Murder by Phone: Difference between revisions

Murder by Phone
Murder by Phone
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michael Anderson
Screenplay by	Michael Butler; Dennis Shryack; John Kent Harrison
Story by	George Armondo; James Whiton; Michael Butler; Dennis Shryack;
Starring	Richard Chamberlain ; John Houseman
Music by	John Barry
Distributed by	New World Pictures
Release date	October 8, 1982;
Running time	95 minutes
Countries	United States ; Canada
Language	English

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Murder by Phone is (also known as Bells and The Calling)^[2] is a 1982 American-Canadian science fiction slasher film directed by Michael Anderson. Its plot follows a series of murders committed by a disgruntled phone company employee who designs a device that kills victims when they answer their telephones. The movie was preceded by a novel called "Phone Call" written by the screenwriters under the pseudonym Jon Messman, published in 1979. It is never credited on the film's credits.^[3]

Cast

Richard Chamberlain as Nat Bridger
John Houseman as Stanley Markowitz
Sara Botsford as Ridley Taylor
Robin Gammell as Noah Clayton
Gary Reineke as Lt. Meara
Barry Morse as Fred Waites
Alan Scarfe as John Websole
James B. Douglas as Jack Gilsdorf
Ken Pogue as Fil Thorner
Neil Munro as Winters
Tom Butler as Detective Tamblyn
Colin Fox as Dr. Leon Alderman
Jefferson Mappin as Alex
Luba Goy as Beth Freemantle
Lenore Zann as Connie Lawson
George R. Robertson as George Lord
Angus MacInnes as Colin Bartell
Neil Affleck as Phone Tracer

Production

Murder by Phone was filmed in 1980 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.^[4]

The score by John Barry is electronic, played entirely with synthesisers. This was a rarity for Barry. Whilst he composed and conducted the score, it was performed by Jonathan Elias and John Petersen. Elias later went on to work with Barry on the scores for Jagged Edge and A View to a Kill.

Release

Murder by Phone was released in the United States on October 8, 1982.^[a]

Critical response

Leonard Maltin noted the film's cast and direction as being legitimately "talented," but deemed the film a "hoary horror exercise."^[6]

Home media

Murder by Phone was released on VHS by Warner Home Video in 1984.^[7] The VHS was reissued in 1998.^[8]

Notes

^ The earliest newspaper sources displaying showtimes for the film are dated for the weekend of October 8—10, 1982.^[5]

References

^ Muir 2011, pp. 116–117.
^ Hunter, Rob (June 26, 2017). "That Ringing In Your Ears? It's 'Murder By Phone' Calling". Film School Rejects. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
^ "Phone Call". Grady Hendrix. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
^ Fischer 2011, p. 50.
^ "Midnite Movie Express". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. October 8, 1982. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Maltin 2009, p. 946.
^ Murder by Phone. Warner Home Video. 1984 [1982]. 24005. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
^ Murder by Phone. Warner Home Video. 1998 [1982]. ASIN 6300271919. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help)

Works cited

Fischer, Dennis (2011). Science Fiction Film Directors, 1895–1998. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-48505-5.
Maltin, Leonard (2009). Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide. New American Library. ISBN 978-0-451-22468-2.
Muir, John Kenneth (2011). Horror Films of the 1980s. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5501-0.

External links

Murder by Phone at IMDb
Murder by Phone at Rotten Tomatoes

This article about a science-fiction horror film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[6] The earliest newspaper sources displaying showtimes for the film are dated for the weekend of October 8—10, 1982.^[5]

[FOOTNOTEMuir2011116–117-1] Muir 2011, pp. 116–117.

[fsr-2] Hunter, Rob (June 26, 2017). "That Ringing In Your Ears? It's 'Murder By Phone' Calling". Film School Rejects. Retrieved September 6, 2018.

[3] "Phone Call". Grady Hendrix. Retrieved 2021-06-01.

[FOOTNOTEFischer201150-4] Fischer 2011, p. 50.

[5] "Midnite Movie Express". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. October 8, 1982. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.

[FOOTNOTEMaltin2009946-7] Maltin 2009, p. 946.

[8] Murder by Phone. Warner Home Video. 1984 [1982]. 24005. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help)

[9] Murder by Phone. Warner Home Video. 1998 [1982]. ASIN 6300271919. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help)

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-'''''Murder by Phone''''' is (also known as '''''Bells''''' and '''''The Calling''''')<ref name=fsr>{{cite web|work=[[Film School Rejects]]|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/murder-by-phone-review/|title=That Ringing In Your Ears? It's 'Murder By Phone' Calling|author=Hunter, Rob|date=June 26, 2017|access-date=September 6, 2018}}</ref> is a 1982 American-Canadian [[science fiction]] [[slasher film]] directed by [[Michael Anderson (director)|Michael Anderson]]. Its plot follows a series of murders committed by a disgruntled phone company employee who designs a device that kills victims when they answer their telephones.
+'''''Murder by Phone''''' is (also known as '''''Bells''''' and '''''The Calling''''')<ref name=fsr>{{cite web|work=[[Film School Rejects]]|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/murder-by-phone-review/|title=That Ringing In Your Ears? It's 'Murder By Phone' Calling|author=Hunter, Rob|date=June 26, 2017|access-date=September 6, 2018}}</ref> is a 1982 American-Canadian [[science fiction]] [[slasher film]] directed by [[Michael Anderson (director)|Michael Anderson]]. Its plot follows a series of murders committed by a disgruntled phone company employee who designs a device that kills victims when they answer their telephones. The movie was preceded by a novel called "Phone Call" written by the screenwriters under the pseudonym Jon Messman, published in 1979. It is never credited on the film's credits.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Phone Call|url=http://www.gradyhendrix.com/phone-call|access-date=2021-06-01|website=Grady Hendrix|language=en-US}}</ref>
 == Cast ==