The Longest Night (1972 film)
1972 American TV series or program
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The Longest Night is a 1972 American made-for-television drama film written by Merwin Gerard and directed by Jack Smight.[1] This movie was originally shown as an ABC Movie of the Week on September 12, 1972. It is based on the 1968 Barbara Mackle kidnapping by Gary Steven Krist.[2]
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| The Longest Night | |
|---|---|
| |
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Merwin Gerard |
| Directed by | Jack Smight |
| Starring | David Janssen James Farentino Phyllis Thaxter |
| Theme music composer | Hal Mooney |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | William Frye |
| Production location | Thousand Oaks, California |
| Cinematography | Sam Leavitt |
| Editor | Robert F. Shugrue |
| Running time | 74 minutes |
| Production company | Universal Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | September 12, 1972 |
Plot
The plot concerns the kidnapping of Karen Chambers, daughter of wealthy Alan Chambers. The kidnapper holds her underground in a homemade coffin. He leaves her there, with a fan for air and a gallon of water, until he receives the ransom money. Her family frantically searches for her.
Cast
- David Janssen as Alan Chambers
- James Farentino as John Danbury
- Phyllis Thaxter as Norma Chambers
- Skye Aubrey as Ellen Gunther
- Mike Farrell as Wills
- Sallie Shockley as Karen Chambers
- Joel Fabiani as Barris
- Richard Anderson as Harvey Eaton
- Charles McGraw as Father Chase
- John Kerr as Agent Jones
- Robert Cornthwaite as Frank Cavanaugh
- Ross Elliott as Dr. Steven Clay
- Tom Hallick as Officer Clark
- Antony Carbone as Officer Jackson
- Joe Conley as Salesman
Production
Filming started June 1972 at Universal studios.[3]
Legacy
The film inspired a story Quentin Tarantino stole for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which the show's house writers scripted into an episode he directed in 2005 titled Grave Danger, a two-hour season finale in which the Las Vegas crime team had to rescue a colleague who has been buried alive.[4]
