C.A.T. Squad (TV 1986)

A special government organization known as the C.A.T. Squad is formed to deal with terrorists.

Director:

William Friedkin

Writer:

Gerald Petievich

Stars:

Joe Cortese, Jack Youngblood, Steve James

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joe Cortese	...	John 'Doc' Burkholder
Jack Youngblood	...	John Sommers
Steve James	...	Bud Raines
Patricia Charbonneau	...	Nikki Blake
Barry Corbin	...	The Director
Eddie Velez	...	Carlos
Sam Gray	...	Dr. Henry Spivak
Al Shannon	...	Irish Johnny
Frank Military	...	Willie Darby
Anna Maria Horsford	...	Mrs. Raines
Bradley Whitford	...	Leon Trepper
Anne E. Curry	...	Janet
Hans Bogild	...	Dieter Porzig
Thomas Hauff	...	Nolan
Michael Sinelnikoff	...	Sir Cyril Sharpe

Storyline

When terrorists start killing scientists who are working on NATO's laser defense , an elite team, the Counter Assault Tactical (C.A.T.) Squad, are brought in to to stop the killers. The squad consists of five members. The leader is totally ruthless as a military type, but is a pussycat with his dancer lover. His second-in-command also has his compassionate side as he deals with his hearing-impaired son. The third member is the expected explosives expert, whose twist here is that he is a total outdoors-man and absolutely hates cities. the fourth member is a forensics expert who loves to play poker. The remaining member is a young language expert.

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Plot Keywords:

acronym in title | period in title | first part | animal in title

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 July 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Stalking Danger

Filming Locations:

Mexicali, Baja California Norte, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

NBC Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (1988)

User Reviews

Stalking something better.

I'm a fan of director William Friedkin's work, but his TV effort 'C.A.T. Squad: Stalking Danger' is such an insult to the senses. If he was trying to the copy the success of Michael Mann's impressionable stint on TV (Miami Vice), by trying to set-up this feature as a pilot for a series (so from what I read) it comes crashing down. We open with odd stock footage, and then watch a hired assassin knock off some important people involved in a government project, and the C.A.T Squad are formed to take out this threat. Its old-hat story is a crafty patchwork of secretive details and gimmicks, but lacks involvement and never convinces. Dull fragmented background stories and idle chit-chat can't help out these tired and two-dimensional characters. Some things feel forced, it can lull quite often and few sequences have an awkward mushiness to them. Freidkin's direction is mechanically staged with his flair for action being too concise, but gladly he grinds out the blunt violence with sheer vigour. The camera follows well, but Ennio Morricone's music score is generically uninteresting. Joseph Cortese, Stephen W. James, Patricia Charbonneau and Edwin Velez simply go through the motions. He followed this one up with 'C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (1988)', but later that year he would hit form again with the terrific thriller 'Rampage (1988)'.