Dick
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- May 22, 1999
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- Real Name
- Rick
There have been several threads in the past regarding t.v. movies. And I realize the heyday of DVD is past. But I would hope some company would be interested in trying to release some of the most relevant t.v. movies of the past -- made in the day when network television actually produced films every bit as good as Hollywood and often more insightful and socially relevant-- if only as MOD's or double features or something.I'll start with a pair of cable-made films that never made it past VHS:THE BURNING SEASON (HBO, 1994). The late great Raul Julia as Chico Mendes, a Brazilian rubber tapper who was killed trying to protect the rainforest from those trying to exploit it. Never more relevant than now. Brilliant film, directed by John Frankenheimer, Why the f*&^ was this never released to DVD?COUNTDOWN TO LOOKING GLASS (HBO,1984). Nuclear war thriller in the form of a documentary, shot on videotape. Very effective as a cautionary tale, with Scott Glenn, Michael Murphy and Helen Shaver.Then there are the exceptional Network movies:SURVIVING (ABC, Warner Bros, 1984). With Ellen Burstyn, Marsha Mason, River Phoenix, Heather O'Rourke, etc. A devastating, completely convincing story about trying to cope with the suicide within a family.SOMETHING ABOUT AMELIA (1984, ABC). with Ted Danson, Glenn Close. Searing portrait of incest. Not a false note. Could actually be used as a therapeutic tool.DUEL (1971, ABC) Nothing need be said.SOMETHING EVIL (1972, CBS). Another Spielberg, this one about a haunted farmhouse (THE CONJURING, anyone?) Really decent and containing a few genuine scares, it stars Darren McGavin and Sandy Dennis. The director might be embarrassed by it now, thus no video release, but if it ever runs on a cable channel, grab it.NIGHTBREAKER (1991, TNT). Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez and Lea Thompson in a powerful drama about the after effects of nuclear test explosions on the soldiers who were ordered into the trenches.Speaking of Martin Sheen...THE EXECUTION OF PRIVATE SLOVIK (1974, NBC) The story of the only soldier executed for desertion at the end of WWII. Amazing movie.PROMISE (1986, Hallmark, CBS). This is so-o-o good, and remains one of the very few Hallmark tv movies not to be given a DVD release. James Garner and James Woods are brothers, one of them (Woods) suffering from schizophrenia and the other reluctantly trying to care for him. An emotional powerhouse. Should not be neglected as it has been! One of Woods' best roles, m.i.a.GOD SAVE THE CHILD (1988, ABC). Single mother trying desperately to hold on to her child through their abject poverty. Incredibly grim and realistic, and if anything more timely now than then. Network tv would never have the balls to make such a movie now.THAT CERTAIN SUMMER (1972, NBC). A teenager discovers that his father (a superb Hal Holbrook) is gay. Maybe the very first t.v. production of any kind to deal with homosexuality, and it doesn't pull too many punches.DAVID (1988, ABC). John Glover is mesmerizing as the father of a young boy, whom he kidnaps and ultimately sets on fire to get back at his ex-wife (Bernadette Peters).And speaking of children in jeopardy...ADAM (1983, NBC). We all know how this true case ended up. Heartbreakingly played by Daniel J. Travanti (such a fine and underrated actor) and JoBeth Williams as Mr. and Mrs. John Walsh.THE GIRL WHO SPELLED FREEDOM (1986, Disney, ABC). Wonderfully and inspiring true story of one of several Cambodian children who, having escaped the Khmer Rouge and been adopted by an American family, works hard to achieve victory in a national spelling bee. I'd been hoping for this to get released on DVD, at least to the Disney Movie Club, but so far, nada.HEARTSOUNDS (1984, ABC). James Garner's best dramatic role, IMHO. He plays a doctor who is assaulted by a series of increasingly dire heart attacks that his own medical community seems unable to control. His wife is played by Mary Tyler Moore, in her second best (after ORDINARY PEOPLE) dramatic role. Not an uplifting film, but it packs a wallop.THURSDAY'S GAME (1974, ABC). One of the few truly funny made-for-tv movies of the 70's. Weekly poker games begin leading to other extracurricular activities for a pair of married men. With a cast that includes Gene Wilder, Cloris Leachman, Bob Newhart, Ellen Burstyn, Valerie Harper, Ron Reiner and a bunch of others, I just can't figure why this hasn't been put out on DVD.VAMPIRE (1979, ABC). Pretty damned effective horror film, a genre tv did not tackle very often. Jason Miller stars along with E.G. Marshall, Michael Tucker, Jessica Walter and Joe Spinell in a tale of modern vampirism.THE MISSILES OF OCTOBER (1974, ABC). Before any of you just waiting for me to trip up in this list and scream, "Ah-ha! That one's out on DVD, you idiot!" I know it is. But it's a nearly unwatchable transfer of a 2 1/2-hour title that had been shot using videotape. Would someone please rescue this suspenseful take on the Cuban Missile Crisis? William Devane is dynamite as JFK. Can someone do this right, please?ESCAPE FROM SOBIBOR (1987, CBS). Ditto. On DVD, but nowhere near properly. For one thing, about 25minutes were cut out of it (should be 143m) for the Unicorn release. The PQ is awful as well. This is an excellent WWII prison camp escape story, with Rutger Hauer, Alan Arkin, Joanna Paccula and more.MARY JANE HARPER CRIED LAST NIGHT (1977, CBS). Striking and heartbreaking story of child sexual abuse and about the reluctance of neighbors and community to get involved, though they might have prevented the tragic end. Downbeat, yes, but, again, relevant now as ever. With Susan Dey, Kevin McCarthy and John Vernon.ANGEL CITY (1980, CBS). Paul Winfield and Jennifer Jason Leigh headline a story about a hard-working family who accept a job offer from a plantation owner, and find themselves virtual slaves.ACCEPTABLE RISKS (1986, ABC). The old, but never outdated, chemical-plant-spilling-toxic-waste-into-the-water-supply story, this one with the very fine Brian Dennehy, Kenneth (DUNE) McMillan, Cicely (SOUNDER) Tyson, et al.A CIRCLE OF CHILDREN (1977, CBS). Wonderful movie starring the great where-is-she-now actor Jane Alexander as a dedicated school teacher who reaches out to an emotionally disturbed child. Also starred David Ogden Stiers and Rachel Roberts. There was a sequel (LOVEY, A CIRCLE OF CHILDREN PART II), which was nearly as good.There are scores of others, but I'll leave it to others to add titles to this already lengthy list. The point is, could some studio who holds the rights to these titles double or triple or quadruple them up on DVD and just make them available again, please? Right now, all you can get are occasional rips from iOffer of DVD copies from tapes made from broadcast tv, which of course suck and are illegal.
