Did Basic Cable Kill The TV Movie?

Question

If you remember those really good (and sometimes REALLY cheesy) TV movies from the late Sixties/early-to-mid Seventies, like DUEL, KILLDOZER, DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK, DYING ROOM ONLY, CROWHAVEN FARM, FIVE DESPERATE WOMEN, THE NIGHT STALKER and THE NIGHT STRANGLER, etc., you know what I'm talking about. They were great training for up-and-coming actors, and provided steady work for Golden-Age-of-Hollywood legends who couldn't get many big-screen movie roles anymore. Now it seems like all the basic cable channels like Disney, TNT, Court TV, Lifetime, A&E and the rest are producing their own films, and the major networks have fallen back on mostly reality shows and newsfotainment shows to pad their schedules.

Does anybody think that they'll ever "make 'em like they used to?"

Answer 1

i was going past this question and noticed that you mentioned a film starring one of the best actresses bar none that i have ever seen, movie or TV--Joan Hackett. this woman was really fantastic. also in the film is Anjanette Comer, another neat little actress. i could also mention Andrea Marcovici, another very good TV actress of this time period. there are a few others i'm forgetting, but, yes, there was a lot of talent in those TV movies at the time. by the way, you are correct--Duel was made for TV. i remember watching it the first time it appeared.

i seem to remember Universal Studios name connected with many of these films--and there were a ton of them. i think maybe that old system of having a "stable" of actresses/actors "under contract" is what pushed this forward. i'm not quite sure how it is done now.

yes, you're right, the networks have opted to go the cheap route and produce/highlight reality shows. it is really our loss.

Answer 2

I don't think that Duel and Afraid of the Dark where really "TV" movies.

These are like B Horror movies which played in dingy movies or were straight to VHS releases.

They of course have or had their 'cult' following....but I don't know if I ever really saw these on Cable.

Cable didn't really kill them off...it's just Cable TV would rather put on the big summer blockbusters.

Only AMC really plays good oldies now adays.

Talk to Michael Bay...that fool (his Production company) is remaking almost all the old horror movies: Texas Chain Saw Massace, The Hitcher, The Hills Have Eyes, Amityville...and he's doing others too. I think Last House on the Left is being remade.

So look for all the cheesy horror movie remakes soon: Sleepaway Camp, I Spit on Your Grave, Pieces, Basketcase, Scanners and others.

Answer 3

i guess i don't know what you're talking about so i guess i'm going to have to answer no! i have never heard of or watched any of those movies and i've been around awhile! what i can say is that tv is mostly boring, with or without cable, but you can still find a good movie out there while you're channel surfing.