''Once You Meet a Stranger'' is a 1996 American thriller

television film 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 for ...

directed by

Tommy Lee Wallace Thomas Lee Wallace (born October 8, 1949) is an American film producer, director, editor and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in the horror genre, directing films such as '' Halloween III: Season of the Witch'' and ''Fright Night Part 2' ...

. It is a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1951 film '' Strangers on a Train'', based on the 1950 novel by

Patricia Highsmith Patricia Highsmith (January 19, 1921 – February 4, 1995) was an American novelist and short story writer widely known for her psychological thrillers, including her series of five novels featuring the character Tom Ripley. She wrote 22 novel ...

. In the remake, the genders of the principal characters have been switched from male to female. It stars

Jacqueline Bisset Winifred Jacqueline Fraser Bisset ( ; born 13 September 1944) is a British actress. She began her film career in 1965 and first came to prominence in 1968 with roles in '' The Detective'', ''Bullitt'', and ''The Sweet Ride'', for which she rec ...

and

Theresa Russell Theresa Lynn Russell ( Paup; born March 20, 1957) is an American actress whose career spans over four decades. Her filmography includes over fifty feature films, ranging from mainstream to independent and experimental films. Born in San Diego, ...

, and premiered on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

on September 25, 1996.

Plot

A fading actress, Sheila, finds consolation in a stranger, Margo, during her train journey. Sheila tells Margo of her desire to divorce her husband, and in turn Margo shares her hatred for her domineering mother. They jokingly suggest performing a murder on each other's behalf. But all too soon the joke becomes reality.

Cast

as Sheila Gaines *

as Margo Anthony *

Mimi Kennedy Mary Claire "Mimi" Kennedy (born September 25, 1948) is an American actress, author, and activist. Best known for her roles in television sitcoms, Kennedy co-starred in numerous short-lived sitcoms before her role as Ruth Sloan on '' Homefront'' ...

as Connie *

Celeste Holm Celeste Holm (April 29, 1917 – July 15, 2012) was an American stage, film and television actress. Holm won an Academy Award for her performance in Elia Kazan's '' Gentleman's Agreement'' (1947), and was nominated for her roles in ''Come to ...

as Clara * Richard Doyle as Mr. Anthony *

Robert Desiderio Robert Desiderio (born September 9, 1951) is an American actor best known for his roles on television. Life and career Desiderio was born in The Bronx, the son of Mary (née Demattia) and Anthony J. Desiderio. He and actress Judith Light marrie ...

as Andy Stahl * Kathryne Dora Brown as Skeptic *

Nick Mancuso Nicodemo Antonio Massimo Mancuso (born May 29, 1948) is an Italian-Canadian actor, artist, playwright, and director. Beginning his career as a stage actor, he had his breakthrough role in the 1981 drama ''Ticket to Heaven'', for which he won the ...

as Aaron

References

External links

* 1996 television films 1996 films 1996 thriller films 1990s American films 1990s English-language films American thriller television films CBS network films Films about murder Films based on adaptations Films based on American thriller novels Films based on works by Patricia Highsmith Films directed by Tommy Lee Wallace Films set on trains Films with screenplays by Raymond Chandler Remakes of American films Television films based on books Television remakes of films Thriller film remakes {{US-tv-thriller-film-stub