Network: ABC
Original Air Date: February 6th, 1974


Even with the upcoming release of Dark Night of the Scarecrow the fact still lingers that most of the classic television movies have yet to find a home on DVD (or even on vhs for that matter). Whether they be stuck in copyright hell or the studios just think a DVD release won't generate any revenue, there are still plenty of interesting movies available. I’m always shocked at what I can find on disc in some cheap release. Would I prefer a better transfer, extras and perhaps a little commentary from the actors or filmmakers? Sure, but beggars can’t be choosers, and I support the release of any TV film wholeheartedly.


I was happily surprised when I picked up a copy of Cry Panic, which is featured on a two movie disc with something called The Inside Man (not a TV movie), to find a very good movie. I think it’s easy, even for big fans of television films (yeah, all three of us!) to forget that dozens, if not hundreds of television movies came out in that golden era and just because it doesn’t have Trilogy or Satan in the title, they’re still worth checking out.

And that brings me to the actual film (I know, enough already, on with the movie!). John Forsythe puts in a good turn as David Ryder, a man who’s been driving all night to a job interview. As he’s passing through a small town, he accidentally hits a man, knocking him (and his own car) into a ditch. Once he realizes he’s killed this man, Ryder high tails it to the first house to call for help. A beautiful woman (Anne Francis) answers the door, leads him to the phone and hands him a stiff drink. Back at the sight of the hit and run, Sheriff Cabot (the great Earl Holliman) has already begun pulling out the car and searching for the dead man. When no body is found, Ryder is led to the police station to make a statement and told he’s just drunk and tired and needs to rest. The mysterious woman shows up a bit later at a bar, giving Ryder the heads up that something is just not right in this idyllic little desert town. Things begin to unwind in a confused fashion as nothing Ryder claims to have happened can be substantiated. Has he gone crazy or are his conspiracy theories correct?



Cry Panic is pretty great. There’s a little bit of Lynch-esque beats with Francis and the concept of nothing-is-what-it-seems-in-this-small-town. Of course, it never goes to the extremes Lynch does, nor does it possess any kind of nightmarish imagery, but there is definitely a feel to this film, or at least during the first half. The second half is played a bit more straight as the mystery gets ironed out, but is just as enticing as the first.

The actors in Cry Panic are great, giving every bit of dialog a second meaning. Is the postman really trying to abscond with Ryder’s mail or is he just sorting the letters? I love the way it all unfolds in front of Ryder. The pacing is phenomenal. It’s slow, yes, but deliberate and helps make the mystery interesting to us. The bits with the mysterious woman are done in just such a way that it leaves a palpable air of unease afterwards. Cry Panic is a movie that knows its medium and how to pull off small screen thrills without going to grandiose measures. It’s all about the little things here and does not disappoint.

Today, reliable actor Mike Connors turns 83! I looked him up and saw his last appearance was in 2007 on the sitcom Two and a Half Men. Nice to see Mr. Connors is still out there, pleasing audiences.

Connors is probably best remembered for his role as private eye Joe Mannix on the hit television series Mannix, which ran from 1967 - 1975. Connors was in his early 40s at that time (remember when they hired actors because of talent and were not discriminated because of their age? I also think of James Garner in The Rockford Files, but he was also way super hot, so I'm sure that factored in!). Mannix was created by Richard Levinson & William Link who were the extraordinary duo behind the creation of other popular crime shows like Columbo and Ellery Queen. Connors was nominated for four Golden Globes & four Emmys for his portrayal of this character (He won one Golden Globe).


There goes Mike, being all handsome!
He doesn't have a ton of Made for Television Movie credits under his belt, but Connors was a welcome face in a slew of wildly divergent titles that crossed every genre from crime to disaster to melodrama to comedy.

With well over five decades in the business (and counting!), I thought it would be nice to acknowledge such a likeable, professional mainstay of television on his birthday. Not that he'll read this, but it makes me feel good! So there!

Happy Birthday Mike Connors! And MANY more!!!

Mike Connors' Television Movie Filmography (70s & 80s):

Beg, Borrow or Steal (1973)
The Killer Who Wouldn't Die (1976)
Revenge for a Rape (1976)
Long Journey Back (1978)
The Death of Ocean View Park (1979)
High Midnight (1979)
The Bureau (1981)
Earthlings (1984)
Glitter (1984)



Mike Connors and Dick Van Dyke during their Diagnosis Murder days