KRAFT SUSPENSE THEATRE {CRISIS}: THE HUNT (TV)
Summary
One in this mystery/suspense anthology series sponsored by Kraft, aired in syndication under the title "Crisis." The program begins as surfer Rick Peterson drives through a rural area and observes a car accident, though he does not stop to assist. Later, his car's oil pan malfunctions and he idles by the side of the road, waiting for assistance. He is found by Sheriff Williams and his men, who doubt his story and suspect him of being a "vagrant." They reveal that they are currently "hunting" a man who escaped Williams' lockup, and as Peterson watches, they set a group of dogs on the man and allow them to kill him as the sheriff looks on, pleased. Back in town, as a mechanic works on Peterson's car, he learns that several prisoners have escaped and been killed on Williams' eye several times before, prompting Peterson to label him a sadist. A lawyer, Potter, stops by with questions about the car accident, but Peterson declines to give a deposition, wanting to leave town quickly. He then learns that, oddly enough, Williams is giving a funeral for the man killed by the dogs, and at the site, he notices other graves and discovers that seven other "vagrants" escaped and were killed in the past five years. Williams expresses regrets for the deaths, but explains that crime has declined and he has been reelected several times because of his methods.
Peterson calls his girlfriend and tells her about his delay, explaining about the cruel sheriff, but the operator, Williams' niece, listens in and reports back to him. When he tries to leave town, Williams and his men stop him and frame him for stealing a shotgun, then hauling him back to town and into prison. A townsman stops by Peterson's cell and offers to help him escape for a price, saying that Williams will not want Peterson's "newspaper lady" finding out about the goings-on in town, but then rejoins the sheriff, revealing that it is a trap. Peterson leaves his cell and breaks into Williams' desk, finding the seven dead men's belts. Williams arrives and orders him to "escape," but Peterson refuses and goes back to his cell, and Williams complains that he is "ruining his fun." He demands Peterson's belt, beating him unconscious when he refuses. When Peterson awakens, he is outside and beltless, and Williams pretends that he is escaped, blowing a loud whistle and summoning the townsfolk to help chase him. Peterson runs for a long time through the woods and across a river to escape Williams' dogs, finally making it to the road and hitching a ride in a truck. Later, several government officials come to Williams' office bearing multiple charges of murder, stating that he purposefully let the men escape and then killed them, and he accuses the "loudmouth" Peterson of lying. He asks to speak with Peterson privately and threatens to kill him unless he leaves and drops the charges, pulling a gun when he refuses, but is then shot by his own man, Dick, who proclaims that he is not "the law" anymore. Finally, Peterson is able to leave the valley in peace. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: December 19, 1963 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:50:29
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:55494
- GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1963-1965
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Luther Davis … Producer
- William Graham … Director
- Ed Waters … Writer
- Paul Tuckahoe … Writer
- John d.f. Black … Writer
- Robert Altman … Writer
- Johnny Williams (see also: John Williams) … Music by
- Mickey Rooney … Cast, Sheriff Williams
- James Caan … Cast, Rick Peterson
- Bruce Dern … Cast, Maynard
- Kelly Thordsen … Cast, Dick
- Peggy Rea … Cast, The Telephone Operator
- Logan Field … Cast, The Prosecutor
- Keith Taylor … Cast, The Boy
- William Challee … Cast, The Man
- Opal Euard … Cast, The Farm Lady
- Harry Townes … Cast, Felix Potter