Along Came a Spider (1970 TV Movie) User Reviews

A scientific problem

[AAdaSC · 7/10 · 8 March 2017]

In the world of the chemistry lab, egos are as rife as in any other walk of life as they compete for recognition. Suzanne Pleshette (Anne) wants to discover the truth about the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband Lex Johnson (Dr Furie) a year earlier. He was the project manager overseeing a radiation experiment that went wrong. She thinks she knows what happened and is out for revenge, so watch out lecturer Ed Nelson (Martin). Nelson was part of the same project that killed her husband.

First of all, this film is listed as having a running time of 75 minutes. Well, the copy I have runs for 95 minutes so please take note – I don't know if there are two different versions around? As for the story, it keeps you guessing right until the end and there are several plot twists. It's a good watch and the cast do well in their roles. There are no spiders at all in this film, so don't expect to see any as you will be disappointed.

The film revolves around whether or not Pleshette has got her facts right. Can you be justified in acting on suspicion?

Manages to Maintain Drama and Suspense

[Uriah43 · 6/10 · 8 June 2013]

A renowned professor of physics named "Dr. Martin Becker" (Ed Nelson) has made a recent discovery that might possibly win him a Nobel Prize. However, a year before that an accident in a laboratory resulted in the death of a colleague which still troubles his conscience. But things begin to change for him as a beautiful woman named "Anne Banning" (Suzanne Pleshette) has come into his life and he falls deeply in love with her. Unfortunately, when she mysteriously disappears all leads point to him as the murderer. And it soon becomes even more complicated than that. At any rate, rather than spoil the mystery of this film for those who haven't seen it, I will just say that there are quite a few twists and turns to be uncovered. Additionally, this film manages to maintain drama and suspense to the very end, which is somewhat unusual for a made-for-television movie. Likewise, I enjoyed the performance of Suzanne Pleshette who is not only attractive but was probably one of the more underrated actresses during this time. Recommended for anybody who enjoys a suspenseful drama of this type.

You want to just love it, but the twists and turns are hairier than a spider's leg.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 20 April 2020]

Fabulous performances by Suzanne pleshette, Ed Nelson, Andrew Prine and Brooke Bundy can't save the convoluted script of the early TV movie that had such potential but failed to convince once it was all done. Pleshette is a feisty, curious widow, crashing Berkeley lecturer Ed Nelson's seminar and ending up on a dinner date with him where he begins to romance her. She's reluctant at first, having been very much in love with her husband, but he charms her into spending a lot of time with her. she actually is investigating her husband's mysterious death, first said to be an accident, then possibly murder, and finally believed to be suicide. When she ties Nelson and her husband together, he is put on trial and she disappears, showing up in court in a platinum blond wig looking quite different, and not in a way that flatters Pleshette's good looks. He is convicted and sentence, and in her guilt, she decides to testify on his behalf. Her appearance in court stuns Nelson and the legal community, and in her attempt to atone for her mistake, she finds out the truth.

While the running time for this film is listed at the usual 75 minutes for TV (aired doing a 90-minute time slot), prints are showing up that are a good 20 minutes longer than the registered running time. It is one of these prints that I saw, and there are several points within the film, where it could have ended and possibly been a bit better. Pleshette with her glorious husky voice is outstanding, and she creates a characterization that is truly remarkable. Nelson also is a very complex character, and Prine, as a longtime friend of Pleshette's and her late husband's, is wise and commanding.

Brooke Bundy, a veteran of many TV shows in the 1960's and 70's and later one of the stars of "General Hospital" during its heyday, is usually cloying and somewhat over-the-top, but as Pleshette's roommates, is filled with a few surprises. It's too bad that the script and its many twists didn't match the consistency of the acting, and while not a bad TV movie, isn't the classic that I was hoping for. Still, I could listen to Suzanne Pleshette read a milk carton, so that makes this worthy of the price of admission, which in my case was free.

Industrial espionage and courtroom drama with a widow on the warpath to avenge her murdered husband.

[Deusvolt · 7/10 · 12 February 2005]

At 33, Pleshette still looked luscious but that rear low camera shot in the courtroom that showed her legs turned chubby was a mystery. Granting that the director didn't notice, was the film editor asleep when he cut the film? Suzanne acquits herself well in this movie as the steel-nerved widow out to avenge her husband's murder and get away with it without being convicted of murder.

I saw it not as a TV movie but as a theatrical release in the Philippines and it was well worth not having the usual distractions at home. I liked it so much that I remembered it for many years (30) so that when the 2001 movie with Morgan Freeman was released, I thought it was a remake.

The Freeman movie was nice too but I liked the one with Pleshette a little better. I hope to catch it again on a re-run on TV or on DVD.

