IMDb > When a Stranger Calls (1979)
When a Stranger Calls
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When a Stranger Calls (1979) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   3,718 votes »
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Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Steve Feke (written by) and
Fred Walton (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for When a Stranger Calls on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
26 October 1979 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Tagline:
...Fear is the Message! See more »
Plot:
A psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Awards:
1 win See more »
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
First Look: One-Sheet For Room And Board...."Eat your Heart Out"
 (From GeekTyrant. 31 October 2010, 9:41 PM, PDT)

25 Creepiest Movie Quotes
 (From Extra. 31 October 2010, 8:00 AM, PDT)

West on call to remake 'Stranger'
 (From The Hollywood Reporter. 13 April 2005)

User Reviews:
Have you checked the children? See more (99 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

Carol Kane ... Jill Johnson

Rutanya Alda ... Mrs. Mandrakis

Carmen Argenziano ... Dr. Mandrakis
Kirsten Larkin ... Nancy
William Boyett ... Sgt. Sacker (as Bill Boyett)

Charles Durning ... John Clifford
Ron O'Neal ... Lt. Charlie Garber
Heetu ... Houseboy
Rachel Roberts ... Dr. Monk
Tony Beckley ... Curt Duncan

Colleen Dewhurst ... Tracy

Michael Champion ... Bill
Joseph Reale ... Bartender (as Joe Reale)
Ed Wright ... Retired Man
Louise Wright ... Retired Woman
Carol O'Neal ... Mrs. Garber
Dennis McMullen ... Maintenance Man
Wally Taylor ... Cheater
John Tobyansen ... Bar Customer
Sara Damman ... Bianca Lockart
Richard Bail ... Stevie Lockart
Steven Anderson ... Stephen Lockart

Lenora May ... Sharon
Randy Holland ... Maitre d'
Trent Dolan ... Policeman #1

Frank DiElsi ... Policeman #2
Arell Blanton ... Policeman #3
DeForest Covan ... Officer #1 (as De Forest Covan)

Charles Boswell ... Officer #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dick Warlock ... Bartender (uncredited)
Cheryl Wilson ... Mrs. Shifrin (uncredited)
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Directed by
Fred Walton 
 
Writing credits
Steve Feke (written by) and
Fred Walton (written by)

Produced by
Doug Chapin .... producer
Steve Feke .... producer
Larry Kostroff .... associate producer
Barry Krost .... executive producer
Melvin Simon .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Dana Kaproff 
 
Cinematography by
Donald Peterman (director of photography) (as Don Peterman)
 
Film Editing by
Sam Vitale 
 
Casting by
Penny Perry 
 
Production Design by
Elayne Barbara Ceder 
 
Set Decoration by
Lee Poll 
 
Makeup Department
Ruby Ford .... hair stylist
Billy Laughridge .... hair stylist (as Billie Laughridge)
Bob Mills .... makeup artist
Edie Panda .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Barbara Michaels .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edward Ledding .... first assistant director (as Ed Ledding)
Lynn M. Morgan .... second assistant director (as Lynn Morgan)
 
Art Department
Priscilla Beroud .... assistant property master
Leonard Cross .... leadman
Martin Marias .... property master
 
Sound Department
Martin Raymond Bolger .... production sound mixer (as Martin Bolger)
Bud Fuellgrabe .... boom operator
Walter Goss .... sound re-recording mixer
Keith Stafford .... sound editor
 
Stunts
Stan Barrett .... stunt coordinator
 
Camera and Electrical Department
James Ball .... second grip (as Jim Ball)
Joe Castagnoli .... second camera assistant
Jim Everly .... electrician
John M. Hennessy .... key grip (as John Hennessy)
Leslie J. Kovacs .... gaffer (as Les Kovacs)
Brice Mack .... camera operator (as Brice Mack III)
Carol McCullough .... still photographer
Joseph J. Orefice .... best boy (as Joe Orefice)
Bill Randall .... dolly grip
Baird Steptoe .... first camera assistant
 
Casting Department
Beverly Long .... additional casting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Bruno .... costume supervisor (as Dick Bruno)
Dean Skipworth .... set costumer
 
Editorial Department
Susan Cooper .... editorial consultant
John Fenady .... apprentice editor
Harold Wilner .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Jim Henrikson .... music editor
 
Transportation Department
William Cockrell .... transportation co-captain
Jim Martell .... transportation captain
 
Other crew
Harriet Brown .... assistant to producers
Virginia Cook-McGowan .... production coordinator (as Virginia Cook)
Marc Dodell .... production assistant
Barbara Hogan .... script supervisor
Ed Margulies .... unit publicist
Rita Moseley .... location auditor
Jim Swinehart .... craft service
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Runtime:
97 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Based on the year the film took place, 1 minute would not be nearly long enough to trace Curt's call. Back when the movie was set, it would've taken 10-20 minutes for several switchboards and circuits to locate the origin of the call.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: In the final scene, Jill goes to her bedroom closet to see if Curt Duncan is in there. She is about to open the door with her left hand. In the next shot, she opens it with her right hand.See more »
Quotes:
[repeated line]
Curt Duncan:Have you checked the children?
See more »
Soundtrack:
Space RaceSee more »

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
16 out of 17 people found the following review useful.
Have you checked the children?, 23 October 2000
Author: jhaggardjr from Chicago, Illinois

"When a Stranger Calls" is a somewhat entertaining horror-suspense-thriller that starts off great, loses steam in the middle, then comes back for a good finish. The beginning of this movie is outstanding, with babysitter Carol Kane receiving obscene phone calls from an unknown maniac. This is far and away the best part of the film. It's scary, creepy, and downright eerie. But it doesn't sustain that level through the entire film. The mid-portion of the movie is rather dull, featuring a few lazy supporting performances. But "When a Stranger Calls" redeems itself with a nail-biting climax, even though the conclusion doesn't top the film's opening in terms of scariness. Carol Kane and Charles Durning are good in the roles of the terrified babysitter and the private detective searching for the killer when he's on the loose. "When a Stranger Calls" is not a great horror movie but a good one. And its better than the cable-made sequel that came out fourteen years later, "When a Stranger Calls Back".

*** (out of four)

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Black Christmas was NOT first Bou
1979 or 2006? proshot1
Is the remake anything like this? Tipster101
No murder weapon? proudbrunette
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