture from their more escapist, if less classy, 1940s era. THE CAT CREATURE marked its territory unopposed that night. TV Guide offered no advertisement for the film's premiere.
10. DRACULA 1973
Debuted February 8th, 1974 as the CBS Friday Night Movie from 9:00pm-11:00pm.
TV Guide description (from official debut): "Jack Palance as 'Dracula', in this 1973 TV movie, Palance plays the vampire king as a slightly pathetic figure, a victim of twisted fate--but the actor still summons up the evil of the bloodthirsty Count."
Initially set to premiere Friday night October 12th, 1973, the film (unpreviewed for critics at the time) was postponed due to the announcement of Gerald Ford's nomination for Vice President. DRACULA rose from his small-screen respite four months later to take a bite out of the ratings on February 8th, 1974. Unlike the original, intended airdate, there was no advertisement for the film's official premiere. Palance isn't as over the top as you'd expect, and is unusually good in the role, imbuing his Dracula with animalistic, sinister, and even sympathetic qualities. He's comparable to Christopher Lee, bur more intense and with more dialog. Curtis's DRACULA is simply one of the best adaptations of Stoker's novel and among the most accomplished of television productions. Judith Crist must've gotten a gander at it during the delay because her summation is unusually kind considering her typical damnation of such films: "richly produced and elegantly cast, with Jack Palance excellent and somehow touching as the bloodthirsty Count." ABC had two other premieres critics never saw of the SciFi and Thriller variety with KILLDOZER on Saturday, February 2nd; and CRY PANIC on Wednesday, February 6th.
11. TRILOGY OF TERROR 1975
Debuted March 4th, 1975 as the ABC Tuesday Movie of the Week
TV Guide description: "Trilogy of Terror, a 1975 TV-movie, features Karen Black in a trio of horror stories. In the first, she plays a single woman stalked by a doll that comes to life; in the second, she portrays both a promiscuous beauty and her prim, plain sister; the third story follows a teacher who becomes involved sexually with one of her students... ABC plans to make an announcement warning that the movie may not be suitable for all members of the family."
A fan favorite and a high point in the annals of TV terror, Karen Black (THE GREAT GATSBY; AIRPORT 1975) runs the whole show starring in three suspense/horror stories. Dan Curtis's 90 minute nail-biter has remained a cult favorite due solely to its third tale, 'Amelia'; wherein Karen Black is terrorized by a Zuni Fetish Doll accidentally brought to life. This third segment was so popular, it was released on VHS as a stand-alone short. The first two stories--one about a student who's hot for teacher and lives to regret it; and the second deals with sibling rivalry that ends in tragedy. The first two are psychological in nature while the third is full-bore horror. Competition that night was NBCs TV Movie premiere of THE LAST SURVIVORS starring Martin Sheen. TRILOGY OF TERROR was not made available for review prior to its airing. Curtis returned to the anthology format with 1977s DEAD OF NIGHT that mirrors TRILOGY's narrative flow in that the last story is a stand-out while the other two feel like filler. Curtis later directed a Made For Cable sequel, TRILOGY OF TERROR II (1996) starring Lysette Anthony in three tales of horror--one of which is a sequel to the famous killer doll story.
12. THE SAVAGE BEES 1976
Debuted November 22nd, 1976 as the NBC Monday Night Movie from 9:00pm-11:00pm.
TV Guide description: "The Savage Bees, a 1976 TV-movie, deals with a swarm of killer bees hovering over New Orleans only days before Mardi Gras."
Arguably the best of the "Bee" movies, and produced to capitalize on the African Killer Bee craze, this 1976 TV movie benefits from some taut scenes of suspense and palpable horror that belies its low budget network origins. It isn't surprising then, that Bruce Geller's tele-film made its way to theaters overseas. Unpreviewed for critics prior to its premiere, a repeat airing the following year on April 27th, 1977 yielded some surprising praise from the usual sting of Judith Crist; noting the finale as "a smashing climax worth re-seeing." Two years later, these Bees were sequelized in Lee H. Katzin's TERROR OUT OF THE SKY (1978) wherein Dan Haggerty and other cast members confront a new breed of bee that ultimately traps them and a bunch of Boy Scouts on a bus. The sequel, however, was a Tuesday Night premiere produced for CBS. Geller was famous for creating the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1966-1973) series. He died in a plane crash along with another TV producer in 1978.
13. CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW 1977
Debuted September 16th, 1977 as the ABC Friday Night Movie from 9:00pm-11:00pm.
TV Guide description: "A deadly metamorphosis is part of the 'Curse of the Black Widow', a 1977 TV-movie that recalls the horror flicks of the 50s."
While the identity and creepy-crawly nature of the title arachno-lady is kept under wraps till the last few minutes, TV Guide's advertisement isn't shy about revealing that you're getting a cop thriller cum monster movie. The low key comedy bits are a curious inclusion for the usual serious business Dan Curtis indulged in. Some unintentional humor surfaces when the giant spider roars like Rodan! Unavailable for critical review (or drubbing as was almost always the case), Crist had this to say: "CURSE takes a negative approach to spiders, with a woman undergoing a sort of Jekyll-Hyde transformation, we're told, and becoming 'uncontrollably drawn to luring men and trapping them in her web'." Two days earlier on Wednesday saw the CBS premiere of SPIDERMAN, a 90 minute television movie that went to series the following year for a season. At 9:00pm on NBC was the fourth season debut of THE ROCKFORD FILES wherein Jim Rockford investigating a mystery man who has assumed his identity. And at 9:30pm on CBS saw the 90 minute premiere of the LOGAN'S RUN television series starring Gregory Harrison and Heather Menzies. CURSE was the small screen horror king's last TV-movie terror till 1996s TRILOGY OF TERROR 2. CURSE had a surefire ratings bonanza as a lead-in with the 60 minute documentary, THE MAKING OF STAR WARS. Arachno-mania continued three months later in December when CBS assaulted viewers with TARANTULAS: THE DEADLY CARGO.
14. THE BERMUDA DEPTHS 1978
Debuted January 27th, 1978 as the ABC Friday Night Movie from 9:00pm-11:00pm.
TV
Guide description: "Marine biologists pursue a mysterious creature that
haunts 'The Bermuda Depths' in this eerie 1977 romantic drama."
Arguably
the most esoteric movie ever made, DEPTHS has one of the most devoted
fan followings of any movie regardless of the size of the screen it was
made for. The second, and most intriguing, of three Rankin-Bass
co-productions with Japan's Tsuburaya Production company (famous for the
vast ULTRAMAN series'), with the first being 1977's THE LAST DINOSAUR
and the third 1980's THE IVORY APE. Judith Crist had this to say: "The
week's one theatrical newcomer, 'The Bermuda Depths', was made for
theaters but never released therein and is unavailable for preview. The
plot line offered me defies description or capsulizing. Suffice it to
say that with a cast headed by Burl Ives, we are promised 'an adventure,
a supernatural thriller, unearthly romance and a riddle' set in the
Bermuda Triangle." When it aired again as the ABC Friday Night Movie on
August 29th, 1980, Crist's critical summation upon viewing the film was
her usual style of derision: "Equally worthless is 1978's 'The Bermuda
Depths', a mix of fantasy, science fiction, satanism, incoherent
plotting and bad acting through which Burl Ives wanders." Competing for
viewership on the night of DEPTH's premiere was an episode of THE
ROCKFORD FILES on NBC; and a pilot for a potential, if unscheduled,
horror series titled THE WORLD BEYOND aired on CBS. Straight to
television in America, other movies bypassed theaters in the US making
their debuts on TV such as the 1979 Italian horror film THE GREAT
ALLIGATOR directed by Sergio Martino.
15. THE INITIATION OF SARAH 1978
Debuted February 6, 1978 as the ABC Monday Night Movie from 9:00pm-11:00pm.
TV Guide description: "Supernatural happenings surround 'The Initiation of Sarah' in this 1978 TV-movie about a psychic coed (Kay Lenz) and an evil sorority housemother (Shelley Winters)."
