When Michael Calls

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| genre = Horror
Thriller

| based_on = When Michael Calls
by John Farris

| writer = James Bridges

| director = Philip Leacock

| starring = Ben Gazzara
Elizabeth Ashley
Michael Douglas

| country = United States

| language = English

| executive_producer = Edgar J. Scherick

| producer = Gil Shiva

| editor = P.A. James

| cinematography = Reginald H. Morris
Donald Wilder

| runtime = 73 minutes

| company = 20th Century Fox Television
Palomar Pictures

| budget =

| network = ABC

| released = {{Start date|1972|02|05}}

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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.[https://dreadcentral.com/news/35385/saturday-nightmares-when-michael-calls-1972 Saturday Nightmares: When Michael Calls (1972)] It was adapted from John Farris's 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.[http://www.411mania.com/movies/columns/10142/31-Years,-31-Screams:-When-Michael-Calls.htm 411mania.com: Movies - 31 Years, 31 Screams: When Michael Calls]