The American TV-movie has gained a bad rap over the years, but there was a time when folks looked forward to these flicks — and not in an ironic sense or a need to hate-watch.
That period of kinder and less cynical viewership was surely in the 1970s and ’80s when the made-for-television movie became more widespread. The “movie of the week” format took off in the former decade, with the major networks at the time devoting blocks in their schedules to these standalone, small-screen features. And one of the more revisited genres was horror. Duel, The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Trilogy of Terror, Are You in the House Alone?, The Initiation of Sarah. These are just a few of the classic telefilms that scared a whole generation of viewers.
There have been great strides to archive and restore these past horror TV-movies,...
That period of kinder and less cynical viewership was surely in the 1970s and ’80s when the made-for-television movie became more widespread. The “movie of the week” format took off in the former decade, with the major networks at the time devoting blocks in their schedules to these standalone, small-screen features. And one of the more revisited genres was horror. Duel, The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Trilogy of Terror, Are You in the House Alone?, The Initiation of Sarah. These are just a few of the classic telefilms that scared a whole generation of viewers.
There have been great strides to archive and restore these past horror TV-movies,...
- 10/3/2024
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
Kathryn Grant Crosby, the actress known for The 7th Voyage of Sinbad and Anatomy of a Murder, has died. She was 90.
The widow of Bing Crosby died of natural causes on Friday night at her Hillsborough, California home, according to a spokesperson for the Crosby family.
Born Olive Kathryn Grandstaff on Nov. 25, 1933 in West Columbia, Texas, she graduated from University of Texas at Austin before winning a beauty contest with the prize being a screen test in Hollywood with William Holden.
Beginning her onscreen career as Kathryn Grant in 1953, she appeared in such films as So This Is Love (1953), Rear Window (1954) and The Wild Party (1956).
While penning a column about Hollywood for her hometown newspaper, Kathryn met Bing during an interview on the set of his beloved 1954 holiday classic White Christmas. They wed in 1957, and she went on to become a registered nurse and teacher.
Bing Crosby performs with wife Kathryn Grant Crosby on Dec.
The widow of Bing Crosby died of natural causes on Friday night at her Hillsborough, California home, according to a spokesperson for the Crosby family.
Born Olive Kathryn Grandstaff on Nov. 25, 1933 in West Columbia, Texas, she graduated from University of Texas at Austin before winning a beauty contest with the prize being a screen test in Hollywood with William Holden.
Beginning her onscreen career as Kathryn Grant in 1953, she appeared in such films as So This Is Love (1953), Rear Window (1954) and The Wild Party (1956).
While penning a column about Hollywood for her hometown newspaper, Kathryn met Bing during an interview on the set of his beloved 1954 holiday classic White Christmas. They wed in 1957, and she went on to become a registered nurse and teacher.
Bing Crosby performs with wife Kathryn Grant Crosby on Dec.
- 9/21/2024
- by Glenn Garner
- Deadline Film + TV
Kathryn Crosby, the actor, singer and widow of Bing Crosby, died Friday evening of natural causes at her home in Hillsborough, Calif. She was 90.
A representative for the Crosby family announced the news.
Crosby starred in more than 20 films over the course of her career, including “The Wild Party” (1956), “Operation Mad Ball” (1957), “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad” (1958) and “Anatomy of a Murder” (1959). She typically performed under the stage names Kathryn Grant and Kathryn Grandstaff.
Crosby appeared frequently on her husband Bing’s “Merrie Olde Christmas” specials and hosted “The Kathryn Crosby Show,” a 30-minute talk show based in San Francisco. Following the death of the famed singer and actor at the age of 74 in 1977, she performed in several stage productions such as the 1996 Broadway revival of “State Fair.” She also hosted the charitable Crosby National Golf Tournament in Bermuda Run, N.C., for many years.
Kathryn Crosby was born Olive Kathryn Grandstaff on Nov.
A representative for the Crosby family announced the news.
