Deadly Game ** (1977, Andy Griffith, Mitzi Hoag, James Cromwell, Dan O’Herlihy) – Classic Movie Review 11,498

Writer-director Lane Slate’s 1977 TV movie thriller Deadly Game stars Andy Griffith, Mitzi Hoag and James Cromwell.

Griffith stars as charming old police chief Abel Marsh, who investigates the deaths of two elderly people caused by the transporting of lethal chemicals.

Deadly Game is a pleasant, easy-to-watch sequel to 1977’s The Girl in the Empty Grave, with a nicely twinkling Griffith the main attraction as dogged rural lawman Abel Marsh.

It wasn’t thought popular or good enough by the network for a series.

The 1972 film They Only Kill Their Masters is written by Lane Slate, who reworked the concept and main character several times. The sequel TV movie Isn’t It Shocking? (1973) starred Alan Alda as similar character Dan Barnes with the setting relocated to Oregon. Andy Griffith starred as a similar character named Sam McNeill in the 1974 TV movie Winter Kill. Griffith starred again as Sam Adams in 1975 in the short-lived TV series Adams of Eagle Lake, and again in 1977 as Abel Marsh in the TV movies The Girl in the Empty Grave and Deadly Game. All the TV movies and the short-lived series were filmed in Big Bear Lake, California.

Also in the cast are Claude Earl Jones, Sharon Spellman, Dan O’Herlihy, Morgan Woodward, Rebecca Balding, Eddie Foy Jr, Fran Ryan, Med Flory, and John Perak.

Deadly Game is directed by Lane Slate, runs 96 minutes, is made by Manteo Enterprises and MGM Television, is released by NBC, is written by Lane Slate, is shot by Gayne Rescher, is produced by Gordon A Webb and is scored by Mundell Lowe.

It is released on 3 December 1977.

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,498

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