It's cute Kay Lenz versus mega-bitch Morgan Fairchild in THE INITIATION OF SARAH, a curious mix of telekinetic powers and witchcraft. Shelley Winters is basically reprising her Ma Barker BLOODY MAMA (1970) role if she were a satanist. Unavailable for critic review, Judith Crist accurately summed it up as 'Carrie goes to college'. There's some mild titillation and a few cool shock moments that have made this INITIATION a minor cult item. Kay Lenz was fresh off the wild ratings success of RICH MAN, POOR MAN (1976), and its lengthier sequel RICH MAN, POOR MAN BOOK 2 (1976-1977). Director Robert Day directed Drive-in fare like the gooey FIRST MAN INTO SPACE (1958); one of Gordon Scott's best Tarzan's in TARZAN THE MAGNIFICENT (1960); and Hammer's respectable version of SHE (1965) starring Ursula Andress, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Other than the conclusion of 1976s MIDWAY (making its TV premiere and with unused footage to supplement two 2 hour time slots), SARAH was virtually competition-free. The film was remade in 2006 for the ABC Family channel.
16. SALEM'S LOT 1979
Debuted November 17th, 1979 as the CBS Saturday Night Movie from 9:00pm-11:00pm. Shown in two parts, the movie concluded the following Saturday in the same time-slot.
TV Guide description:"'Salem's Lot' spells terror in this 1979 TV adaptation of Stephen King's supernatural thriller set in a mall Maine community."
There's some genuine spookers on this list, but without question the scariest of them all is Tobe Hooper's SALEM'S LOT. Forty years after its original airing, the vampires of Salem's Lot remain the most terrifying ever put to screen... big or small--with their undead pallor, yellow eyes, and blood-stained teeth. Whether it's the floating vampire kid scratching at the window begging to be let in; Geoffrey Lewis slowly rocking back and forth in a rocking chair staring with his yellow eyes; or any scene with the feral Barlow, there's many a memorably bone-chilling moment in the tiny hamlet of SALEM'S LOT. Other than the LOVE BOAT on ABC and BJ AND THE BEAR on NBC, SALEM'S LOT was unopposed on the film front. The smash hit TV-film got its first repeat on May 23rd, 1981. Again airing on a Saturday night, it was bumped up to the 8 o'clock hour and edited down from its two part airings at 2 hours each to a single 3-hour slot. With 45 minutes shaved off, producer Richard Kobritz stated, "For me, it's the best version." TV Guide afforded SALEM'S LOT an entirely different ad for its first replay, making it seem more like a dark romance than the full-fledged horror it is. A trimmed down version with some additional, more intense scenes played American cable and was released on VHS tape and to theaters overseas. As good as the original TV version is, the international cut is scary as all hell, unnerving, and highly recommended.
17. DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW 1981
Debuted October 24th, 1981 as the CBS Saturday Night Movie from 9:00pm-11:00pm.
TV Guide description: "In 'Dark Night of the Scarecrow', a 1981 TV-movie, four men face chilling retribution for the vigilante slaying of a retarded man."
A prime example of small screen horror that plays like a theatrical feature, novelist and screenwriter Frank De Felitta gave genre fans a Trick r' Treat favorite for Halloween back in 1981. Genuinely scary with a spooktacular score and death scenes, despite implied, that are quite gruesome for television, it's somewhat of a horror take on John Steinbeck's famous novella 'Of Mice and Men'. In fact, Larry Drake, the kindly retarded man blamed for a murder he didn't commit, played Lennie in a Broadway version of 'Of Mice and Men' in 1985. Judith Crist and her typewriter wrote: "Charles Durning, as the local postman, heads a quartet of vigilantes who shoot down the town's simpleton, who's wrongly suspected of killing a child. When justice fails to punish the baddies, mysterious 'accidents' take place. Who's responsible? Who knows? Who cares?" Competition from the other major Networks was a LOVE BOAT with passengers Joan Van Ark, Brian Kerwin, Christopher Norris, and Flip Wilson setting sail on ABC; while over on NBC was NASHVILLE PALACE, a country and comedy variety special series premiere hosted by Roy Clark and guests including Slim Pickens, Tanya Tucker and Jerry Reed. DARK NIGHT endures as a shining example of Television Terror. Like some of the other fear flicks on this list, SCARECROW is perfect Halloween viewing.
18. DON'T GO TO SLEEP 1982
Debuted December 10th, 1982 as the ABC Friday Night Movie from 9:00pm-11:00pm.
TV Guide description: "'Don't Go To Sleep', a 1982 TV-movie, casts Valerie Harper and Dennis Weaver as the parents of a disturbed girl who believes she's being visited by a sister who died in a violent auto accident."