Crosby starred in more than 20 films over the course of her career, including “The Wild Party” (1956), “Operation Mad Ball” (1957), “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad” (1958) and “Anatomy of a Murder” (1959). She typically performed under the stage names Kathryn Grant and Kathryn Grandstaff.
Crosby appeared frequently on her husband Bing’s “Merrie Olde Christmas” specials and hosted “The Kathryn Crosby Show,” a 30-minute talk show based in San Francisco. Following the death of the famed singer and actor at the age of 74 in 1977, she performed in several stage productions such as the 1996 Broadway revival of “State Fair.” She also hosted the charitable Crosby National Golf Tournament in Bermuda Run, N.C., for many years.
Kathryn Crosby was born Olive Kathryn Grandstaff on Nov.
- 9/21/2024
- by Andrés Buenahora
- Variety Film + TV
Tisa Farrow, the actress who appeared in such 1970s films as James Toback’s Fingers and William Richert’s Winter Kills, has died, her sister Mia Farrow announced. She was 72.
She died unexpectedly on Wednesday, “apparently in her sleep,” Mia Farrow reported on Instagram.
“If there is a Heaven, undoubtedly my beautiful sister Tisa is being welcomed there,” she wrote. “She was the best of us — I have never met a more generous and loving person. She loved life & never complained. Ever.”
Tisa Farrow made her onscreen debut in Homer (1970), portraying the girlfriend of a high school student (Don Scardino) deeply affected by the Vietnam War, and she also starred in the low-budget horror films Zombie (1979), directed by Lucio Fulci, and Anthropophagus (1980).
In her most prominent role, Farrow played a woman who has a kinky romance with a disturbed loner (Harvey Keitel) in writer-director Toback’s Fingers (1978). She then showed...
She died unexpectedly on Wednesday, “apparently in her sleep,” Mia Farrow reported on Instagram.
“If there is a Heaven, undoubtedly my beautiful sister Tisa is being welcomed there,” she wrote. “She was the best of us — I have never met a more generous and loving person. She loved life & never complained. Ever.”
Tisa Farrow made her onscreen debut in Homer (1970), portraying the girlfriend of a high school student (Don Scardino) deeply affected by the Vietnam War, and she also starred in the low-budget horror films Zombie (1979), directed by Lucio Fulci, and Anthropophagus (1980).
In her most prominent role, Farrow played a woman who has a kinky romance with a disturbed loner (Harvey Keitel) in writer-director Toback’s Fingers (1978). She then showed...
- 1/12/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Best known to horror fans for playing Anne Bowles in Lucio Fulci’s Italian horror classic Zombi 2 (aka Zombie), actress Tisa Farrow has passed away this week at the age of 72.
Sister Mia Farrow writes on Instagram, “If there is a Heaven, undoubtedly my beautiful sister Tisa is being welcomed there. She was the best of us – I have never met a more generous and loving person. She loved life & never complained. Ever. She was a nurse for 27 years, a wonderful sister to Steffi, Prudence and me, a devoted mother to Jason, who died in Iraq, Bridget and little grandson Kylor – the lights of her life.
“She died unexpectedly yesterday morning. Apparently in her sleep. This is a hard time for all of us who admire and love her so deeply.”
Lucio Fulci’s 1979 classic wasn’t Tisa Farrow’s only stop in the horror genre, as she further...
Sister Mia Farrow writes on Instagram, “If there is a Heaven, undoubtedly my beautiful sister Tisa is being welcomed there. She was the best of us – I have never met a more generous and loving person. She loved life & never complained. Ever. She was a nurse for 27 years, a wonderful sister to Steffi, Prudence and me, a devoted mother to Jason, who died in Iraq, Bridget and little grandson Kylor – the lights of her life.
“She died unexpectedly yesterday morning. Apparently in her sleep. This is a hard time for all of us who admire and love her so deeply.”
Lucio Fulci’s 1979 classic wasn’t Tisa Farrow’s only stop in the horror genre, as she further...
