CRY PANIC

US, 1974, 74 minutes, Colour.
John Forsythe, Ralph Meeker, Earl Holliman, Anne Francis, Claudia Mc Neil.
Directed by James Goldstone.

A good, brief suspenseful telemovie. It involves a conspiracy and a murder. The audience, identifying with the hero played by John Forsythe, becomes involved in the mystery and the urgency of solving the mystery. There is a good supporting cast in brief roles. The pacing and suspense is well held. Direction is by James Goldstone who has made a number of telemovies, for example Eric and many cinema feature films including Winning and Roller Coaster.

1. The appeal of the murder mystery, the thriller? Audience involvement, puzzle, solution? The tone of the title?

2. The techniques of the thriller for a telemovie brevity, pace, commercial interruptions, home viewing? How well did this film involve audiences and keep suspense?

3. The ordinariness of the opening, the accident, Ryder and his decisions, phoning the police, doing the right thing and its repercussions?

4. The mysterious presence of Julie and her enigmatic remarks, help? Her later appearance in the restaurant? Ethel’s story and the deception about Julie? her sudden reappearance and seeming to help him, betraying him, her death? The irony of Ethel’s attitude towards her employer and Julie? her finally helping, her telling the truth at the end?

5. The sheriff and his response to Ryder, to the investigation, his being revealed as in league with the men of the town, the involvement in the conspiracy, the decisions, the administration of his job? The confrontation with Ethel? The irony of his shooting Julie? The confrontation with Ryder and his death? A credible portrait of an ambitious sheriff and a jealous husband?

6. Braswell and his hostility, the garage, trying to detain Ryder, confrontation and pulling the gun on him? his place in the conspiracy?

7. Ryder's being at the motel and the puzzles, the telephone calls, the discovery of the identity of his victim by the paper? his being compelled to investigate? Julie’s overhearing the meeting, the corpse in the freezer? The audience sharing his puzzle?

8. The basic financial and business situation concerning the dead man, the need to cover up, the various contingencies and the doctor's plans?

9. Ryder and his interrupting the meeting? his being arrested, the authentic police and their difficulty in believing him? His feeling of being trapped? Ethel's absence from the house? The relief and her telling the truth at the bus stop?

10. Themes of responsibility, crime, the administration of justice, right and wrong, personal integrity and involvement despite dangers? A credible story for the ordinary home audience?