Arguably one of the most intense Made For Television pictures, Aaron Spelling produced this TV clone of POLTERGEIST (1982) that haunted theaters a few months earlier. Richard Lang's small-screen tale of ghostly vengeance and psychological horror is unsettling enough that it likely would've done very well if it had been released to theaters domestically; great cast, too. SLEEP's competition was an episode of the CBS Network firebrand DALLAS (1978-1991); and an episode of KNIGHT RIDER (1982-1986) in its first season on NBC. If you're a fan of the Clint classics EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE (1978) and ANY WHICH WAY YOU CAN (1980), you'll find Ruth Gordon acting in basically the same capacity just minus all the foul language. A prolific director of TV programs and TV movies, Lang also directed the gory theatrical western, THE MOUNTAIN MEN (1980) starring Charlton Heston. As for SLEEP, it didn't cause Judith Crist to lose any of hers as it was unavailable for preview.
19. I, DESIRE 1982
Debuted November 15th, 1982 as the ABC Monday Night Movie from 9:00pm-11:00pm.
TV Guide description: "A female vampire posing as a prostitute stalks modern-day Hollywood in 'I, Desire'. Stalking her: an increasingly obsessed coroners aid (David Naughton), who's attacked by the fiend, but can't get anyone to believe him. A 1982 TV-movie."
This underrated vampire thriller has a lot to recommend it; not the least of which is direction by John Llewellyn Moxey of THE NIGHT STALKER (1972) fame and the thickly atmospheric B/W spooker CITY OF THE DEAD (1960). In some ways, I, DESIRE is an inverted version of THE NIGHT STALKER, swapping out a male vampire for a female one. The major difference between the two is Skorzeny, pouncing on his victims, never spoke any dialog aside from animalistic hisses and growls while the sexy vamp of DESIRE growled like a panther, but manipulated men into baring their necks for her stiff nightcaps. Don Peake's (THE HILLS HAVE EYES; THE PREY) forbidding score is music to your ears; and the villainous, vampiric performance of Barbara Stock makes one wonder why she didn't do more sexy horror roles. David Naughton had previously been a singin' and dancin' spokesperson for Dr. Pepper; and later got the gig as the star of MAKIN' IT, a 1979 disco sitcom that was anything but Solid Gold. The catchy theme song was a hit, though. Movies came in the form of the Disney scavenger hunt cult comedy favorite MIDNIGHT MADNESS (1980); the teen sex comedy HOT DOG: THE MOVIE (1981); and horror-comedy classic AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1981). DESIRE's competition was Brian De Palma's DRESSED TO KILL (1980), making its network television premiere on NBC at 9pm. Occasionally popping up on cable TV, it's unfortunate this tense bloodsucker hasn't been resurrected on DVD or Blu-ray.
20. THE MIDNIGHT HOUR 1985
Debuted November 1st, 1985 as the ABC Friday Night Movie from 9:00pm-11:00pm.
TV Guide description: "Teenagers in a New England town inadvertently invoke a centuries-old witch's curse in 'The Midnight Hour' in this Halloween comedy-thriller. Production design by Charles Hughes (Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video. A 1985 TV-movie."
With the success of Michael Jackson's iconic THRILLER (1983) mini-movie and video, and the box office hit THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985) putting a fresh spin on zombie lore, THE MIDNIGHT HOUR blends the two for a surprisingly entertaining, if awfully silly two hours of Halloween entertainment. Like RETURN, there's even a midget zombie. The accidental mass zombie "uprising" is a nod to the 1972 favorite CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS. Jack Bender's colorful comedic creeper is likely the only Made For TV horror movie that's built entirely around the holiday. There's some great makeup courtesy of Oscar winning makeup man Steve LaPorte and Emmy winning Rick Stratton. The cast is full of old pros and young performers--some of whom went on to great things like Peter DeLuise (5 seasons of 21 JUMP STREET) and LeVar Burton (7 seasons of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION). And it's all backed by a fabulously frightful, Halloween-centric soundtrack served up by everybody's favorite raspy-voiced DJ, the epochal Wolfman Jack, daddy. Vampires, zombies and werewolves are the life of the party that begins at THE MIDNIGHT HOUR.HAPPY HALLOWEEN
