Haunts of the Very Rich

Well-regarded ABC movie-of-the-week involves a group of seemingly disparate airplane passengers (including a malcontent from the Bronx, a priest, a newlywed couple, and a homely spinster who blossoms after a makeover) who have either responded to an advertisement or were led unawares aboard a flight to a mysterious destination; once they land in a tropical, isolated paradise, the question is why were they chosen to be there--and how will they ever get back home. Familiar cast of faces from TV do satisfactory work, though they bicker endlessly with each other and come up with colorless, vacant characterizations. Writer William Wood, working from T.K. Brown III's original story, steers the melodrama to a 'shocking' conclusion, but much of his dialogue is overwrought. As the island host who mysteriously vanishes, Moses Gunn might have been the template for Ricardo Montalban's future Mr. Roarke, but no fantasies are produced here.

Inside a luxury airplane six (presumably rich) people are heading for a wonderful vacation spot which they only know as "The Portals of Eden". They have no idea where it is located and the travel agency has gone to great lengths to keep it a secret. Also on the airplane is a man by the name of "Al Hunsicker" (Edward Asner) who has mistakenly boarded the flight and wants to get to Dallas for an important business meeting. Unfortunately, the flight lands in a very remote part of the world and he has no choice but to wait until the next morning. Yet even though the hotel is quite luxurious there is something strange about it and the guests soon realize that there is more to this place than meets the eye. Anyway, rather than give out any more details and risk spoiling the film for those who haven't seen it I will just say that, considering the limitations placed on a made-for-television movie, this particular one was surprisingly entertaining. Likewise, although I would have preferred to see a bit more of Donna Mills (as "Laurie Dugan") and Ann Francis ("Annette Larrier") I thought both Lloyd Bridges ("Dave Woodrough") and the aforementioned Edward Asner performed quite well in their respective roles. All things considered I rate the film as slightly above average.

This made-for-TV movie has several things going for it. The acting is well done, no surprise there because of the professional cast, with Robert Reed being the standout due to one striking monologue he has. The locations are atmospheric and do give the impression of being far from civilization. Also, there are no boring bits.

However, as good as the movie is, there are a couple of problems that hold it back from true greatness. The first problem is with its length. Even though the movie runs a little less than 75 minutes long, the movie feels somewhat stretched out. Maybe this would have played better had it been produced as a one hour television episode of "The Twilight Zone". The second problem is that the "mystery" is no mystery - I guessed what the twist would be in the opening minutes! In fairness, the movie does trick the audience just before the end into thinking there's some other explanation.

While I wouldn't quite say that this is worth seeking out, if you come across it when you have some time to spend, you'll probably be entertained enough.

A very dramatic thriller, a movie that leaves you thinking whether the end can be a possibility in the world we are living, either to believers or non-believers. Filmed with very few FX, and very good scenery, just the necessary dialogs and a plot that seizes you and keeps you stuck to the screen till the end credits. If it can be found it is a collector's item that should be in a collector's shelf. Performing actors are very well chosen and masterly directed to comply with the script requirements. The audience can see many resemblances to known people, living or dead, in each of the characters; and, why not, see their own lives partially or totally depicted in one or more of the characters.

Prolific Aaron Spelling produced this TV-movie from 1972 that bore a striking similarity to the Ricardo Montalban hit. Boasting a cast of familiar television performers (Lloyd Bridges, Cloris Leachman, Edward Asner, Robert Reed, Anne Francis, and Donna Mills), the story deals with wealthy vacationers that find themselves stranded at the "resort from hell." With a few plot twists and turns, the movie keeps the viewer gripped until the final seconds, when they learn the "truth," although the audience has been in on the "secret," midway through the telecast.

Moses Gunn plays the mysterious "host" with a mixture of hospitality and menace. His glistening white outfit belies that fact that he may not seem as friendly as he appears.

Though predictable, "Haunts of the Very Rich" is still a cut above the "based on actual events" films that populate television movies of the present.