Isn't It Shocking?

"What's WRONG with him?! He's nuts...that's what wrong with him!"

The acting and much of "Isn't It Shocking?" is quite good...it's too bad there is also a HUGE plothole and a particularly goofy murder weapon! You see this murder weapon in the opening scene, as an older man uses a homemade defibrillator to kill his victims! Talk about making this overly complicated!! He could have killed them with a gun...or even a frying pan...but a defibrillator?! What makes it even funnier is that despite this, the cops and coroner chalk these deaths up to heart attacks! Considering the killer didn't use a conductor (like KY Jelly) there would have been burn marks on the dead...but there weren't and I think the writer should done their homework. Plus, even if this possible....the method seemed so bizarrely overly complicated it made me laugh! But again, the film IS very good in places and I really liked Alan Alda in the lead as the sheriff...which is also a bit funny in light of his longtime hatred of guns. Worth seeing...provided you don't think too much as you watch.

"Isn't it Shocking?" is a low-keyed and inconspicuous TV-movie that greatly benefices from a terrific ensemble cast, an unusual but nevertheless intriguing premise and a script full of witty jokes and fun dialogues (and this in sheer contrast to the sober subject matter). This was one of the many legendary "ABC Movies of the Week" that were especially produced for cable-TV during the early seventies, and I have yet to encounter one of those that isn't worth tracking down. I was born in the wrong decade and the wrong continent in order to enjoy this series on actual television, but thanks to the modern wonders such as You Tube these old TV-movies still find their way to new fans. The story takes place in a small American town called Mount Angel, where in a short period of time three senior citizens – including the deputy Sheriff – die from seemingly ordinary heart failures that nevertheless raise the suspicion of Sheriff Dan. At the beginning of the film we witness how a strange and also elderly man comes to town and kills his first victim with a portable device that induces the heart failure. So the viewer knows the killer's identity immediately, but it's up to Sheriff Dan and his gossipy assistant Blanche to figure out why these gentle old folks are knocked off. They discover that all victims graduated together in the class of '28 so perhaps something sinister happened back then. It always amazes me how those modest ABC movies managed to rely on such acclaimed and respected actors and actresses! "Isn't it Shocking?" stars class players like Alan Alda ("MASH", "The Mephisto Waltz") and Edmond O'Brien ("The Wild Bunch", "Fantastic Voyage"), but also a splendid supportive cast including Louise Lasser, Will Greer and Ruth Gordon (as a character that may perhaps have inspired the "Crazy Cat Lady" from "The Simpsons"). This was also one of the first directorial efforts of John Badham, who would later make a handful of action favorites like "Blue Thunder", "Stakeout" and "Nick of Time". There's one remarkably spectacular sequence involving a battle with cars (!) but what I really liked most were the smooth jokes and sly interactions between the lead characters. Fun movie!

This is a great TV movie with a good story and many comic moments thanks to the excellent cast.

The only problem this movie has is that it hasn't stood the test of time as well as it might have.

Despite this, it's definitely worth viewing, particularly if you are an Alan Alda or Ruth Gordon fan.

I've found, after seeing a dozen or so of them, that made for TV seventies horror flicks are generally good for seventy minutes of entertainment. This one looked really good considering the comments about it, so I hoped that I'd be in for one of the better ones; however, that wasn't the case. It's not that this is a bad film, but it's not all that good either and certainly isn't one of the better made for TV movies from the seventies that I've seen. The plot is interesting enough, and focuses on a small town where a bunch of old people are dying. There are certain similarities between the deaths, and it leads Sheriff Dan Barnes (Alan Alda) to investigate. The plot plods along at a relaxing pace, and there's not a great deal of suspense or interest, which is a bit of a surprise since director John Badham would go on to make the very suspenseful thriller 'Nick of Time'...though that was twenty two years later. The small town setting provides a good place for the film to take place, but this isn't taken advantage of to any notable extent, and the film simply boils down to a simple ending. Overall, this film isn't terrible; but it's not great either, and I can't really recommend bothering to track it down.

ISN'T IT SHOCKING starts right off with the murder of an elderly woman by a man (Edmond O'Brien) who uses a unique weapon for the deed. The police Chief (Alan Alda) notices only one odd thing about the death, and figures it was just natural causes. When more older folks begin dying in similar fashion, the Chief wonders if something quite unnatural is going on.

One of the most striking aspects about this, as with other early made-for-TV movies, is the cinematic quality of the production. It plays like a theatrical release. Also, the plot is original, scary, and absorbing. The suspense builds slowly, and even though the killer's identity and method are known from the opening seconds, the cat-and-mouse is thrilling.

Alda is at his best, showing his dramatic range. Those only accustomed to his "Hawkeye" character, should definitely see him here. Don't worry though, Alda's wry humor comes through when necessary. Louise Lasser puts in a memorable performance as the resourceful Blanche, as does Dorothy Tristan as the town doctor.

Watch for the great Will Geer as the Coroner and the mighty Ruth Gordon as the irrepressible Marge Savage! Her last words of dialogue are priceless!...