This 1979 made for TV movie was loosely based on true events that took place in Denver Colorado in the Summer of 1976.
The movie starts innocently enough as a suburban family is celebrating their son's birthday and want to make it as happy a birthday for their son. Tony Giannetti, (David Birney) a happily married and hard working family man, is throwing the party alongside his wife Kathy and his daughter and are enjoying the celebration, when a family friend and neighbor leaves to get a present for Tony's son, a team of narcotics officers raid the house and shoot everyone there and also torture Tony, but they find out too late that they raided the wrong house and as a result of their shooting, the house catches fire as they shot at the lit birthday cake that scatters all over the floor resulting in their friend and neighbor calling 911 and everyone landing in the hospital. While Tony and his son survive, his wife and daughter aren't so fortunate as they die of their injuries. As the police try to erase and cover up their mistake and hypocrisy, Tony starts a campaign of revenge against the officers who murdered his wife and daughter and left him and his son for dead. The police try to eliminate Tony and his son, but fail miserably as a sympathetic police sergeant.(Christine Belford) provides an unexpected ally to him and with her help, he goes after them with an anger and rage that boils to flashpoint. Winner takes all.
High Midnight premiered on Tuesday November 27, 1979 on the CBS Tuesday Night Movie. It was rerun twice by CBS. Firstly, through a prime time rerun and secondly, being shown on CBS Late Night.
While this movie would be considered dated and politically incorrect by today's standards, it still serves as an overwhelming and fascinating time capsule of the late 1970's. It also serves as a message and warning that if police departments didn't work hard to get rid of corruption and double sided attitudes within their midst, they would pay for it all when least expected. Law enforcement corruption is still common today as it was back at that time. Plus, the very idea of "money talks, baloney walks" also still remains as common today as it was back then. The very idea of a film, be it feature or made for TV, about a family man going on his own, with a little help, to go after the supposed officers of the law in the wake of them murdering his family in cold blood wouldn't really measure up in today's society. But for that moment, this movie served as not only a warning, but an eerie prophesy as to what could, or would, happen if corrupt law enforcement officers wouldn't clean up their act and truly uphold the law like they're supposed to and not double dip by upholding the law one minute and doing the opposite the next minute. Today, corrupt law enforcement officers are still as common today as they were back within the time period of this particular made for TV film.
On the whole, this made for TV film is an above average TV film. The acting performances by the entire cast are solid and the chemistry between them is both overwhelming and terrific. Daniel Haller's direction of this film is also solid and right on. He creatively paints a brilliant picture of drama and revenge when you push the wrong man too far and the end results of that. The script, written by Michael Thomas and Kathleen Montgomery, is also a greatly written script with well written dialogue that combines action, edge of the seat thrills and drama to create a wonderful and entertaining film experience. The film will have you on the edge of your seat and won't let go until the bitter end. This film still entertains today as it did when it was first shown on TV. The suspense is almost unbearable and will really leave chills that will never be forgotten.
I watched portions of this particular made for TV back in 1979 when I was nine years of age. As a result of that young age and because it was a school night, I couldn't watch the whole thing. I also missed the first prime time rerun and couldn't watch it on late night as again, it was shown on a school night. Over the years, I went on a frantic search for this particular film, but wound up empty. I was actually hoping that one day, I would manage to find a video tape that had the movie recorded onto it, but again, wound up empty. Likewise, with All This and World War II, it wouldn't be until the internet age when I finally managed to score a bootleg DVD of this particular film and when I received it, I watched the whole movie and was dazzled by it and also, it really surprised me how well acted, well written and well directed that it was. I actually enjoyed the film and even watched it a couple (i.e. 2) more times. This film is entertaining and delivers a solid viewing experience. It really packs a wallop that no other crime drama made for TV has ever delivered before and after. This made for TV film is truly and totally fascinating.
Overall, a wonderfully made and well acted, well written and well directed film that entertains. If you haven't seen it yet, catch it if it ever comes back to TV again or locate a bootleg DVD copy like I did and be prepared for a made for TV film experience unlike any other before or after. It is a very good film and a very good watch, which is why I give this movie **** as this is a four star TV movie.
