WHEN MICHAEL CALLS (1971) Dir: Philip Leacock

Despite a most impressive cast (Elizabeth Ashley, Michael Douglas and Ben Gazzara) and source material (based on John Farris' novel), this TV thriller disappoints. Perhaps because of high expectations from its authorial pedigree and assembled talent. A chilling plot revolving around midnight phone calls from a dead child falls flat on the small screen; whereas numerous other directors open up storylines to the very limits of TV production, Leacock piddles away precious screen time focusing on red herrings and stock devices setting up audiences for the ubiquitous Third Act non-supernatural explanation.

Nice to see a young Michael Douglas play against type and always wonderful to watch Ms. Ashley bring elegance and class to any production she graces, but Gazzaro sleepwalks through the proceedings, clearly dreaming of his next Cassavetes star turn.

To be fair the first 20 or so minutes are rather creepy and the otherwise faulting Leacock can take credit for slow zooms and early atmospherics finely tuned to the dually scary and sentimental notion of contact with a deceased, beloved child.