The Strangers in 7A (1972 TV Movie) User Reviews

Some malevolent tenants

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 29 April 2018]

The Strangers In 7A are a group who plan to use this apartment as a headquarters while they plan a night time bank robbery. Susanne Benton rents the apartment and her male callers include Michael Brandon, James A. Watson, Jr., and Tim McIntire. All of them are Vietnam veterans and one of them, Watson is trained in demolition.

When building superintendent Andy Griffith gets curious he and wife Ida Lupino get taken hostage. A lot of the film is taken up with their time as hostages. All of the robbers are social misfits, but Michael Brandon is truly psychotic.

It's for you to watch this made for TV film to see how it all turns out. But let's say things don't quite go as planned. Brandon stands out in this film, a truly warped and hateful human being.

Sadly the war in Vietnam being as unpopular as it became led to a lot of films of varying qualities casting Vietnam vets in all kind of psychotic roles. Terribly unfair I thought, then as now.

Still The Strangers In 7A is still a tense action packed thriller that will leave you on the edge of your living room sofa seeing it on Amazon as I did.

A Perfect Robbery Fails

[gordonl56 · 7/10 · 31 August 2014]

THE STRANGERS IN 7A – 1972

Andy Griffith, Ida Lupino, Michael Brandon, James A. Watson, Tim McIntire headline this rather unseen television film from 1972. Griffith plays a super in for a New York apartment block who gets himself in deep trouble. Griffith's wife, Ida Lupino, is going out for the night to stay with her ill sister. Griffith figures on a night out at the local bar for a few drinks, is in order.

At the bar, he runs into Susanne Hildur. The leggy and well-built girl is soon hitting on the flattered Griffith. Hildur is down on her luck and needs a place to stay for one day. Griffith decides that maybe this is his lucky day to get a bit of strange, and offers her a place. He takes her to the apartment of a tenant who is off on vacation.

Of course this is just too good to be true. Soon after Griffith takes Hildur upstairs, they are joined by Brandon, Watson and McIntire. The men tell Griffith that they also need a place for a day. Play along and everything will be cool. They will not tell his wife about him trying to step out. Griffith figures that what can one day hurt, and agrees.

He returns to his apartment and finds that Lupino has returned early from her trip. He tries to play it cool, but Lupino can see he is nervous about something.

Meanwhile, up in 7A, the men and Hildur are going over a plan to rob the bank located next to the apartment block. The trio of men are all Vietnam vets with plenty of explosives know how. They plan on going down the side of the building to the bank roof, then blowing their way in. They have been planning the caper for some time, and know all the Police patrol times etc.

The next day, Griffith sees several of the group go out. He decides to have a look in 7A, maybe they have all left. What he finds is the plans for the robbery and all the equipment for the heist. Needless to say he is caught in the apartment by the thugs.

Brandon, the leader of the bunch has Lupino brought up to join the happy little group. Brandon gives Griffith a sound beating and ties both Lupino and Griffith up.

That night the men head up to the roof and down onto the bank. Hildur, still in the apartment, starts making fake emergency calls to the Police and Fire Department. She gives them the addresses of apartment buildings away from the area. This is to pull the Police patrols away.

The three men now blow a hole into the bank and drop into the safe area. They stuff everything of value into their bags. They then start back up the side of Griffith's apartment building.

The local foot beat cop though, has heard the explosions, and rushes to the sight. He sees Brandon, Watson and McIntire scaling the side of building. Out comes his revolver and he starts blasting. He nails McIntire and wounds Watson.

Brandon and the wounded Watson head to the apartment to collect Hildur. Needless to say the Police are quicker off the mark and soon have them cornered in the building. Brandon has Watson place a bomb on the building elevator roof. He then sends Miss Lupino down to the Police with a message. Let them leave, or the whole building goes up in 20 minutes.

Brandon, Watson and Hildur now grab up Griffith to use as a hostage. Brandon holds a sawed off to Griffiths while they wait for the elevator. Hildur now decides that this really is not her idea of fun, and refuses to go. Brandon laughs and shoves Griffith into the just arrived elevator. He then blasts Watson with the sawed off. A one way split sounds better, and besides, the wounded Watson would slow him down.