- 1/12/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
We have some sad news to report as we head into the weekend: Rosemary’s Baby star Mia Farrow has confirmed that her younger sister Tisa Farrow, who genre fans may remember as the star of Lucio Fulci’s 1979 classic Zombie and Joe D’Amato’s 1980 gross-out slasher Anthropophagus, has passed away at the age of 72.
Yesterday, Mia Farrow took to social media to write, “If there is a Heaven, undoubtedly my beautiful sister Tisa is being welcomed there. She was the best of us – I have never met a more generous and loving person. She loved life & never complained. Ever. She was a nurse for 27 years, a wonderful sister to Steffi, Prudence and me, a devoted mother to Jason, who died in Iraq, Bridget and little grandson Kylor – the lights of her life. She died unexpectedly yesterday morning (January 10th). Apparently in her sleep. This is a hard time for...
Yesterday, Mia Farrow took to social media to write, “If there is a Heaven, undoubtedly my beautiful sister Tisa is being welcomed there. She was the best of us – I have never met a more generous and loving person. She loved life & never complained. Ever. She was a nurse for 27 years, a wonderful sister to Steffi, Prudence and me, a devoted mother to Jason, who died in Iraq, Bridget and little grandson Kylor – the lights of her life. She died unexpectedly yesterday morning (January 10th). Apparently in her sleep. This is a hard time for...
- 1/12/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
“I know you’re going to love some of our girls.”
Welcome To Hell Week! Shelley Winters and Kay Lenz in The Initiation Of Sarah (1978) will be available on Blu-ray June 21st from Arrow Video
Satantic secrets and telekenetic terror combine in this classic made-for-tv horror movie directed by Hammer Films alumnus Robert Day (She), from a story co-written by Tom Holland (Fright Night), featuring cinematography by Ric Waite (48 Hrs).
Shy misfit Sarah Goodwin, has a secret gift: the ability to control ― and destroy ― with her mind. When Sarah goes off to college with her more outgoing and popular sister, Patty, their plans to join the most prestigious sorority on campus are scuttled by snobby president, Jennifer Lawrence. Separated from her sister, Sarah is taken in by a rival, less popular sorority, whose mysterious house mother, Mrs. Hunter, is harboring a secret of her own: a scheme to harness Sarah’s terrifying power for revenge.
Welcome To Hell Week! Shelley Winters and Kay Lenz in The Initiation Of Sarah (1978) will be available on Blu-ray June 21st from Arrow Video
Satantic secrets and telekenetic terror combine in this classic made-for-tv horror movie directed by Hammer Films alumnus Robert Day (She), from a story co-written by Tom Holland (Fright Night), featuring cinematography by Ric Waite (48 Hrs).
Shy misfit Sarah Goodwin, has a secret gift: the ability to control ― and destroy ― with her mind. When Sarah goes off to college with her more outgoing and popular sister, Patty, their plans to join the most prestigious sorority on campus are scuttled by snobby president, Jennifer Lawrence. Separated from her sister, Sarah is taken in by a rival, less popular sorority, whose mysterious house mother, Mrs. Hunter, is harboring a secret of her own: a scheme to harness Sarah’s terrifying power for revenge.
- 5/19/2022
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
In addition to When a Stranger Calls Back, Scream Factory has several other horror titles in store for viewers this May, including their newly announced Blu-rays for 1982's The Seduction, 1977's The Chosen, and 1959's The Alligator People:
The Seduction Blu-ray: "Morgan Fairchild (The Initiation of Sarah) is a news reporter terrorized by an obsessed admirer in 1982’s steamy and deadly thriller The Seduction. Coming soon to Blu-ray for the first time on May 21st!
L.A. anchorwoman Jamie Douglas (Fairchild) has it all: a glamorous career on a top-rated news show, a luxurious house in the hills, and a devoted young fan named Derek (Stevens). But when Jamie rebuffs his romantic advances, Derek becomes a stalker who plays out an increasingly psychotic courtship with the frightened newswoman. Soon he is threatening every part of her life, secretly watching even her most intimate moments. Her tough-talking lover (Michael Sarrazin) can't console her.
