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70s tv movies

Made for Television Movies

TV movies adapted from novels were among the greatest things to happen to '70s television. TV movies were'nt a new innovation, but the '70s brought harder-hitting themes and wreckless caution to our home screens. TheMini-Series introduced TV audiences to three or more part epics like "QB VII" and "Rich Man, Poor Man." "QBVII" gave us another "trial of the century" movie, only with incredible performances in a six and a half hour movie presentation. This movie catapulted Anthony Hopkins to super-stardom.

Not all of the '70s made for television movies were adapted from novels; some were were spawned from original scripts, and some even served as vehicles to their own regular series'. Such would be the case of the TV movie "Kung Fu". Two timeless standouts from original scripts were "Duel" and "Gargoyles". "Duel", directed by new-comer Steven Spielberg, concerns an average businessman engaged in a bizarre episode of road rage with a ghostly renegade trucker. "Gargoyles" Though not a particulary great movie, was a special effects wonder about mythical demonic creatures come to life. TV audiences weren't prepared for that level of quality in makeup and design. The movie is downright creepy, and has terrifying moments, and has moved on to be a cult classic.

missiles of October The movie "The MIssiles of October" was a perfectly crafted thriller about the terrifying events of The Cuban Missile Crisis of October of 1962. Newcomer William Devane's portrayal of John F. Kennedy was nothing short of amazing. Martin Sheen's portrayal of Bobby Kennedy was perfect. "The Missiles of October"is as much a white-knuckler today as it was when it premiered in 1974.

'70s made for television movies tackled some of the most taboo and controversial subjects ever considered for mainstream audiences. Topics that wouldn't even be permitted at many dinner tables came to life on American TV screens. Some of these include: Homosexual relationships, extreme child abuse, male prison rape, racism, interracial love affairs, sexual problems, and sex change operations. In the movie "The Secret Night Caller" America's favorite dad Robert Reed portrayed a man obsessed with making obscene phone calls. In a 2-part episode of "Medical Center" titled "The Fourth Sex", Reed also played a closeted homosexual doctor who underwent sexual reassignment. political scandals, and compelling non-fiction. These films were incredibly well-done, and should be considered as some of the finest films ever made, TV notwithstanding.
the glass house Male prison rape shocked American audiences to their core with 1972's "The Glass House" The entire movie was unsettling, and terrifying, and opened the nation's eyes to the horrors of prison. Evil was manifested perfectly by Vic Morrowwho played prison gang leader Hugo Slocum. Alan Alda fresh from "M.A.S.H." played a college professor sentenced to one year in prison for manslaughter. Alda's perfect handling and respect for his character in a purely dramatic role is well-noted.

robby benson and jan-michael vincentMade-for-TV moviesintroduced two teen heart throbs who actually went on to do very excellent work: Robby Benson and Jan-Michael Vincent. Robby Benson was extremely popular with made for television films like: "The Death of Ritchie", "All the Kind Strangers", and "Ode to Billie Joe". Jan-Michael Vincent appeared in: "Tribes" and went straight to a career of movies and parts on various televison series'. linda blairFresh from "The Excorcist", teen actress Linda Blair became America's young and innocent victim once again in a string of exploitive TV Movies like "Born Innocent", "Sara T: Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic, and "Sweet Hostage".

my sweet charlie tv movie 1970 gave us"My Sweet Charlie"This superior made for television movie tells the story of a chance love affair between a white southern white girl and a black New York lawyer. Both are on the run, and take shelter in a vacant coastal vacation home. Patty Duke—as always—turns in a masterful performance as the outcast girl. Al Freeman Jr., in his trademark mocking set apart style is perfect as the runaway lawyer involved in a deadly civil rights protest incident. that certain summer tv movie 1972's "That Certain Summer" concerns a divorced man who looks forward to spending summer vacation with teenage son Nick. Initially he intends to reveal to Nick that he is gay, and has a lover named Gary. However, his son figures it out from the clues around him and he runs off. This was a great and very memorable movie.helter skelter tv movie

The year 1976 presented "Helter Skelter" to the TV screen. An incredible, and hard-hitting 2-part movie, chronicles the events surrounding the Tate-LaBianca murders of August, 1969 perpetrated by The Manson Family. An unnerving and masterful performance by actor Steve Railsback as Manson was so convincing that we audiences could imagine they were actually watching the real thing. ufo incident tv movie 1975:"The UFO Incident" tells the story of Barney and Betty Hill whose alien abduction experiences have become world-famous. This is pure drama with a bit of sci-fi thrown in during re-enactment and hypotherapy scenes. The two actors James Earl Jones and Estelle Parsons turned in perfect, and highly convincing performances. Whether one believes in the subject matter or not, this movie is really worth a look.

The year was 1977; the movie: "Roots".rootsBased on Alex Haley's 1976 novel "Roots: The Saga of an American Family", the movie is set during and after the era of enslavement in the United States. This ground-breaking series with so many outstanding performances that it's hard to keep track of, first aired on ABC in January 1977 over eight consecutive nights. Winning 9 out of 37 Emmy nominations, "Roots" proved to be more a viewing experience rather than a TV movie, and has maintained a respectful standing in movie history.

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