They are *not* the same story!

[CherCee · 20 July 2018]

This Along Came A Spider was a TV movie based on a play with another name. The Morgan Freeman theatrical movie was based on a James Patterson novel.

Agreeable mystery thriller

[myriamlenys · 7/10 · 18 March 2024]

HERE BE SPOILERS, SO READERS BEWARE...

"Along came a spider" is a pleasantly watchable mystery thriller with a lot of twists and turns. The movie seems to be based on a theatre play, but it doesn't cling closely to its theatrical origins : the action moves around freely, taking place in a variety of settings such as a research lab, a restaurant, an apartment, a courtroom,...

The plot deals with a grieving widow trying to exact revenge on the man she deems responsible for her husband's death. (Since the widow is quite a clever woman, she's cooked up quite a clever revenge scheme.) As the movie progresses, the viewer watches her plans unfold. At the same time the viewer is invited to ponder an additional question, to wit whether the widow's suspicions are correct. If she's right, then she's targeting a person who caused another person's death, either through deliberate malice or through negligence ; if she's wrong, then she's targeting an innocent.

On the whole "Along came a spider" is a well-made movie, although it lacks the spark of genius that could have lifted it up to another level. Near the end it begins to outstay its welcome. The finale, by the way, boasts a fine example of that old cliché where a killer explains his or her evil motives before attacking the intended victim. I strongly suspect that most real-life killers would shoot/strangle/push/bludgeon first and explain later, if at all.

Anyway, "Along came a spider" teaches a valuable life lesson : before embarking on a revenge mission, check and doublecheck your facts.

Best Made for Television movie ever made!

[michaeldouglas1 · 10/10 · 25 March 2008]

As with most made-for-television movies of the late 1960's/early 70's, this one's been pretty much forgotten. Unfairly so, in my opinion. It's a terrific drama with plenty of plot twists that will keep you in suspense till the end! Suzanne Pleshette gives perhaps the best performance of her career, and she's ably assisted by Ed Nelson as her love interest (or is he? To tell any more would be unthinkable!) The movie mostly takes place in Berkeley, circa 1969, which makes it doubly compelling. Has a fine score by David Rose, good supporting cast, and fine photography. If you can catch it on TV, then "Along Came a Spider" is MUST SEE!!! P.S. That's veteran character actor Lex Johnson during the opening credits as Dr. David Furie, whose nuclear accident propels the entire plot.

Absolutely ludicrous

[mls4182 · 2/10 · 5 December 2021]

I am a fan of early 1970s TV movies of the week. If they are bad, they are at least unintentionally funny. They are also a time capsule into a era when the average viewer was less sophisticated.

This is unbelievably bad. Every it twist is beyond ludicrous and nearly impossible. One could tolerate such bad writing if it had some interesting scenes or camp value. It us just plain BORING.

It doesn't help that Suzanne Pleshette looks like she had a big marshmallow on her head the second half of the movie.

far-fetched but I loved it

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 7 December 2011]

Lately Fox Movie Channel has been showing some of these old chestnuts, and I can't get enough of them. "Along Came a Spider" is vintage 1970 - it's a mystery TV-movie, very popular back then, and the cast is a treat for baby-boomers - Suzanne Pleshette, Ed Nelson, Brooke Bundy, Andrew Prine, Richard Anderson, and Milton Selzer.

The story concerns a bright student (Pleshette) who becomes involved with a science professor (Nelson). However, she's a woman with an agenda.

That's all I'll say rather than spoil it. The twists keep on coming. All in all, it's totally convoluted but so much fun. Pleshette is beautiful and gives her usual honest performance.

Mysteries are my favorite genre. I saw all of these when they were first on TV. "Along Came a Spider" was fun to re-watch.

Far-fetched mystery with twists, turns and some crazy logic...

[moonspinner55 · 5/10 · 2 May 2009]

Television drama, based upon the play "Sweet Poison" by Leonard Lee, has Suzanne Pleshette in good form as the widow of a once-prominent scientist, a man apparently killed after an intense experiment with neutrons and radiation went awry. She goes after her late husband's rival--now a physics teacher at the university--whom she believes is responsible for her spouse's death...but is he guilty of anything? And, if not, will she be able to undo the damage she causes? 'Groovy' atmosphere gives the production a "Room 222"-like feel, which might be amusing in a different context. Here, the pedestrian direction and poor-choice score both feel like elements from substandard TV, and the twisty plot suffers as a result. Still, there are a couple of good surprises here, along with some general overacting and a limp finale presented unceremoniously.

I bought the 2001 DVD movie and I regret it. Explanation below.

