To all fans of 1970's television movies,
There's a book to buy:
TELEVISION FRIGHT FILMS OF THE 1970S
by David Deal.
You can read about the book here on Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/2pzhnt
Review by Jon A. Bell:
Basically, the book consists of longish capsule reviews (1-2 pages) of virtually every suspense/horror TVM of the 1970s. A few items are "shoehorned" in -- that is, some thrillers/disaster films that are only marginally connected with the supernatural, but the intent of which is to instill fear. However, each review talks about the criteria for the film's inclusion in the book, too. The end of each review also includes cast and production credits, running time and original airdate. Various black and white photos from the films are sprinkled throughout the book, including the European theatrical release posters.
Classic films are lauded (The Night Stalker, A Cold Night's Death, Isn't It Shocking?), and stinkers are pointed out as well (er, um, Snowbeast.) Also, quite a few of the reviews specifically mention the film's score, which is a nice touch. Billy Goldenberg, Gil Melle and Jerry Goldsmith's names come up frequently!
The reviews are well-written and "sober" -- there's genuine affection and appreciation for the films and that period of TV history, and an absence of fanboy gushing or juvenile wisecracks prevalent on a lot of movie review websites. I definitely recommend the book; the only caveat is, as a specialty hardcover, it's expensive.
I had a very fun time going through it, remembering all the hours that I spent in the 1970s watching the films, and remembering how the original "slit-scan" opening logo of the "ABC Movie of the Week" would thrill me that I was about to watch something creepy!