''Hanging by a Thread'' is a 1979 television

disaster movie A disaster film or disaster movie is a film genre that has an impending or ongoing disaster as its subject and primary plot device. Such disasters may include natural disasters, accidents, military/ terrorist attacks or global catastrophes such a ...

starring

Sam Groom Samuel J. Groom is an American actor noted for his work on television. Groom was born in Columbus, Ohio. Groom portrayed Tom Eldridge in the CBS drama ''Our Private World'' (1965),. Following the cancellation of that prime-time serial, he rep ...

about friends stranded in a disabled cable-car above a ravine. The occupants of the cable car reflect on the past as the film flashes back and forth to show each of the character's lives. It was written by

Adrian Spies Adrian Spies (April 17, 1920 – October 2, 1998) was an American screenwriter, active from the 1940s through to the 1980s. He won an Edgar Award for an episode of ''Studio One in Hollywood'' and was nominated for an Emmy Award for an episod ...

, directed by Georg Fenady and produced by

Irwin Allen Irwin Allen (born Irwin O. Cohen, June 12, 1916 – November 2, 1991) was an American film and television producer and director, known for his work in science fiction, then later as the "Master of Disaster" for his work in the disaster film genr ...

. The film co-starred

Patty Duke Anna Marie "Patty" Duke (December 14, 1946 – March 29, 2016) was an American actress and mental health advocate. Over the course of her acting career, she was the recipient of an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awa ...

Donna Mills Donna Mills (born Donna Jean Miller on December 11, 1940) is an American actress. She began her television career in 1966 with a recurring role on '' The Secret Storm'', and in the same year appeared on Broadway in the Woody Allen comedy '' Do ...

Oliver Clark Oliver may refer to: Arts, entertainment and literature Books * ''Oliver the Western Engine'', volume 24 in ''The Railway Series'' by Rev. W. Awdry * '' Oliver Twist'', a novel by Charles Dickens Fictional characters * Ariadne Oliver ...

and Cameron Mitchell.

Cast

as Paul Craig *

as Sue Grainger *

Joyce Bulifant Joyce Collins Bulifant (born December 16, 1937) is an American actress and author. In addition to recurring roles on television, including ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' as Marie Slaughter, Bulifant is recognized for film roles in '' The Happiest ...

as Anita Minton *

as Eddie Minton *

Bert Convy Bernard Whalen "Bert" Convy (July 23, 1933 – July 15, 1991) was an American actor, singer, game show host and panelist known for hosting '' Tattletales'', ''Super Password'' and ''Win, Lose or Draw''. Early life Convy was born in St. Loui ...

as Alan Durant *

Burr DeBenning Burris Franklin DeBenning (September 21, 1936 – May 26, 2003) was an American character actor who worked in both film and television. Early years The son of Mr. and Mrs. M.J. DeBenning, he was born in Seminole, Oklahoma, and grew up in Still ...

as Jim Grainger *

Peter Donat Peter Donat (born Pierre Collingwood Donat; January 20, 1928 – September 10, 2018) was a Canadian-American actor. Early life Pierre Collingwood Donat was born in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada, the son of Marie (née Bardet) and Philip Ernst ...

as Mr. Durant *

as Ellen Craig * Cameron Mitchell as Lawton *

Roger Perry Roger Perry (May 7, 1933 – July 12, 2018) was an American film and television actor whose career began in the late 1950s. He served as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force during the early 1950s. Career Television In th ...

as Mitchell * Lonny Chapman as Charles Minton

Reception

The ''New York Times'' called it "modest, predictable and not very thrilling." It was repeated in 1981.MOVIES OF THE WEEK Gross, Linda. Los Angeles Times 16 Aug 1981: k2.

References

External links

* 1979 films 1979 drama films 1979 television films 1970s adventure drama films 1970s disaster films 1970s English-language films American adventure drama films American disaster films Disaster television films Films directed by Georg Fenady Films produced by Irwin Allen Films scored by Richard LaSalle Films shot in California NBC network original films 1970s American films {{1970s-drama-film-stub