When Michael Calls

When Michael Calls
Based on	When Michael Calls by John Farris
Written by	James Bridges
Directed by	Philip Leacock
Starring	Ben Gazzara Elizabeth Ashley Michael Douglas
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producer	Edgar J. Scherick
Producer	Gil Shiva
Cinematography	Reg Morris Donald Wilder
Editor	P.A. James
Running time	73 minutes
Production companies	20th Century Fox Television Palomar Pictures
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	February 5, 1972 (1972-02-05)

When Michael Calls is a 1972 American made-for-television horror-thriller film directed by Philip Leacock and starring Elizabeth Ashley, Ben Gazzara and Michael Douglas. It was adapted from John Farris' 1967 novel of the same name.

Plot

Helen Connelly is a woman whose nephew Michael died 15 years earlier. She is separated from her husband, Doremus. She is close to Michael's brother, Craig. When mysterious happenings began taking place and she begins receiving phone calls from the supposedly dead Michael, Helen begins to wonder if Michael is really dead or if she is losing touch with reality. Filmed in October - November 1971.

Cast

• Ben Gazzara as Doremus Connelly
• Elizabeth Ashley as Helen Connelly
• Michael Douglas as Craig
• Marian Waldman as Elsa Britton
• Karen Pearson as Peggy Connelly
• Larry Reynolds as Dr. Britton
• Al Waxman as Sheriff Hap Washbrook
• Alan McRae as Harry Randall
• Chris Pellett as Peter
• Steve Weston as Enoch Mills
• Robert Warner as Sam
• John Bethune as Quinlan
• William Osler as Prof. Swen
• Michèle Chicoine as Amy

Release

The television film was first broadcast as an ABC Movie of the Week on February 5, 1972.

Home media

The film has been released on VHS and DVD by various small labels. It also appears under the title Shattered Silence.

External links

• When Michael Calls at IMDb