The movie starts innocently enough as a suburban family is celebrating their son's birthday and want to make it as happy a birthday for their son. Tony Giannetti, (David Birney) a happily married and hard working family man, is throwing the party alongside his wife Kathy and his daughter and are enjoying the celebration, when a family friend and neighbor leaves to get a present for Tony's son, a team of narcotics officers raid the house and shoot everyone there and also torture Tony, but they find out too late that they raided the wrong house and as a result of their shooting, the house catches fire as they shot at the lit birthday cake that scatters all over the floor resulting in their friend and neighbor calling 911 and everyone landing in the hospital. While Tony and his son survive, his wife and daughter aren't so fortunate as they die of their injuries. As the police try to erase and cover up their mistake and hypocrisy, Tony starts a campaign of revenge against the officers who murdered his wife and daughter and left him and his son for dead. The police try to eliminate Tony and his son, but fail miserably as a sympathetic police sergeant.(Christine Belford) provides an unexpected ally to him and with her help, he goes after them with an anger and rage that boils to flashpoint. Winner takes all.
High Midnight premiered on Tuesday November 27, 1979 on the CBS Tuesday Night Movie. It was rerun twice by CBS. Firstly, through a prime time rerun and secondly, being shown on CBS Late Night.
While this movie would be considered dated and politically incorrect by today's standards, it still serves as an overwhelming and fascinating time capsule of the late 1970's. It also serves as a message and warning that if police departments didn't work hard to get rid of corruption and double sided attitudes within their midst, they would pay for it all when least expected. Law enforcement corruption is still common today as it was back at that time. Plus, the very idea of "money talks, baloney walks" also still remains as common today as it was back then. The very idea of a film, be it feature or made for TV, about a family man going on his own, with a little help, to go after the supposed officers of the law in the wake of them murdering his family in cold blood wouldn't really measure up in today's society. But for that moment, this movie served as not only a warning, but an eerie prophesy as to what could, or would, happen if corrupt law enforcement officers wouldn't clean up their act and truly uphold the law like they're supposed to and not double dip by upholding the law one minute and doing the opposite the next minute. Today, corrupt law enforcement officers are still as common today as they were back within the time period of this particular made for TV film.
On the whole, this made for TV film is an above average TV film. The acting performances by the entire cast are solid and the chemistry between them is both overwhelming and terrific. Daniel Haller's direction of this film is also solid and right on. He creatively paints a brilliant picture of drama and revenge when you push the wrong man too far and the end results of that. The script, written by Michael Thomas and Kathleen Montgomery, is also a greatly written script with well written dialogue that combines action, edge of the seat thrills and drama to create a wonderful and entertaining film experience. The film will have you on the edge of your seat and won't let go until the bitter end. This film still entertains today as it did when it was first shown on TV. The suspense is almost unbearable and will really leave chills that will never be forgotten.
I watched portions of this particular made for TV back in 1979 when I was nine years of age. As a result of that young age and because it was a school night, I couldn't watch the whole thing. I also missed the first prime time rerun and couldn't watch it on late night as again, it was shown on a school night. Over the years, I went on a frantic search for this particular film, but wound up empty. I was actually hoping that one day, I would manage to find a video tape that had the movie recorded onto it, but again, wound up empty. Likewise, with All This and World War II, it wouldn't be until the internet age when I finally managed to score a bootleg DVD of this particular film and when I received it, I watched the whole movie and was dazzled by it and also, it really surprised me how well acted, well written and well directed that it was. I actually enjoyed the film and even watched it a couple (i.e. 2) more times. This film is entertaining and delivers a solid viewing experience. It really packs a wallop that no other crime drama made for TV has ever delivered before and after. This made for TV film is truly and totally fascinating.
Overall, a wonderfully made and well acted, well written and well directed film that entertains. If you haven't seen it yet, catch it if it ever comes back to TV again or locate a bootleg DVD copy like I did and be prepared for a made for TV film experience unlike any other before or after. It is a very good film and a very good watch, which is why I give this movie **** as this is a four star TV movie.