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Author Topic: CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW (1977)  (Read 1090 times)

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Offline Gothick

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CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW (1977)
« on: June 29, 2019, 08:26:13 PM »
Fans,

I'd somehow never caught up with (and don't even recall ever hearing about) Dan Curtis's 1977 TV movie CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLap9g0hLZfxnWLj-ML5q3tFMZE9lz913v

It seems as if this may have been intended as a kind of re-boot of the KOLCHAK franchise, featuring Tony Franciosa's PI character, Higbie. The latter is a rather more mainstream type of character than Carl Kolchak, and there are fewer comic touches. The impressive cast includes Donna Mills, Patty Duke, and June Allyson, with cameo roles for June Lockhart and Dan Curtis's own daughter Tracy.

I thought this was a solid example of a typical 1970s movie-of-the-week thriller. The score by Robert Cobert is very reminiscent of the music composed for the Kolchak films.

You need to seriously suspend disbelief for certain things the script does, and the "twist" ending is telegraphed way in advance--but I thought it was fun!

G.
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Offline Uncle Roger

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Re: CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW (1977)
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2019, 02:02:25 PM »
This was one of my favorites at the time. Though I certainly did question the idea of Patty Duke and Donna Mills as twin sisters.
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Offline Mysterious Benefactor

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Re: CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW (1977)
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2019, 09:07:23 PM »
I haven't seen that movie in years. But I definitely watched it back in the day. Not because DC did it (though that would have been an incentive) but because Patty Duke was in it. I always watched everything she did...

I'll definitely have to check it out on YouTube when I get the chance. Thanks for sharing the link, Gothick.  [ghost_smiley]
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Offline Patti Feinberg

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Re: CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW (1977)
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2019, 01:21:31 AM »
This didn't seem familiar, so I looked on YouTube.

It didn't seem great,,but, I came across other goodies!

Crowhaven Farm....THAT'S IT!!!! FINALLY!!

I could remember a movie with the stoning, but, didn't know how to find it.
Within first 8 minutes....yeah!!!!

I'm currently watching Something Evil starring ((Darren McGavin)) & Sandy Dennis.

I put in 'scaring made for TV movies', and it popped up a lot.

Go for it!

Glad I did!

Patti
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Offline Uncle Roger

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Re: CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW (1977)
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2019, 01:29:00 AM »
Something Evil is a very early credit for director Steven Spielberg.
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Offline Patti Feinberg

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Re: CURSE OF THE BLACK WIDOW (1977)
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2019, 04:24:09 PM »
I was actually typing the above as I starting w/Something Evil.

I had a few tabs open, I decided to watch "Home for the Holidays", w/E. Parker, Julie Harris, and Sally Fields, who was I believe playing someone 18-20, which was quite the stretch.
(Funny side note: Julie Harris plays E. Parker's stepmother, but, in reality was 2 years younger!)
Another thing, both E. Parker and J. Harris died in same year.

Patti

Yes, I recommend Home for the Holidays, c. 1972
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