THE MISSING ARE DEADLY

US, 1974, 74 minutes, Colour.
Allen Epstein, Ed Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Jose Ferrer, Marjorie Lord.
Directed by Don Mac Dougall.

The Missing Are Deadly is an early '70s telemovie, the material familiar from many medical series like Quincy, Trapper John. The film focuses on experiments, a deadly virus and its infection. The final focus is on the struggle to stem the spread of the virus. Ed Nelson looks concerned as the doctor, as does Leonard Nimoy as the doctor with experimenting skills. Jose Ferrer also looks concerned in authority. A young Kathleen Quinlan has a supporting role.

Enjoyable - typical of telemovie and television series material.

1. Interesting and entertaining medical melodrama? Situation, conflict, characters?

2. Telemovie: brevity of running time, situation, characters, soap opera styles, melodramatic conflicts and crises, resolution?

3. The title and the focus on medical experimentation, infected animals, virus, the need for developing serums? The crisis focusing on Jeff and his erratic behaviour? His causing the infection?

4. The plausibility of the plot: medical experiments, funding, decisions about stopping experimentation, reputations and egos? The continued experiment, the erratic behaviour of Jeff, the responsibility of his father? His taking the infected mouse, infecting other people, consequences?, Happy resolution?

5. Dr. Margolin and his Institute, relationship with Max, with the authority figures? His pride? Clash with Max? Neglect of his sons since his wife's death? Relationship with Jeff, his taking the mouse, his handling of the crisis, concern with his sons, Michelle, her ,mother, the time element? The final reconciliation with his sons?

6. Max and his research, the grant, his being told to stop, his continuing? His help in the crisis? Getting the final credit?

7. Jose Ferrer as the authority, the backing of the experimentation, facing the press, decisions?

8. Jeff and his brother, their housekeeper, Jeff's erratic behaviour, their concern about his psychological welfare? His taking his father's card, the mouse? Motivation? The encounters, the infection? His brother driving him? Treatment in the hospital? Michelle?

9. The infected people, hospital treatment? The brother and his concern not to infect others? He and Michelle and their recovery?

10. The perennial appeal of this kind of medical materiall'7 Crisis? Audiences identifying with the-disaster situation? The relief of the resolution?