[stasia · 8/10 · 27 February 2003]

I based my vote solely on the 1970(TV) cast and if anyone can advise me as to how I can acquire the TV version, I'ld be very grateful. The 2001 version is an example of contemporary garbage with the usual four-letter words thrown in occasionally (as early as four minutes into the movie).

I'ld be willing to trade my DVD movie for a copy of the 1970 TV production (VHS or DVD).

An irritating film, as so much of it was so good...and then it was undone by a stupid plot twist.

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 8 November 2016]

The first 70% of "Along Came a Spider" was great and I really admired the writing. Then, unexpectedly, the film completely fell apart due to an insane plot twist that made the whole made for TV movie more than just difficult to believe...it made it stupid! It's a shame as most of the film was great.

When the film begins, 'Anne' (Suzanne Pleshette) goes to one of Professor Becker's classes (Ed Nelson). Despite being a very difficult class on advanced physics, she was able to show him up in front of everyone...and Becker becomes fascinated with her. He insists that he take her out and they soon become lovers. However, what he doesn't know is that she's actually a different person-- Janet Furie. And, she blames Becker for her husband's death and has put a long and complicated plan in place to convict him of murdering her! Of course she's going to just disappear and leave evidence to show he killed her...and there's no way that anyone in court will believe him. This portion of the film is great...no two ways about it.

Later, Janet receives a letter that proves her husband was NOT murdered by Becker and that Becker is one swell dude. If you think this is improbable, EVERYTHING that follows is just completely insane....as if someone stole the script and hurriedly penned in some nutty plot twists!

The bottom line is that the first 70% deserves a 10...and the last portion a 1%!!!! Yes, it is that bad and it leaves the viewer angry and disappointed. I sure know I was!

Roller Coaster Plot!!!

[kidboots · 8/10 · 23 December 2017]

Really liked this movie a lot but what a roller coaster story line!! Renowned physics professor Dr. Martin Becker (Ed Nelson) is feeling on top of the world - he has the Nobel Prize for an atomic energy project he has been credited with formulating within his grasp and he has fallen in love with a mysterious raven haired beauty Ann Banning (luscious Susanne Pleshette) who accidentally on purpose wanders into his lecture. But everything is smoke and mirrors - in reality Ann is the widow of a technician who had been working alongside Becker on the same project but was killed during a workplace experiment gone wrong!! Ann believes there is a more sinister answer!!

For the first half hour you would be forgiven for thinking this is just going to be another mushy romantic telemovie - walks on the beach, cheesy 70s elevator music, fun times at restaurants and Ann starts to think maybe Martin is a nice guy after all!! Maybe she has let her thirst for vengeance take too much control!! Until a chance conversation - Ann is very curious about the original team Martin worked with. Most people would have been suspicious at her interest but Martin's over inflated ego sees nothing wrong. She probes him about a particular scientist who was killed and Martin's response about him being a hack, how he was really a glorified technician who's death was no great loss, chills her. From that moment Ann's purpose never varies and she disappears!! Becker is now plunged into a nightmare trial in which the only way out is guilty!!

Of course it's completely far fetched and becomes more so as the film progresses. Ann is in the master class of leaving subtle clues that implicate Becker in a horrendous crime. Then comes the letter......

Wouldn't be a 1970 movie without a flaky neighbour but telemovie stalwart, Brooke Bundy, makes Adrienne a bit different - yes, she has her hippie moments, including studying down at the beach but she is the movie's voice of reason and although she is a sage advisor when Ann presents herself bruised and battered, there is also a "Rosemary's Baby" moment with "we are all your friends here, you need to go for a little holiday somewhere - with Martin"!!!! Another refugee from teleland - Andrew Prine as Adrienne's "fuzz" boyfriend. His sensible, measured character probably did a lot for police public relations at this time when the "fuzz" wasn't thought too kindly of by the anti establishment!! Richard Anderson has a small role as the prosecuting attorney!!

Very Recommended

Blondes Have More Fun

[cutterccbaxter · 14 January 2024]

Ed Nelson plays an Ed Nelson type character in Along Came A Spider. I'm not saying Ed Nelson is a bad actor, but he often played bad characters. So you figure right from the get go Ed Nelson is playing a bad guy. Even when you're supposed think, "Gee, I guess Ed is a good guy after all," you know deep in your heart he is a bad guy.

Instead of trying to hide under the pier, Suzanne Pleshette should have run over to Jim Rockford's trailer and pounded on his door in the climatic scene. Jimmy would have helped her. Plus, it would have given him some experiencing in dealing with Ed, who he would cross paths with a couple of times in the future.

I did like the fact that cop Andrew Prine had to leave a "tear gas convention" to save SP. I'm not sure Joe Friday would have done that. Then again, Joe Friday would also never have had a girlfriend who was prone to saying, "groovy."