"Vanished" is a two-part movie which is quite unusual for a couple reasons. First, the network spent a lot of money on it...far more than usual for the time period. Part of this is because they spent a lot on actors...including many of the best character actors of the day as well as convincing Richard Widmark to make his first TV film. Second, the film talks about homosexuality and is pretty up front about it...a rare thing for 1971.
Early in the story, the President's chief advisor, Arnold Greer, disappears from a golf course. Additionally, his home safe is empty, $15,000 is missing from his bank account and his wife knows nothing. Soon, it becomes very possible that the man ran off with his male lover...though this is NOT certain.
The disappearance is now the problem of the President's Press Secretary. He is supposed to be giving the press answers...but he has very few. Soon, it's obvious that there are leaks in the White House and this explains why the President is so closed-mouthed about everything. What REALLY is going on? Well, possibly World War III!
This is a very good film but also one that won't satisfy folks who want a lot of action or a fast pace. It's slow and deliberate. But it also has some amazing acting and the story, if you stick with it, is pretty amazing Cold War stuff. Well made...and available on YouTube if you want to see it.
By the way, one reviewer said that the movie came out in the midst of the Watergate scandal. This is not true...Watergate didn't break until two years later.
