THE OLD MAN WHO CRIED WOLF

US, 1970, 73 minutes, Colour.
Edward G. Robinson, Martin Balsam, Diane Baker, Percy Rodriguez, Ruth Roman, Edward Asner, Paul Picerni, Sam Jaffe, Virginia Christine, Jay C. Flippen.
Directed by Walter Grauman.

The Old Man Who Cried Wolf is a variation on the boy who cried wolf (dramatised most effectively with Bobby Driscoll in The Window). Edward G. Robinson is the old man who experiences an attack and decides that there is a murderer. Nobody believes him.

This means that there is a character gallery, a murder mystery, the old man investigating the murder.

One of the great strengths of the film is its cast with Edward G. Robinson making the transition to telemovies – although he was to die a few years later. Other stalwarts from cinema like Martin Balsam and Ruth Roman also appear. Edward Asner was at the beginning of a career, especially on television.

Direction is by Walter Grauman, a director who made quite a number of movies but spent most of his career working for television.

1. The quality of the film as a telemovie? Telemovie styles, close-ups, pauses for commercials?

2. Response to the title? The irony of the boy who cried wolf? Indications of plot and expectations?

3. Quality of the opening? Audience involvement in the death? The audience onside with the old man's telling the truth?

4. The film’s creation of the puzzle and mystery? Sufficient clues. satisfactory explanation?

5. The quality of the character of the old man? His friendship? His tenacity to his opinion? The quality of his relationship with his family? His running away? Hospitals and nurses?

6. Comment on the characterization of his son and daughter-in-law. The family relationships? Their understanding?

7. The contribution of characters of Lois, the nurse and other minor characters? In relationship to the old man?

8. The irony of his appeal to the politician? The solution to the mystery? The social implications of the solution?

9. The ironic arrival of his son? His relationship to his son?

10. How satisfactory was the climax? The car chase. the relationship wi th the son, the blacks informing the police? Death?

11. The film's use of popular mystery ingredients and human interest?