Trapped (1973)

A man is accidently locked in a department store overnight and finds himself held at bay by six vicious Doberman guard dogs.

Director:

Frank De Felitta (as Frank DeFelitta)

Writer:

Frank De Felitta (as Frank DeFelitta)

Stars:

James Brolin, Susan Clark, Earl Holliman

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Brolin	...	Chuck Brenner
Susan Clark	...	Elaine Moore
Earl Holliman	...	David Moore
Robert Hooks	...	Sergeant Connaught
Ivy Jones	...	Connie Havemeyer
Robert Hastings	...	The Bartender (as Bob Hastings)
Tammy Harrington	...	Carrie
Marco Lopez	...	Steward
Erica Hagen	...	Stewardess
Mary Margaret Robinson	...	Waitress (as Mary Robinson)
Elliott Lindsey	...	Mr. Higgins

Storyline

Shortly before closing time, Chuck Brenner is knocked down and robbed in a downtown department store. The security guards overlook the unconscious man and unleash the attack dogs for the night. Chuck is trapped and has to fight for his life.

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Plot Keywords:

dog | 

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Taglines:

There's no way out ... no time left ... and the dogs are trained to kill!

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 November 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Doberman Patrol

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Buddy Hackett/Cass Elliot/Dong Kingman/Jan Munroe (1974)

User Reviews

Good Luck, Chuck! ... You'll need it!

The set-up for this early 70's made-for-TV thriller is simplistic but efficient and much more frightening than any horror movie revolving on zombies, vampires or immoral ax-wielding psychopaths could ever be. The situation where the male protagonist finds himself trapped in may not be likely to happen any time soon, but it's definitely not unthinkable. Being the victim of a robbery, Chuck Banner is left behind in the restroom of a big shopping complex. When he regains consciousness, the store is closed down for the weekend and severely trained guard dogs stand between him and the exit doors. His only hope for rescue is his ex-wife and daughter, with whom he was supposed to meet at the airport, but by the time they figure out where Chuck is stuck, it might be too late. Movie scripts don't get any more rudimentary than this, but "Doberman Patrol" nevertheless guarantees a mere 90 minutes of suspense and thrills, largely thanks to James Brolin's strong performance as the man in peril as well as to the impressively trained dogs. The beautiful and athletic animals are very menacing and definitely fulfill their "guarding" duties. The search for Chuck on the outside is interesting to follow as well, with his ex-wife and her new husband being surprisingly likable and identifiable characters. The subject matter and the limited cast of characters don't exactly lend themselves to gory situations, but in this case the tense and claustrophobic atmosphere and stellar performances suffice. Recommended!