Thursday, January 24, 2019

1970's MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES: 1976

Here are some TV movies from 1976 I've seen at some point. I'll give a brief note on what they are about...or what I think they were about...it's been a long time for most of them, so my memories may not be too accurate.


1976

And then there was the Bicentennial Year...

Amelia Earhart
Susan Clark added Amelia Earhart to her previous year's biography of Babe Didrickson.
Amelia Earhart
Beauty and the Beast
Hallmark Hall of Fame version of the tale. This one had George C. Scott as The Beast and his wife Trish Van Devere as Belle. First version I can remember seeing that was in English.
Image result for beauty and the beast 1976
Beauty and the Beast '76

The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
John Travolta has some sort of trouble with his immune system that forces him to live in a plastic bubble. Paul Williams did the theme song and Glynnis O'Connor provided the romantic interest.
Boy in the Plastic Bubble

The Entertainer
John Osborne's play about a washed up comedian was made famous in a 1960 version with Laurence Olivier. I remember Jack Lemmon as doing an effective job in this adaptation.
Image result for the entertainer 1976 lemmon

Flood!
Another TV movie attempt at a disaster movie. This does feature Poseidon Adventure vets Roddy McDowell and Carol Lynley.
Flood

The Great Houdinis
Starsky and Struthers! as Harry and Bess Houdini 

Griffin and Phoenix: A Love Story
Peter Falk and Jill Clayburgh play a couple trying to find love during tragic times.
Griffin and Phoenix: A Love Story

Having Babies
There were several Having Babies movies during this time. It led to a spin-off show called Julie Farr, M. D., which lasted less than a season. The picture below features 70's TV movie frequent fliers Linda Purl and Desi Arnaz Jr.


Having Babies
Helter Skelter
Frightening adaption of the Manson family and the Tate/Lo Bianca murders.
Helter Skelter

How to Break Up a Happy Divorce
Barbara Eden did use her series of rather silly TV movie comedies during the early to mid-70's as a stepping stone to Harper Valley PTA.
How to Break Up a Happy Divorce

Kiss Me…Kill Me
Okay, I must have seen this. It had Stella Stevens in it...Did I?
Kiss Me…Kill Me

Law and Order
I remember this generational cop drama starring 70's TV movie stalwart Darren McGavin as being pretty good.
Law and Order

The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case
Much of what I learned about this case I learned from this TV movie.
The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case

Look What’s Happened to Rosemary’s Baby
I think they may have waited a bit too long to let us know the answer to this which was...I can't really remember.


Rich Man, Poor Man
This was really the one (though some may say QB VII) that was the first mini-series to really hit it big. I dug the brothers and their generational story even then...I was a strange kid, I guess.
Rich Man, Poor Man

Rich Man, Poor Man Book II came out later that year and ran twenty-one episodes. Wasn't Falconetti a great bad guy?
Rich Man, Poor Man Book II

Smash-Up on Interstate 5
We get to learn about the lives of several people before they are involved in a multi-car crash. I know Buddy Ebsen, Vera Miles, Donna Mills, Robert Conrad and Harriet Nelson were involved somehow.


Smash-Up on Interstate 5
Sybil
Critically acclaimed story based on the best-selling book about a young lady with multiple personalities. "Sybil" became part of the vernacular after this movie. Sally Field starred.
Sybil

Time Travelers
Another attempt by Irwin Allen to have a regular time travel series. This one didn't make it and Quantum Leap would still be over a decade away.


Victory at Entebbe
Not to be confused with Raid on Entebbe about the same historical event.


The Love Boat
Yes, It all started with a TV movie...and none of the cast that would eventually star in the series.
The Love Boat '76

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