Vanishing Act, a third US made for TV film adapted from the Robert Thomas play "Trap for a Single/Lonely Man" by Robert Thomas, premeired on the CBS TV network on May 4, 1986 on The CBS Sunday Night Movie. The film stars Mike Farrell, Margot Kidder, Fred. Gwynne, Graham Jarvis and Elliott Gould. David Greene directs the film.
As stated, this made for TV film is another adaption of the Robert Thomas mystery play; "Trap for a Single/Lonely Man"
As with the previous US made for TV adaptions from 1969 (Honeymoon with a Stranger) and 1976 (One of My Wives is Missing), it follows the same old plot and story. The only difference was that this made for TV adaption was shown on the CBS TV network, while the preceding films were both shown on the ABC TV network.
Again, following the same plot and story of its preceding films and the play, a man is vacationing and reports to the police that his wife is missing. He soon meets a mystery lady who claims to be his wife, but he says that she isn't. A local priest brings her to him, but he keeps insisting that she isn't his wife. It becomes even more complex as the mystery is slowly being piced together. Is this man telling the truth?, or, Is he hiding a terrible secret that he doesn't want revealed?
Unlike the previous made for TV adaptions, this film isn't very good. A good cast of actors is wasted in this remake/readaption of the aforementioned Robert Thomas play. The film is nothing but a boring and disappointing mess of a movie. The actors really don't make their characters appealing at all. Although they try their hardest, they fail in bringing anything appealing about their characters. None of them can make heads or tails as to whast they are doing here. Not only that, you're simply seeing the same old plot and story unfold for the third time on US TV. How many times can they keep remaking/readapting the same old thing? Again, this film is nothing but a boring and disappointing mess.
Regarding the preceding films, the 1969 and 1976 films ranged from decent to above average. IMHO, the 1976 made for TV film adaption is THE superior film of the three as that film really carries the viewer on the edge of their seat and really keeps the viewer in suspense until the bitter end. This film is simply predictable and doesn't offer anything new, but simply recycles the same old plot and story. The characters aren't very appealing either and that's sad.
I received a burned DVD copy of the film from a friend as a gift. I accepted it and thanked him, but when I watched the film, it only bored me and also, I was disappointed. I haven't watched this since.
I highly advise anyone to pass this up when it comes back on TV. It isn't very good, but boring and disappointing. By avoiding this film, you'll be doing yourself a favor.
As stated, this made for TV film is another adaption of the Robert Thomas mystery play; "Trap for a Single/Lonely Man"
As with the previous US made for TV adaptions from 1969 (Honeymoon with a Stranger) and 1976 (One of My Wives is Missing), it follows the same old plot and story. The only difference was that this made for TV adaption was shown on the CBS TV network, while the preceding films were both shown on the ABC TV network.
Again, following the same plot and story of its preceding films and the play, a man is vacationing and reports to the police that his wife is missing. He soon meets a mystery lady who claims to be his wife, but he says that she isn't. A local priest brings her to him, but he keeps insisting that she isn't his wife. It becomes even more complex as the mystery is slowly being piced together. Is this man telling the truth?, or, Is he hiding a terrible secret that he doesn't want revealed?
Unlike the previous made for TV adaptions, this film isn't very good. A good cast of actors is wasted in this remake/readaption of the aforementioned Robert Thomas play. The film is nothing but a boring and disappointing mess of a movie. The actors really don't make their characters appealing at all. Although they try their hardest, they fail in bringing anything appealing about their characters. None of them can make heads or tails as to whast they are doing here. Not only that, you're simply seeing the same old plot and story unfold for the third time on US TV. How many times can they keep remaking/readapting the same old thing? Again, this film is nothing but a boring and disappointing mess.
Regarding the preceding films, the 1969 and 1976 films ranged from decent to above average. IMHO, the 1976 made for TV film adaption is THE superior film of the three as that film really carries the viewer on the edge of their seat and really keeps the viewer in suspense until the bitter end. This film is simply predictable and doesn't offer anything new, but simply recycles the same old plot and story. The characters aren't very appealing either and that's sad.
I received a burned DVD copy of the film from a friend as a gift. I accepted it and thanked him, but when I watched the film, it only bored me and also, I was disappointed. I haven't watched this since.
I highly advise anyone to pass this up when it comes back on TV. It isn't very good, but boring and disappointing. By avoiding this film, you'll be doing yourself a favor.