The Seduction Blu-ray: "Morgan Fairchild (The Initiation of Sarah) is a news reporter terrorized by an obsessed admirer in 1982’s steamy and deadly thriller The Seduction. Coming soon to Blu-ray for the first time on May 21st!
L.A. anchorwoman Jamie Douglas (Fairchild) has it all: a glamorous career on a top-rated news show, a luxurious house in the hills, and a devoted young fan named Derek (Stevens). But when Jamie rebuffs his romantic advances, Derek becomes a stalker who plays out an increasingly psychotic courtship with the frightened newswoman. Soon he is threatening every part of her life, secretly watching even her most intimate moments. Her tough-talking lover (Michael Sarrazin) can't console her.
- 2/5/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Chris Cummins Nov 4, 2019
We take a look back at the history of Stephen King's first bestseller, Carrie, after Riverdale turned it into a musical.
Last year, Riverdale staged Carrie: The Musical in a very special episode that was part Glee and part horror hellstorm. It is the latest example of how Stephen King's first novel continues to resonate throughout the pop culture landscape. The reasoning for this is simple: Carrie is a universally relatable story about outsiders that has much to say about topics like bullying, revenge, teen angst, religion, and telekinetic ass-kicking..
To examine just how much of a juggernaut Carrie is, we've put together this timeline dating from the book's genesis to today to provide some context into why the tale has endured for so long.
1973: Legend has it that Stephen King was unhappy with his early work on Carrie, which was originally intended as a magazine story,...
We take a look back at the history of Stephen King's first bestseller, Carrie, after Riverdale turned it into a musical.
Last year, Riverdale staged Carrie: The Musical in a very special episode that was part Glee and part horror hellstorm. It is the latest example of how Stephen King's first novel continues to resonate throughout the pop culture landscape. The reasoning for this is simple: Carrie is a universally relatable story about outsiders that has much to say about topics like bullying, revenge, teen angst, religion, and telekinetic ass-kicking..
To examine just how much of a juggernaut Carrie is, we've put together this timeline dating from the book's genesis to today to provide some context into why the tale has endured for so long.
1973: Legend has it that Stephen King was unhappy with his early work on Carrie, which was originally intended as a magazine story,...
- 4/18/2018
- Den of Geek
Article by Dana Jung
The 1970s was a significant decade in the history of American cinema. The sometimes wild experimentation of the avant garde movement of the 1960s had pretty much disappeared by the mid 70s. The decade gave birth to the adult film industry (Deep Throat), the modern slasher film (the one-two punch of Halloween and Friday The 13th), and the Hollywood blockbuster (Jaws and later Star Wars). The exploitation film subgenre (blaxploitation, sexploitation, etc.) peaked and gave way to teen comedies and horror films. The Western was all but dead. However, in 1976 American International Pictures released a wonderfully offbeat and satisfying Western comedy into this rapidly changing marketplace, The Great Scout And Cathouse Thursday, which regrettably is Not available on DVD.
Sam Longwood (the great Lee Marvin) is the ‘great scout’. of the title, a grizzled and legendary Indian fighter whose time has come and gone. The turn...
The 1970s was a significant decade in the history of American cinema. The sometimes wild experimentation of the avant garde movement of the 1960s had pretty much disappeared by the mid 70s. The decade gave birth to the adult film industry (Deep Throat), the modern slasher film (the one-two punch of Halloween and Friday The 13th), and the Hollywood blockbuster (Jaws and later Star Wars). The exploitation film subgenre (blaxploitation, sexploitation, etc.) peaked and gave way to teen comedies and horror films. The Western was all but dead. However, in 1976 American International Pictures released a wonderfully offbeat and satisfying Western comedy into this rapidly changing marketplace, The Great Scout And Cathouse Thursday, which regrettably is Not available on DVD.
Sam Longwood (the great Lee Marvin) is the ‘great scout’. of the title, a grizzled and legendary Indian fighter whose time has come and gone. The turn...
- 2/9/2011
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
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