Ad agency employees Warren, Paul, and Terry suggest using Baja California, Mexico, for wealthy industrialist Sam Farragut's campaign. Sam insists on all four of them riding 600 miles on dirt... Read allAd agency employees Warren, Paul, and Terry suggest using Baja California, Mexico, for wealthy industrialist Sam Farragut's campaign. Sam insists on all four of them riding 600 miles on dirt bikes to find the perfect spot.Ad agency employees Warren, Paul, and Terry suggest using Baja California, Mexico, for wealthy industrialist Sam Farragut's campaign. Sam insists on all four of them riding 600 miles on dirt bikes to find the perfect spot.
- Michael
- (as Skip Burton)
- Cantina Local
- (uncredited)
- Helicopter Pilot
- (uncredited)
- Cantina Local
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWilliam Shatner's character works for Andy Griffith's character, Sam Farragut. According to Star Trek lore, Captain Kirk's only brother was named Sam, and the USS Farragut was Kirk's first assignment as a lieutenant for Starfleet.
- Quotes
Sam Farragut: I'm a Hippie with money!
Sam Farragut: The old fashioned rules about what's right or wrong, just hang loose, and let it all happen, ain't that right?
- ConnectionsReferenced in White Mile (1994)
If you didn't think it was possible for Griffith to play a robust villain you need to see this film. Andy just eats up the role of the dastardly Farragut. Not only is his performance a pleasure to behold, it rings true! All the other actors are perfectly cast, as are the wives and girlfriend of the three subordinate bikers, Lorraine Gary, Angie Dickinson and Janet Margolin respectively.
"Pray for the Wildcats" is a morality tale in the manner of "Deliverance," except that the crime is inverted and the trip takes place in the SW desert/coast rather than a wild river in Georgia. Although a TV movie, "Pray for the Wildcats" is every bit as good as "Deliverance" and perhaps even better. And, thankfully, it doesn't contain anything as hard to watch as that infamous "squeal like a pig" scene.
Judging from the reviews, many will ridicule such commendations. In fact, for reasons that elude me "Pray for the Wildcats" is often mocked as "campy" and "unintentionally funny." Really? I don't see this at all; and anyone who thinks it's campy obviously doesn't know what camp is. This is clearly a serious drama/adventure/thriller with the requisite soap operatics, but nothing overkill and definitely within the realm of believability. Another overdone criticism is Shatner's hairpiece, which is odd since it definitely LOOKS like his natural hair (not that it is).
The real reason reviewers make fun of "Pray for the Wildcats" is because (1.) it's a TV movie and (2.) three of the stars had well-known TV shows -- The Andy Griffith Show, Star Trek and The Brady Bunch -- and, gee, I guess there's no way they could really act and break away from their typecast roles. But they can and do superbly in "Pray for the Wildcats."
Another thing I love about this film is the powerful message: ***SPOILER ALERT*** One man sins greatly, but has zero remorse and tries to cover it up through his power and money; another man also sins, but realizes his mistake and ultimately proves his character; the other two show that they believe money and position are more important than justice and therefore prove their lack of character. ***END SPOILER***
The film was shot in Arizona and Baja California and runs 100 minutes.
GRADE: A+
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Una oración para los gatos salvajes
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1