''A Cry for Help'' is a 1975 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made fo ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Daryl Duke Daryl Duke (8 March 1929 – 21 October 2006) was a Canadian film and television director. Biography Duke was born at Vancouver, British Columbia, where he became one of CBC Television's earliest regional producers. His career continued with ...

and written by

Peter S. Fischer Peter Steven Fischer is an American television writer and television producer, whose work includes '' Murder, She Wrote'', which he co-created with Richard Levinson and William Link. He was also the executive producer of the series for the first ...

. The film starred

Robert Culp Robert Martin Culp (August 16, 1930 – March 24, 2010) was an American actor widely known for his work in television. Culp earned an international reputation for his role as Kelly Robinson on ''I Spy'' (1965–1968), the espionage television se ...

as an abusive

radio talk-show Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often featur ...

host and premiered as the ''

ABC Movie of the Week ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

'' on February 12, 1975.Laurence Etling ''Radio in the Movies: A History and Filmography, 1926-2010''-0786486163 2011 Page 37 "In the TV movie A Cry for Help (1975), Robert Culp was a talk show host who is quick to insult his listeners but when a caller threatens suicide he enlists the audience's help in finding her by soliciting information about her description and possible location."

Plot

Harry Freeman is a

host who abuses those who call in, but changes his behavior when he receives a call from a

suicidal Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and subs ...

teenage girl. He asks his listeners for help in finding her by soliciting information about her description and possible location.

Cast

as Harry Freeman *Elayne Heilveil as Ingrid Brunner *

Ken Swofford Kenneth Charles Swofford (July 25, 1933 – November 1, 2018) was an American film and television actor often cast as a villain or a police officer. Between 1962 and 1995, Swofford's film credits included '' Thelma & Louise'', '' Skyjacked ...

as Paul Church *

Julius Harris Julius W. Harris (August 17, 1923 – October 17, 2004) was an American actor who appeared in more than 70 movies and numerous television series in a career that spanned four decades. Harris is best known for his roles in 1970s films such as '' ...

as George Rigney * Chuck McCann as Buddy Marino * Michael Lerner as Phillip Conover *

Bruce Boxleitner Bruce William Boxleitner (born May 12, 1950) is an American actor and science fiction and suspense writer. He is known for his leading roles in the television series '' How the West Was Won'', '' Bring 'Em Back Alive'', ''Scarecrow and Mrs. King ...

as Richie Danko

Reception

Synopsis from ''Modcinema'':

A Cry for Help (working title: ''End of the Line'') stars Robert Culp as an acerbic,
Don Imus John Donald Imus Jr. (July 23, 1940 – December 27, 2019), also known mononymously as Imus, was an American radio personality, television show host, recording artist, and author. His radio show, '' Imus in the Morning'', was aired on various sta ...
-like radio talk show host. When one of his callers, an anxious young woman, threatens to kill herself, Culp laughs it off. Later, however, he realizes that the girl wasn't kidding, and mounts a frantic effort-with the help of his loyal audience-to locate the would-be suicide. Richard Levinson and William Link's script stretches the tension level to the snapping point, and you'll love every minute of it.

References

External links

* 1975 television films 1975 films 1975 drama films Films about radio people ABC Movie of the Week Films directed by Daryl Duke American drama television films 1970s American films {{US-tv-drama-film-stub