Vanished (1971) (TV)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Buzz Kulik

Writers:

Fletcher Knebel (novel)
Dean Riesner (writer)

Release Date:

8 March 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Government agencies investigate the mysterious disappearance of a powerful presidential adviser.

Plot Keywords:

FBI | Closeted Homosexual | Secret | U.S. President | Kidnapping

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Richard Widmark	...	President Paul Roudebush
Skye Aubrey	...	Jill Nichols
Tom Bosley	...	Johnny Cavanaugh
James Farentino	...	Gene Culligan
Larry Hagman	...	Jerry Frytag
Murray Hamilton	...	Nick McCann
Arthur Hill	...	Arnold Greer
Robert Hooks	...	Larry Storm
E.G. Marshall	...	Arthur Ingram
Eleanor Parker	...	Sue Greer
William Shatner	...	Dave Paulick
Robert Young	...	Sen. Earl Gannon
Stephen McNally	...	Gen. Palfrey
Sheree North	...	Beverly West
Robert Lipton	...	Mike Loomis

Runtime:

196 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

Richard Widmark's TV debut.

Surprisingly Strong Made-For-TV Thriller

Similar to the timeless and powerful Kirk Douglas/Burt Lancaster classic "Seven Days In May". This surprisingly good political thriller was filmed during the height of the Watergate scandal. And although there was some relevance to events at the time, the Vanished storyline does not deal with the trials of 'Tricky Dick'. What it does do, and do well, is take the viewers along a very slippery political path laced with many red herrings. There's some ingenious scripting I suspect will trip up even the most jaded viewers: Threats of war with the Chinese communists, treason at the highest level - and considering this was made in 1971 - scandalous suggestions of homosexual liaisons affecting the national security of the United States. It's a strong 'all star cast' with good performances all around. Particularly in light of the fact that this was a made-for-TV production.

Robert Young, of Marcus Welby MD fame, really steals the show as the manipulative congressman from the south. His performance as Senator Gannon, perhaps unintentionally, is a dead-on-ringer for a "mean" Mark Twain, his evil twin brother perhaps. Rivaling that of Hal Holbrook's recent one man performance and Jerry Hardin's much beloved turn at the author during the Star Trek next generation TV series.

If you know of anyone who might have a copy of this movie - I would certainly like to talk with that person. :-)