Griffith decides to act and jumps Brandon. The two wrestle for the gun and Brandon catches a full load in the shoulder. Without giving any more away, the bomb still needs to be found and defused.

The director here is big screen veteran, Paul Wendkos. Wendkos started out in 1957 with the Dan Duryea film noir, THE BURGLAR. He followed this with THE CASE AGAINST BROOKLYN and several of the GIDGET movies before switching to television work.

With only a 74 minute run time, this entertaining television work moves along at a decent pace.

Made for TV suspense

[russelljones-19685 · 5/10 · 19 May 2021]

With a 4:3 aspect ratio this all feels like a cheaply made for TV 1970's production. With Andy Griffiths playing a sympathetic building superintendant who is seduced by young woman in a bar while his wife, played by Ida Lupino, is away at her sister's. This is just a ruse to get her boyfriend and his confederates a place to stay. Apparently they hadn't planned accommodation for the night when planning their quite elaborate bank heist! Anyway this gives opportunity to have Andy and Ida gagged and tied up. The plot gets more and more ridiculous with Ida running down the stairwell while being chased without uttering a sound let alone a scream. With a Bugs Bunny bomb on the elevator roof, Andy Griffiths is tasked with disarming the bomb by the bomb squad by pulling one of the wires. Quite unintentionally funny in the end.

We're not in Mayberry any more!

[Poseidon-3 · 13 March 2006]

This little-known TV-movie would likely have forgotten forever if not for a recently produced bargain DVD which makes it available to a new audience more than 30 years after its initial airing. Griffith plays a laid-off factory worker doing time as an apartment building super with his wife Lupino at his side. One day, when she goes out of town to visit a sick relative, he is practically seduced by a young blonde who asks him for a place to spend the night. He arranges for her to stay in 7A while the tenants are away on a trip, but that's only the beginning of the story. It seems Brandon and his two cronies want to stay as well so they can use the building's location in a heist of the bank next door. Eventually, Griffith has to take on the thieves in order to save his, Lupino's and the tenants of the entire building's lives. This is not the Griffith of Mayberry. While his inherent goodness remains intact, he actually gets shirtless in preparation for adultery! His character here is more flawed and susceptible than most of the ones he's played on TV. Lupino is reasonably solid as his wife, wearing one of those awful 70's wigs that permeated so many TV shows and TV movies of that decade. She is 10 years older than her character, but at least she has that excuse. Griffith looks ten years older than his and he isn't! Brandon gives a typical cocky, yet unhinged, presentation of a Vietnam vet turned criminal. He isn't bad, but it had all been done before and would be done again many times. As his pals, Watson and McIntire aren't given a lot to do. Hildur is billed as "Introducing....", but she would fall off the televisual landscape almost instantaneously. She isn't bad, but does have a tendency to over-emote, especially in her fairly preposterous opening scenes. Despite the stark nature of the story and the dim settings, the film has more than a few laugh-out-loud moments, mostly thanks to the groovy aspects of some of the filming and the overwrought nature of some of the confrontation scenes. Still, the film is worth a look for fans of Griffith and fans of the old-style TV movies which were a breed to themselves. This one was produced by the same man (Mark Carliner) that supplied a pair of intense Shelley Winters vehicles. His flicks tended to be just a tad more serious and violent than the ones Aaron Spelling did (though Spelling's are undeniably entertaining as well.) Another plus is some kicky music by Morton Stevens, the man who gave the world the theme song to "Hawaii 5-O", notably in a "Shaft"-esque opening credits number that sets a nice tone for the rest of the film.

Those desperate hours are ticking again!

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 8 July 2017]

One of the seemingly oddest pairings in film history is Andy Griffith and Ida Lupino as a Manhattan apartment super and his wife in this watchable but predictable and instantly forgettable TV movie. If it wasn't for the veteran actors in the leads, this would be a film to pass over. Lupino's heading to her sister's, and Griffith heads to a bar where he meets a young woman who talks her way into their apartment, setting up Griffith being held captive by a group of bank robbers, some of whom are quite deranged. The sudden return of Lupino creates more tension, but in just 73 minutes (obviously formatted for the 90 minute movie of the week), it's obvious how this will play out.

