“Velma” was reportedly canceled after two seasons

The 1970s saw an explosion in television movies, and many of these small-screen films were based on novels. The two examples here, among the most memorable of their time, are at opposite ends of the adaptation spectrum. While Bad Ronald (1974) took liberties with his source material, Are you alone in the house? (1978) remains reasonably true to the spirit of the novel. Both films also teeter on the edge of horror, a recurring genre in the “golden age” of television movies.

Jack Vance So he wasn’t just a horror author Bad Ronald (1973) is an anomaly in his oeuvre. ABC responded quickly to the novel’s success and the network finally aired its adaptation a week before Halloween. However, Andrew Peter MarinThe script is different from what Vance had written. Anyone who has read the original novel would understand – perhaps even appreciate – the directorial changes Buzz Kulik‘s version.

The fundamental pitch of Bad Ronald is always a profitable horror: someone is hiding in someone’s house without their knowledge. However, the TV translation of Ronald Wilby’s malevolence largely overshadows his sociopathy. Yes, Scott JacobyAt the beginning of the TV movie, the actor’s character actually commits a heinous crime, but the actions of his literary parallel are far more despicable. Vance has rounded up a troubled teenager who doesn’t just stop at murder. No, this Ronald is a repeat offender.

Vance’s novel is not an easy read, despite the author’s talent. The 17-year-old boy pictured here is an incorrigible villain who sees nothing wrong with his behavior. Having a mother like Elaine (played by Kim Hunter) doesn’t help matters; She supports her son and is partly to blame for what later happens to the new tenants of her and Ronald’s former house. After Elaine’s sudden death, Ronald haunts the Wood Family like a ghost. He steals their food first before stealing their daughters. One by one, the Wood girls succumb to a grisly fate before anyone discovers that Ronald is hiding within the walls of 572 Orchard Street.

Any interpretation of Bad Ronald — there’s also a 1992 French film with the title Méchant garçon – is an effective and fresh take on the haunted house genre. The made-for-television film has a visual advantage that is important to consider; The American Gothic of the story comes out in waves. However, the TV movie makes an attempt to humanize Ronald, a boy whose father legally abandoned him and whose mother also abandoned him, albeit unintentionally. Through his creepy peephole, Ronald senses what kind of life he could have had if he had grown up differently.

Vances Bad Ronald It makes your skin crawl for a good 200 pages before the title character gets his well-deserved punishment. What a sight it would have been if the TV movie had allowed the Wood matriarch (Pippa Scott on screen) to set Ronald on fire like in the book. Still, what Kulik did with Marin’s script remains influential today. There is no doubt that films made since then have been affected, directly or in some other way Bad Ronald.

Pictured: Scott Jacoby and Ted Eccles in Bad Ronald (1974).

Richard Peck‘S Are you alone in the house? (1976) was a significant novel in the world of young adult literature at the time. The openness towards the topic and the sympathy towards the victim were equally appreciated. And in a way, Walter GraumanThe television film does a respectable job of bringing Peck’s story to life without losing the essence. writer Judith Parker cannot be overlooked either; Her script balances the drama and horror elements quite well. Readers and viewers may hesitate to classify the adaptation as a pure horror film, but they agree that Gail Osborne’s ordeal is terrifying.

The 16-year-old is the focus CBS‘ Are you alone in the house? is played by Kathleen Bellera veteran of retro television. Connoisseurs of classic TV horror would recognize her face from this No place to hide And Deadly news. Here she plays a San Francisco transplant — a former New Yorker in the book — named Gail, who has attracted the unwanted attention of a peer. First it’s increasingly obscene notes in her locker, then phone calls that range from awkward silences to crazy threats. Finally, the anonymous stalker shows his face and rapes Gail. However, the victim’s terror does not end there.

Are you alone in the house? Captures the basics of Peck’s novel, but lacks the more detailed discussions of classism and elitism. Gail’s rapist, her best friend Alison’s boyfriend, Phil (Dennis Quaid onscreen) is the poster child for rich and white privilege in this fictional Connecticut town; His attraction to these parts protects him for too long. This is then combined with a clear speech about the time Rape culture and legislation. The TV broadcast doesn’t go into these topics in as much detail as it could have, but it’s still a good conversation starter.

Something else that the TV movie let slip was the characters. Especially the men who watch TV Historian Amanda Reyes said in her book: Are you alone in the house?: A television film compendium 1964–1999“Gets the short end of the stick.” Reyes continued that most men “are either portrayed as rapists or criminals, or are portrayed as emasculated because they are unable to provide for their family.” From a writing standpoint the women are treated better, but Alison (Robin Mattson) doesn’t offer the same redemptive moment as in the novel, and Gail’s mother (Blythe Danner) never seems all that enlightened after constantly criticizing her daughter’s townie boyfriend, Steve (Scott Colomby).

Pictured: Kathleen Beller Are you alone in the house? (1978).

Are you alone in the house? was touted as a pure chiller at the time – one particular print ad reads more like an advertisement for the coming year When a stranger calls (1979) – so imagine the audience’s surprise when listening to a drama. Horrifying and often realistic, but still a drama. The term “horror” was likely based on the genre’s success on television; CBS saw how well horror was being received by other networks and wanted to further explore its own options.

To feel more like horror, Grauman and Parker Are you alone in the house? emphasizes the aspect of danger from strangers. A male teacher becomes a distraction for the stalker, as does Gail’s ex-boyfriend, and the suspenseful (and hasty) conclusion is very different from that of the novel. While Peck ended on a somber and inaccurate note reflecting the state of the world, the TV movie instead opts for a more definitive ending that gives both Gail and the viewers a sense of closure.

Just looking at their television remakes, Bad Ronald And Are you alone in the house? Aside from their largely youthful cast, domestic horrors, and suburban backdrop, they don’t have much in common. Their literary foundations, on the other hand, show clearer similarities. As unpleasant and sad as they may be, both novels are worthwhile reads that complement – ​​or in some cases even surpass – their film adaptations.