A Howling in the Woods

A year after the cancellation of "I Dream of Jeannie", Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman reteamed for this made-for-TV movie that was as different from their series as night and day! It seems Ms. Eden is coming back to the house she grew up in to the surprise of her stepmother (Vera Miles) and new stepbrother (John Rubinstein). There's also a little girl (Lisa Gerritsen) who mentions another one her age who drowned in a nearby river. Not to mention a howling dog constantly bellowing...There's more but I don't want to spoil anymore of what happens. I will, however, mention that Hagman plays Ms. Eden's husband who's trying to reconcile with her after she abruptly left. Also, future "Cagney & Lacey" star Tyne Daly also makes a pivotal appearance. The suspense builds with each new revelation which is to the credit of director Daniel Petrie. So on that note, I recommend A Howling in the Woods.

Most of the made-for-TV movies of the early '70s were junk. "A Howling in the Woods" is the one glorious exception, and should have been released to theatres. Two eerie plots eventually converge in an expertly plotted thriller. Always underrated as an actress, Barbara Eden is superb as the lady-in-distress who indeed, while staying in a remote rural locale, is literally jolted by the nocturnal sounds of a "howling in the woods." This nifty, scarifying thriller is always two steps ahead of the viewer in it's deliciously intricate plot turns and twists. Expertly directed by Daniel Petrie. A forgotten jewel, long overdue for restoration and a cable-TV or theatrical release. Utterly terrifying, and Miss Eden, never more breathtakingly beautiful and vulnerable, is at her peak. Forget "I Dream of Jeannie". Instead check out and shiver through this spellbinding mystery-suspense-thriller classic!

The title was "Pleasant movie" but it wasn't a pleasant story. The film starts off with a little girl witnessing a murder, and then she's caught and we hear her scream as the film fades. Next is a scene of Liza in a car driving to a small town, but the locals are unfriendly and cold. It was a shock to find out that she used to live there and knew them so why have they turned hostile? Hmm. She stays with her very odd step mother and creepy step brother, Justin who she meets for the first time. She befriends a little girl that tells her about the death of her cousin, who was the other girl from the very beginning scene. For some reason everyone doesn't like to talk about it. The howling in the woods comes from a stray dog. Liza wants to help the poor dog, and discovers something sinister in the woods. A really good film, tense in places, dated and very homely, with some atmospheric thunderstorms and plenty of paranoia going on. What is exactly going on? Its worth finding out.

One of my sci-fi/horror/fantasy reviews written 50 years ago: Directed by Daniel Petrie; Produced by Douglas Benton, for Universal TV, broadcast by NBC-TV. Screenplay by Richard De Roy, based on Velda Johnston's novel; Photography by JackMarta; Edited by Robert Shugrue; Music by Dave Grusin. Starring: Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, John Rubinstein, Vera Miles, Ruta Lee, Tyne Daly, George Murdock, Ford Rainey, Bill Vint and Karl Swenson.

Unsuspenseful, unstylish attempt at a horror mystery, based on a poorly-presented "Bad Day at Black Rock" combined with impersonation type plot. TV's ersatz attempt at "daring" entertainment includes near-nudity and pretend incest, but Petrie's handling of a "Road to Salina" type trio and irrelevant flashback is poor. Laughable is the Vera/Barb versus Vera/Janet Leigh resemblance, plus thrown-in Eden/Hagman teaming and a bit of Barb in white nightgown action.

A year after their classic comedy series, "I Dream of Jeannie" , left the air, stars Barbara Eden & Larry Hagman made this wonderful TV movie in 1971. After five years, Liza Crocker ( Eden ) returns to the small town that her family founded generations ago--Stainesville, out west in Nevada. She has come out here because she is seeking a divorce from her husband, Eddie ( Hagman ), back in New York. When she reaches Stainesville, she finds that old friends she grew up with have a mysteriously hostile attitude toward her, and old acquaintances are even worse. She drives up to the Stainesville Lodge where her step-mother, Rose ( Vera Miles )greets her. Rose introduces Liza to her new step-brother, Justin ( John Rubenstein ). Liza is very anxious to see her archeologist father, but , as Rose puts it, "He's down in Mexico poking through those ruins of his. We had no idea you were coming." Shortly after Liza's arrival, she learns that a little girl had been murdered in the town recently and the girl's body had been thrown in the lake. A stray dog can be heard howling in the woods. There is a bizarre double-murder / conspiracy that has occurred in Stainesville, and the locals are determined to keep a lid on things forever. Only Rose seems to be aware that, now that Liza has returned, it is only a question of time before the entire truth comes out. Eddie has followed Liza to Stainesville because he does not wish to lose her. "A Howling in the Woods" was filmed entirely in and around beautiful Lake Tahoe, Nevada and features excellent performances from a wonderful cast. The audience can't help but root for Barbara Eden's character ( the former 'Jeannie' is extremely gripping here ! ). The viewer gets bits & pieces of relevant information all through the film, but the suspense never really let's up right until the very end. This is one of the finest TV movies of the early 1970s and it sometimes is shown in the late evening on a local station. You should set your VCR to tape this one if you can. A marvelous and very well written mystery / thriller that could rival even a similar theatrical film shown today, "A Howling in the Woods" is a small screen cinematic triumph that should not go ignored...if you can help it!