Griffith, a Broadway trained serious actor, was far more complex a talent than the small town widowed sheriff he played on TV. He's the focus here, but I refuse to believe that his character would be this gullible, even if tempted by a much younger woman. A bit of interesting detail shows him trying to interact with tenants and pretty much getting the cold shoulder or just plain rude. In that aspect, it's a realistic view of Manhattan, seemingly set between the meat packing district and Union Square. Lupino's dowdy housewife claims she never went to high school, a useless reference that tries to dumb down her character, not something I associate with Lupino in any character she ever played.

Definitely a curiosity for a look back at the type of TV entertainment adult audiences went for in the early 1970's, it tries too hard to be hip and relevant which instantly dates it. That aspect makes it actually pretty disturbing on some aspects, cheapening Griffith's seemingly decent hard working middle aged man and turning him into an unwilling letch. The actors playing the gang do their work as directed, but add no nuances to make them interesting. Ranks as a below average antique in the early years of the history of TV movies.

Griffith, Lupino and a botched robbery!!

[elo-equipamentos · 6/10 · 23 February 2024]

It's a hard-fought task to find out those early picture watched in my teenager years, firstly because I just had a name in Portuguese language, that often weren't translate from original, yesterday I found it on Youtube a good print, however no subtitles, in that time I haven't no idea who was Ida Lupino in Hollywood whatsoever, now the charming lady appeared in this small movie side by side the veteran icon Andy Griffith, both enlighten the production.

The storyline delves in a mid-age childless couple, Artie Sawyer (Andy Griffith) a frustrated superintendent of an old building which spend the mostly of time fixing broken things of the complainers tenants, his forbearing wife Iris Sawyer (Ida Lupino) tries living for a modest but decent life, suddenly reaches a mailing stating that Artie at last got his so awaited certificate of Engineer by correspondence course after long ten years, among feelings of gladness Artie figures out that was too late for him, meanwhile Iris had planned to get a quick visit for her Illness sister for few days only.

Bothered Artie goes into a nearby bar, there he meets a young sexy girl Claudine (Susanne Hildur), at once the gorgeous girl tries by any means lures the naïve Artie whom is hooked by the eye-candy who suggests him spending a night at some empty apartment with him, even faltering his sex desire overcame the reason, sadly it's a frame aiming for a gang of thieves make a bank robbery next door leading by Claudine's boyfriend, to worse Iris goes back in same night, both become a hostages meanwhile the gang goes into the action, the heist ends up ill-fated, thus back at apartment the violent leader-gang threads blow up the whole building if his requests weren't achieved.

Pretty decent picture that invites us to wondering how meaning the life anyway? It will be answered in the small acting, smallest things coming over the menacing plight, Andy Griffith and Ida Lupino delivering all they can with haughtiness as always did.

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 1985 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 6.

Great change of pace for Andy Griffith

[udar55 · 7/10 · 8 August 2022]

Artie Sawyer (Andy Griffith), a NYC apartment building superintendent, decides to hit the bar after his wife Iris (Ida Lupino) goes to visit her sister. He quickly falls under the spell of a young beauty (Susanne Benton), who complains of having no place to stay. He decides to let her stay in an tenant's apartment, but just as they are about to get it on a group of three men come in and spoil Artie's party. Turns out they are three Vietnam vets and they are planning to rob the bank next door. To make matters worse, Iris has return home early. Running 74 minutes, this is a enjoyable TV movie that packs in a lot of tension. Michael Brandon (Four Flies on Grey Velvet) is the psycho leader of the vets and is great in the role. Griffith was in a strange career transition at this point. He had two series (Headmaster and The New Andy Griffith Show) with both only lasting one season after his long run on The Andy Griffith Show. So he ended up doing a lot of TV movies during this time, with some interesting results. He is surprisingly agile for his age, even doing a lot of two fights he has with Brandon. James A. Watson Jr. (Airplane II) and Tim McIntire (The Choirboys) play the other two robbers.

