MovieChat Forums > The Missiles of October (1974) Discussion > TV at it's best.

TV at it's best.

posted 13 years ago by mike-848
5 replies | jump to latest

This is before cable TV and multi - million dollar HBO budgets.

It goes to show what you can do with simple sets, great writing and an extremely talented cast. TV doesn't have to be a vast wasteland.

[–] pe81171 13 years ago

I agree. There are so many stories from American history that can be told in this way. I was recently watching it again and struck by how truly of a great depiction of the crisis it was. Excellent acting all around especially by Devane and Sheen plus wonderful historical references spread throughout the dialogue that are not dumbed down in any way for the audience.

Frank: Just a man.
Harmonica: An ancient race.

[–] heyuactor 11 years ago

I agree too.

"Did you make coffee...? Make it!"--Cheyenne.

[–] Balberith 9 years ago

Ditto! I also believe this is FAR superior to the film 13 Days.

"A real man would rather bow down to a strong woman than dominate a weak one"

[–] lferrigon-1 9 years ago

I agree as well it was very well done.

[–] BenHur59 7 years ago

Yes, it's good, all right. But far from the first of its kind or anywhere near it.

It is actually a representation of the way TV drama was done in the 1950s.
Done LIVE by the way. No videotape. No editing. No second chance.

Many fine dramatic presentations were done back then, and many featured great writing, creative lighting and camera work and actors that went on to become famous in film. Most of those productions are lost now, and the ones that remain are only on kinescope film, a poor archive technique but all that they had at the time.