SKI LIFT TO DEATH
US, 1978, 100 minutes, Colour.
Howard Duff, Don Galloway, Charles Frank, Clu Gulager, Veronica Hamel, Don Johnson.
Directed by William Wiard.
Conventional telemovie material of the disaster type. The film spends a lot of time establishing its basic characters in the world of sport and competitiveness, shows quite a deal of champion ski jumping and design skiing and then moves to the disaster but with the proviso that people are not scared away from ski resorts and so there is a happy ending.
1. The appeal of such telemovie thrillers? Catering for the home audience for interest, excitement?
2. The basic entertainment presuppositions ? the establishing of ordinary characters, the threatened disaster, personal relationships? The fantasy world of the wealthy and their emotional troubles, danger - with the hired killer? The values presupposed of good and evil, right and wrong, solutions to problems?
3. Colour photography, locations, the chalet, the snow? The special effects especially with the skiing competitions?
4. How credible were the characters, the basic situations especially the emotional conflicts? The issues of money, competitiveness and career? Audience response to these issues?
5. How well did the film explore the theme of sport, skill, fame? Advertising especially for Lee, Mike? Mary and his elaborate explanation about advertising and personalities? The need for personal decisions? Proving oneself? Lee as the central character, her relationship with Mike, her work, skill? Her being saved by Mike?
6. The rivalry of champions? The winner of the competition, his carefree attitude towards life, the liaison with Wendy, her age, being away from home? His escaping from the ski lift with Wendy and helping Marv?
7. The extortion theme - the personalities, the Federal threats, the older man talking with his con, his mistress?and her being planted to get him killed, the plan about the windcheater, his wearing it, the accident and their sharing the fear? The murderer and his pursuit? (the irony of their all visiting the church on the Sunday?), the chase, the possibility of reconciliation, the woman and the assassin going to prison?
7. The reality of the accident, the snow locations, weather, safety, the skill in the rescue and its detail? An air of authenticity?
8. How well did the film blend the elaboration of character, melodramatic situations and clashes with competition, the skill of skiing, the movement of the dance competition, the accident and rescue? A satisfying telemovie entertainment?