A strong if relatively short TV thriller that holds up well

[I_Ailurophile · 8/10 · 28 December 2022]

Many particulars may change over time, yet TV movies still tend to feel alike more than they don't. If less so than in many more recent examples, there are instances here of stylized flourishes - some music cues, camerawork, dialogue - and like other such fare, the pacing is brisk and the runtime is notably concise. It's a credit to screenwriter Eric Roth and director Paul Wendkos that despite the pace and length, 'The strangers in 7A' never feels curt or brusque in the same fashion as, say, original movies from Lifetime or SyFy. More importantly, this picture is characterized by a distinct sincerity that many of its brethren couldn't possibly claim; it's a thriller in miniature, but a true thriller nonetheless. And it's pretty good!

One can discern ways in which the story could have been expanded more - or, though I'm unfamiliar with the source material, perhaps ways in which the story was truncated in adaptation. Above all, there are themes lightly touched upon regarding Artie and Iris, relatively advanced in age, that could have been explored more: their loneliness, their need to feel needed and relevant, and so on. Consider, too, that story beat that effectively kicks off the plot; there's thematic content to parse in terms of the decisions men make. To these points, the casting is rather perfect, as 1972 found both Ida Lupino and Andy Griffith several years removed from what had been their greatest successes up to that time; in those ways that this could have been More, I can't help but think of 'Murder, she wrote,' the murder mystery series for septuagenarians. That - only, while Artie and Iris are ostensibly the protagonists, it doesn't seem they're centered in the narrative as much as they could or should be for much of the length. Maybe this is a detail which further invites analysis of themes regarding the elderly and how they are treated and regarded. Is 'Strangers' inadvertently meta?

Yet for whatever peculiarities this might boast, and any minutiae one may scrutinize, by and large it's quite solid and still holds up well 50 years on. Though some choices are a little too overt or On The Nose, for the most part I very much like Morton Stevens' score, lending significantly to the tension and suspense of the scenario. Wendkos' direction and Robert B. Hauser's cinematography are rather sharp, and I can forgive any more self-indulgent moments. The stunts and effects are really quite excellent, along with the production design, art direction, and props and weapons. I think the cast is altogether fantastic - Griffith and Lupino, yes, but no less so Michael Brandon, Susanne Benton, James A. Watson Jr., and more; the acting is charged and vibrant, carrying the same strong electricity as the music and the storytelling. And Roth's screenplay is decidedly smart, the foundation of everything else that's done so well here. The narrative is small and straightforward, but doesn't take any shortcuts or cheap and easy outs; the scene writing bristles with energy, and more action than one might suppose for a feature starring two actors around 50 years old (in the years before mega-blockbuster franchises became A Thing). If anything, the ending is a little ham-handed and abrupt, but in fairness, what TV movie has ever been truly perfect?

The medium has a specific reputation, thanks in large part to those networks I've mentioned above. One way or another "made for TV" films can certainly be worthwhile and enjoyable in their own right, but I think it's safe to say that more than not over the years they've often been considered the proverbial red-headed stepchild next to their Silver Screen cousins. It's deeply pleasing, then, to every once in a while come across an instance that well exceeds those assumptions, and 'The strangers in &A' is one such instance. Any idiosyncrasies or subjective weaknesses are minor and far outweighed by the strength illustrated in every component part, the writing and acting not least of all. I dare say that if one is looking for a thriller, this is just a deserving as any Big Screen title one might find - maybe not a total must-see, but highly entertaining and satisfying all the same. This is worth checking out if you have the chance!

Do you have a room for rent?

[GOWBTW-5STARreviewer · 8/10 · 8 April 2024]

Being a super in a apartment complex isn't all fun and games, until a group of strangers decided to shake things up a bit. You got a super(Andy Griffith) who wants to be a better person by going back to school for a better life. When his wife temporarily leaves him, he has a encounter with a young woman. She is part of a gang of bank robbers, who uses a apartment to be a lookout while her boyfriend and cohorts go rob a bank next door. When the super's wife comes back, both she and him are hostages when they commit the crime. But things go awry when they are double-crossing each other after the failed attempts. That's where the super become a hero following his military experience.

It is a good movie. Andy Griffith does a spectacular job there.

2 out of 5 stars.